28 Transaction*. — Miscellaneous*. 



It is not nearly so well finished as the okewa, but it may be 

 possible either that the owner of this stone weapon was not such 

 an accomplished workman, or that the same attention was not 

 bestowed upon any other form as upon the bill-hook shaped 

 one, which, according to all appearance, was the most esteemed 

 form. 



We possess another specimen of this shape, about the same 

 size, of which one side is perfectly flat, being formed of a quartz 

 layer, whilst the other or rounded portion, owing to the thick- 

 ness of the quartz layers, could only be partially finished. There 

 are two other forms of the same material to which the term 

 "pohatu taharua" is also to be applied. No. 3 is 14 inches 

 long, 4 inches broad at the upper end, 2f inches in the middle, 

 and 3^ inches at the lower end of the shaft above the handle. 

 It will thus be seen that towards the middle it curves inwards, 

 and thus has a form different from any other, as it possesses 

 four projecting points. It is flat and rather thin, having only a 

 thickness of 1-1 inches at its thickest part. There is no attempt 

 made to polish it except at the handle. It has altogether an 

 unfinished appearance. No. 4, also a "pohaUt taharua," re- 

 sembles the foregoing form in shape, with this exception — that 

 for the first 5 inches it is of nearly the same breadth, and only 

 gradually diminishes in breadth till the handle is reached. It 

 has, therefore, no prominent points. It is 15^- inches long, 

 3 inches broad, and f of an inch thick. The blade, as in the 

 foregoing, is quite flat, being the natural division plane of the 

 schist. Both edges are roughly chipped, but both the upper 

 edge and the handle have received some slight polish, or per- 

 haps, more correctly, have been rubbed down. 



It appears that the term "patu " (to kill) was applied only 

 to the okewas ; in fact, Mr. Shand is convinced that it is very 

 doubtful if it is a correct term at all, but rather one adopted by 

 Europeans and retained as a term generally understood, being 

 chiefly used in a descriptive sense. 



According to Mr. Shand : " Manslaying was prohibited 

 generations back, in the time and by the command of their 

 ancestor Nurnuku and others, shortly after the arrival of their 

 ancestors in their canoes Eangimata, Eangihona, and Oropuke, 

 the last being commanded by Moe a Eauru, whose hapu or iui 

 were former antagonists of the people of the other canoes, and 

 who found their way to the island some time after them. They 

 fought on the island, and it was ordered by Numuku and others 

 that fighting and manslaying should cease for ever ; that in all 

 future quarrels (a long pole, ' tupurari,' about 8 feet to 10 feet 

 long being used) the first blow causing blood to flow, if even by 

 a slight abrasion of the skin, was to end the fight. This, how- 

 ever, did not prevent the person so injured from returning in 

 like manner and seeking satisfaction at some other time for his 



