50 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



Rangi = Papa 



I 

 Tane = Hine-rauamoa 



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Haumia is spoken of in an allegorical manner as being the 

 bones and flesh of Papa (the earth). "Papa, the Earth 

 Mother, said to her offspring, ' I will provide sustenance for 

 you.' Hence the Maori people dig into the earth to procure 

 fern-root from their ancient mother. Just think of man. A 

 child is born of the female parent, and is fed on the milk of 

 the mother and attains manhood. Even so is man fed by his 

 ancient mother, the earth." 



The natives recognise different varieties of fern-root, each 

 having its name. We give here a list of such names obtained 

 in this district : — 



Motuhanga, said to be the best variety ; i 



Mdta ; \ 



Manehu, said to be good, a mealy variety ; I generic term, 



Paha, a good variety ; aruhe. 



Kaka-nui, inferior, but occasionally eaten ; 



Koata,* very inferior ; it is not eaten ; 



The term tuakura is applied to inferior fern-root, which is 

 brown or reddish in appearance when broken. The prized 

 varieties are thick roots, containing very few of the black 

 fibres (MM), and which are brittle when broken, exposing a 

 fine white interior. A cake made of the pounded meal of the 

 fern-root is termed komeke. 



The principal implement used for digging fern-root was 

 the kaheru, which was made from a hard wood, as maire or 

 ma/para, and was from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in length. One end thereof 

 was sharp and flattened, about 4 in. in width ; the other end, 

 being the hand-grip, was round (topuku). Another implement 

 sometimes used for the purpose was the rapa maire, a sort of 

 rude wooden spade. The ko, or planting-tool, was also some- 

 times used to dig fern-root. 



* Possibly koata refers to the young shoots of fern. 



