214 Transactions. 



nui's offspring was Te Hinatore, a term applied to any phos- 

 phorescent substance. 



The koareare flourishes on the high-lying ranges, and has a 

 remarkably handsome appearance, the leaves thereof being very 

 attractive to the eye, as also very aromatic. These leaves were 

 used as a scent in former times, and chaplets were made of the 

 green leaves, by the maids of Tuhoe. The mature form of this 

 tree is known as homangoroa. 



The kohe tree, termed kohekohe in some districts, is found only 

 in the lower country, near the coast. Its berries are eaten by 

 the koko bird ; hence the expression, " He koko kai kohe.'" The 

 kohe is very easy chopping, and cuts well with a crosscut saw. 

 but it takes the conceit out of your steam-gauge when you 

 put a circular saw into a kohe log. 



The kareturetu is a bush-growing plant, resembling the 

 karetu in appearance. 



The kokaha is an Astelia. The name is applied by the Tuhoe 

 Natives to the short-leaved terrestrial variety found growing in 

 forests, but not to the narrow-leaved mauri, which grows on 

 logs and the lower part of tree-trunks, nor yet to the kowhara- 

 whara, which grows also on trees, but usually on the branches 

 and upper parts of the trunk. One authority states that the 

 kokaha is known as takahakaha when in flower, or perhaps the 

 latter term is applied to the flower. The tuaka or midrib of the 

 leaf of the kokaha is used in hat-making, while it? red-juiced 

 berries were formerly sought for by girls and women as a face- 

 paint, the cheeks being coloured therewith. The fruit of th^ 

 kowharawhara is eaten. Leaves of Astelia are used to wrap 

 round eels when cooked by the kopekope process. The kokaha 

 is probably Astelia trinervia. Another species, found growing in 

 swamps, is probably A. nervosa. 



The koromiko or kokomuka is plentiful throughout the district. 

 by streams, in old clearings, or wherever it can get a chance to 

 grow. The species termed kokomuka-taranga is but seldom seen 

 in groves here. The kokomuka-tu-tara-whare is also presumably 

 a Veronica, and derives its Native name from the fact that it 

 often is seen growing on or against the earth-covered sleeping- 

 huts of the Natives. Hence the name of this species has been 

 adopted as ;i title for " stick-at-home " persons, and is crystal- 

 lized in a favourite proverbial saying, " Xa wai te kokomuka 

 tu-tara-whare i kiia kia haere ? " (Who said that the " house- 

 wall-standing " veronica should travel ?) This saying is said to 

 have originated with one Rua-te-pupuke, an ancestor of very 

 remote times. Some other ancient asked Rua to go afishing, 

 when he made the above remark, meaning that he was too old 

 tor exertion, and had grown to the house-wall like the kokomuka. 



