Best. — Maori forest Lore. 241 



case were handles inserted in the head, but the head was lashed 

 on to the helve. The most prized stone was the pounamu, or 

 greenstone, of which, however, the Tuhoe Tribe do not appear 

 to have become possessed to any great extent, hence it was 

 used by them principally for war-weapons and small axes, not 

 for large toki. Small adzes (toki) were used for fine work, as in 

 finishing off a canoe, &c. A small greenstone adze of this type 

 in my possession is 2^ in. long, the cutting-face is If in., while 

 the reke or poll is but f in. The thickest part — i.e., the uma, 

 or swell — is § in. The greenstone toki and weapons or chisels 

 were much more highly valued than those made of other kinds 

 of stone. The other stones used for such implements were 

 kara, uri, onewa, and kohurau. The first two are black, the third 

 is dark-grey, while the last-named I am not acquainted with. 



The different kinds, sizes, &c, of these adzes were known 

 each by its own special name : — 



Toki ngao pae. — A large, heavy axe for heavy roughing- 

 out work. 



Toki ngao tu. — -A medium-sized axe (adze) for shaping beams, 

 canoes, &c. 



Toki ngao matariki. — A small finishing-adze. 



Toki ivhakarau. — Seems to be the same as the ngao matariki. 

 (See " whakarau" below.) 



Toki pou tangata ; toki hohou pit ; toki whawhao pn. — These 

 names are applied to small greenstone toki, helved as adzes, 

 sometimes used for fine wood-working, but often merely carried 

 by chiefs as a token of chieftainship ; carried in belt, or in hand 

 when making a speech. Sometimes used to despatch a stricken 

 foe in fighting. 



Poki. — Concerning the poki I have no notes save two supplied 

 by Mr. S. Percy Smith, who says, " The poki was a big stone 

 axe, sometimes 18 in. long, lashed on in line with handle, not at 

 right angles as an adze. I think that poki is a Ngai-Tahu word, 

 but am not sure. The old-fashioned European axes were termed 

 poke. The poki was used as a huge chisel, but without the use 

 of a hammer." 



Toki titaha. — My Tuhoe notes say, " The old-fashioned, 

 long-bladed, steel axes obtained from European traders in early 

 days. No longer seen." Williams's Dictionary says " Toki 

 titahi, or toki whakapae : the common felling-axe." Tregear, 

 in " The Maori Race," applies these two names to the big stone 

 poki above described, which does not agree with Williams's or 

 my own notes. 



Poke. — The American - pattern steel axe. Not applied to 

 any stone axe. 



