210 Transactions. 



My informant says, ' These were the first-born children of 

 Rehua. Their mother was Fuanga (the star Rigel in Orion). 

 These children were horn in the moon (month) Mahuru, the 

 fourth month of the Maori year. Observe that the puahofi 

 blossoms in winter. It was Ruaumoko that caused them to he 

 born when the earth was shaken. After those children were 

 born, then the many others were born. Puahou was born 

 in August, according to your European method of month-names. 

 The duty of those first-born of Rehua is to indicate the approach 

 of the warmth of summer. Puahou was the most important 

 of the children of Rehua. Those children are suckling during 

 the month indicated." The explanation of the above quaint 

 myth is in this wise : Rehua is spoken of in Maori myth as being 

 the origin of the lolo bird (syn., tui), the inanga (a small fish), 

 and the trio above given. Poanana seems to be for poananga, 

 the large-flowered white Clematis. These three first-born of 

 Rehua and Puanga (Airfares and Rigel) show by means of their 

 blossoming the coming of the warmth of spring. Ruaumoko. 

 the slumbering subterranean monster of Maori myth, is said 

 to cause the changes of season by turning over and causing 

 an earthquake, which has the effect of turning the warmth, 

 or cold, of mother earth uppermost, according to the time 

 of year. This act, in producing warmth towards the close of 

 winter, causes trees to blossom, and the above are among the 

 first to do so, and hence are spoken of as the first-born. After 

 these, then other children are born — that is to say, other trees 

 blossom. 



The homanqoroa tree is the matured or tree fonn of the 

 koareare shrub, according to the Tuhoe Natives. The former 

 name is applied to it after the form of its leaves is changed. 

 They have certainly pointed out to me some which were in a 

 sort of transition stage, bearing both forms of leaves, the hand- 

 some star-shaped leaf of the koareare {Panax Edgerleyi) and the 

 plain, dark, glossy leaf of the Jiomangoroa. But Williams's 

 Dictionary gives havmangoroa as Panax simplex. However, 

 judging by the descriptions given in Cheeseman's " New Zealand 

 Flora," both the Tuhoean names apply to P. Edgerleyi. 



The kahikatai was a most useful tree to the Maori in former 

 times, on account of the meat quantity of bird-food furnished 

 by its berries. This fruit also served as an article of food to 

 bushmen. Persons ascended the trees and collected the berries 

 of the Icahikatea, rimu, and matai, which were placed in a basket. 

 When full, the basket was lowered to the ground by means 

 of a cord, there emptied by an assistant, and drawn up again 

 to be refilled. These berries were washed in order to get rid of 

 any leaves, &c, and eaten without being cooked in any way. 



