Best. — Maori Forest Lore. 229 



The toromiro tree, known as miro in many other districts, is not 

 a very common tree in this district, but is much prized by the 

 Natives on account of the amount of food provided by it for 

 the pigeon, which becomes extremely fat when feeding on its 

 berries. Hence every tree of this species is well known by the 

 sub -tribe on whose land it stands, and most of such trees are 

 known by distinct names, as also are any trees of other species — 

 Jcakikatea, matai, rata, &c. — that were much resorted to by 

 birds, and were for that reason favourite snaring-trees. The 

 Natives profess to know the male and female trees of toromiro, 

 stating that the female trees alone bear fruit, while others, 

 which produce flowers only and never fruit, are said to be male 

 trees. The bark of the toromiro is used medicinally by the 

 Natives : albeit these wax rahau medicines, as they term them, 

 are quite a modern usage. 



The toetoe-kakaho is used here, as in other districts, in the 

 construction of huts — the leaves as thatch occasionally, the 

 flower-stalks for lining the roof. Natives recognise two varieties 

 of toetoe-kakaho — one, known as kakaho-matariki, produces the 

 best reeds (culms) for house-lining ; the other, termed kakaho- 

 puha, has larger and somewhat crooked or bent culms, deemed 

 inferior for the above purpose. Hence the following saying : 

 " Ka whakarerea te puha, ka whai ki te matariki " (The puha is 

 rejected, the matariki sought after) — a saying that is made use of 

 in speaking of persons, or, in* fact, almost anything. The term 

 rake kakaho is applied to a plant of this species which produces 

 a large number of straight culms of the better kind for house- 

 lining, walls and roof; or, rather, it applies to the bunch or col- 

 lection of culms, not to the whole plant. " Te rake kakaho a 

 Tunono " (the culm-clump of Tunono) is a Ngati-Awa saying. 

 It was first used to describe the sons of one Tunono. These 

 men were all tall, and all had grey hair, hence they were likened 

 to a rake kakaho. The following saying is a well-known one : 

 " He ta kakaho, e kitea ana te oioi i te hau ; he ta ngakau, e kore 

 e kitea " (The crookedness of a culm is seen when the wind blows ; 

 the crookedness of the [human] mind is not seen). The leaves 

 of toetoe-kakaho do not appear to be looked upon as making very 

 good thatch, but are used for huts. The rush (wiwi) seems 

 more durable. 



The upoko-tangata, sometimes called toetoe-whatu-manu, was 

 formerly used in the making of kites (manu), the triangular stems 

 being used for that purpose. Two varieties are recognised by 

 Natives. 



The toro-papa is evidently so named from its curious growth. 

 It not only spreads underground, throwing up several stems, 

 but also such branches as come into contact with the earth 

 take root. 



