Best. — Food Products of Tuhoeland. 53 



Mata kai aivatea. A term applied to fern-root. The first 

 word is probably matcl (see above), while the last two words 

 refer to the prejudice against pounding fern-root at night. 



Te aka o tuwhenua is another expression used for fern- 

 root. The creeper of the solid earth, in allusion to the far- 

 reaching roots of the rarauhe. 



He Tau (a Song). 



He aha te kai e ora ai te taugata 



He pipi, he aruhe, 



Ko te aka o tuwhenua 



Ko te kai e ora ai te tangata 



Matoetoe ana te arero i te mitikanga 



Me he arero kuri 



Au! 



The Perei. 



" The perei is an orchid, scientifically known as Gastrodia 

 cunning hamii. It is not at all a common plant." * 



When camped at Ruatoki last summer our camp cook 

 drew my attention to several plants of perei growing near the 

 creek, where they were sheltered by a growth of scrub, and so 

 protected from stock. The stalks were from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in 

 height. At the foot of each was a mass of small tubers or 

 roots from -l-in. to f in. in thickness. 



Some singular notions prevail among the natives in regard 

 to the perei. It did not, according to the Maori, originate in 

 or from the earth, but was formed by the gods. Again, when 

 engaged in digging for the roots the word perei must not be 

 mentioned or no roots will be found. At such a time it is 

 termed maukuuku. For a similar superstition in Tahiti, see 

 Tregear's Dictionary under Kapara ; also a singular note 

 concerning the mandrake-root in Lang's "Custom and Myth." 

 Similar beliefs also exist among the Maori in regard to birds. 



The perei was dug in the winter season, and dried by 

 exposure, as fern-root is. It was either roasted at a fire or 

 cooked in the steam-oven. It was not found in any quantity, 

 but would be dug up when seen. 



Ti (Cordyline, the Cabbage-tree of the European Settlers). 



The ti is known on the East Coast as kouka, and in some 

 other districts as tvhanake. 



The various species of Cordyline as recognised by the 

 Tuhoe Tribe are as follows : — 



1. Ti kouka (Cordyline atistralis), the common "cabbage- 

 tree." 



2. Ti kapu (Cordyline banksii). 



3. Toi (Cordyline indivisa). 



* From Mr. T. F. Cheeseman. 



