602 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



Maori "king," Noa Huke, Henare Matua, Renata Kawepo, 

 Te Harawira, and others, chiefs of note, and prominent 

 speakers and actors on that former occasion — all now gone), 

 afforded ample themes for reflection during my solitary long 

 drive back to Napier in a cab, and in pouring rain. 



The New Zealand greenstone, called generally by the 

 Maoris pounamu, of which, however, they have several 

 varieties, each bearing its own proper name, has always- 

 been a prized article among them — indeed, of the highest 

 value as a possession, as riches, as heirlooms, and as a com- 

 modity of barter. Many causes combined to make it such, 

 principally its great usefulness among a people that knew not 

 metals — whether manufactured as a weapon in war, as an im- 

 plement in house- and ship-building, or as an ornament of 

 personal decoration for their chiefs, to which must also be 

 added its rarity (as to habitat), only now found in one known 

 locality in the South Island, from which place it could 

 only be obtained by great perseverance and courage, combined 

 with skill, labour, cunning, and peril. And then, above all, 

 was the ancient superstitious belief that it was a living 

 animal, ika—&sh, that could only be secured through the due 

 and unbroken observance of many peculiar and wonderful 

 incantations, charms, and prayers ; and, when so acquired, 

 the patient persevering labour and skill requisite in cutting it 

 up and fashioning it symmetrically and suitably for use was 

 really marvellous. I will here give two (out of many) old 

 Maori relations I possess respecting the present habitat and 

 mode of capture of greenstone. My first was written more 

 than fifty-five years ago, and published (with other curious 

 items) in the " Tasmanian Journal of Natural Science," vol. ii., 

 in 1845 (my paper being dated January, 1843) : — 



" The wind being light, we had Tuhua, or Mayor Island, in 

 sight. This island appears to be of volcanic origin, and 

 abounds in pumice, obsidian, slag lava, pitchstone, and other 

 vitreous and volcanic substances. I use the word 'appear' in 

 consequence of a curious relation which some years ago I re- 

 ceived from an old priest residing at Tauranga, in the Bay of 

 Plenty. I had been inquiring of him the place where, and the 

 manner how, they in former days obtained the green jade or 

 axe-stone for ornaments and weapons of war. In answer to 

 my inquiry he asserted that this stone was both a fish and a 

 god ; :;: that it formerly lived at the Island of Tuhua, whither 

 the priests (or tohungas — skilled men) of all the neighbouring 

 tribes used to go to take it, which was done by diving, 

 accompanied with several superstitious ceremonies in order to 



* God = atua : better, perhaps, a demon, or supernatural or mysterious 

 thing or personage. 



