Best. — Maori Forest Lore. 221 



The leaves of the pohue, tohetaka, kohukohu (a kind of chick- 

 weed), panakenake, pororua, raupeti, and poniu were cooked 

 and eaten as greens. 



The puakaito has been observed only on the high range at 

 Maunga-pohatu in this district. 



A sort of jelly was made from the ripe berries of the puhou, 

 or tutu, in former times. This jelly was a much appreciated 

 food-item, but the process of making it was tedious, as the 

 fruit had to be carefully strained, in order that all the poisonous 

 seeds might be retained by the strainer. The latter consisted 

 of a closely woven basket, lined with plumes of the toetoe- 

 kakaho. The seeds are termed huarua. It is said by local 

 Natives that if a person breaks oft young branches, stems, of 

 the tutu that such act will cause a downfall of rain ere long. 



Natives formerly made cartridge- holders of the tough wood 

 of the puka (Griselinia lucida). 



An Olearia usually termed akeake by Natives is termed 

 ramarama by the Tuhoe Natives. The latter name is applied 

 by most tribes to Mijrtus bullata. The wood of this Tuhoean 

 ramarama was formerly used for making certain toys, as tops. 

 and kororohu, because it was thought to make more sound than 

 most other woods. 



The starchy rhizomes of the rarauhe were an important item 

 in the food-supply of the Natives in pre-European days, but are 

 seldom used now. The young fronds of the rarauhe are termed 

 mokehu, while haumia is a sort of emblematical term for the 

 roots or rhizomes thereof. Haumia was one of the offspring 

 of Rangi and Papa (Heaven and Earth), and is personified, as 

 it were, in the fern-root. Haumia retired to the bosom of the 

 Earth Mother in order to provide sustenance for the human 

 offspring of Rangi and Papa. The enemies of Haumia are 

 represented by the Maori people (because they ate largely of 

 fern-root). The children (offspring) of the mokehu are the 

 mosquito and sandfly. These two assail man. Sandflies are 

 a dauntless folk. It matters not how many thousands be slain, 

 they reck not of that, but still attack man. Nothing but fire 

 can stop them. The saying of the warlike sandfly is, " What 

 matter if I be slain, so long as I draw forth the blood of the 

 Maori people of the world " (Hai aha ahau te mate ai, i nga toto 

 o te iwi Maori o te ao ka pakaru kai waho). The rarauhe is also 

 known as takaka and makaka. 



The rata is a prominent feature in the higher forest ranges. 

 This huge tree was held in much esteem in former times, be- 

 cause it was much resorted to by birds seeking the honey con- 

 tained in its flowers. Most of these trees had special names, such 

 .as Te Tohu a te Ropu, a rata tree at O-haua, which is said to 



