234 Transactions. 



Again, when a Maori priest was called in to attend a sick person, one of 

 his acts was to proceed to a clump of flax, where he pulled out one of the 

 young leaves. If a screeching sound was made by the leaf as it was drawn 

 out — a not uncommon occurrence — that was looked upon as a good omen : 

 the patient would recover. This flax-leaf was placed upon the body of the 

 patient when the priest repeated the charms by which he drove out the evil 

 spirits, the cause of the man's illness. These malevolent demons were 

 supposed to leave the sick person's body by way of the flax-leaf : hence, 

 in tliis connection, it was termed an ara atua (demon-path). 



In modern times various preparations from flax have been used as 

 medicines bv the Natives, for diarrhoea and other ills. In cases of difficult 

 menstruation in women a peculiar decoction is administered : it is made 

 by boiling four pieces of flax-root and four pieces of a plant known as al:a 

 taramoa. For this complaint these materials must be taken from the east 

 side of the plants, otherwise the medicine will possess no virtue whatever. 

 In making a medicine for any other complaint the materials may be taken 

 from any part of the plants. The roots of the huhi variety of flax are roasted 

 and chewed as a cure for constipation. 



Scents. 



Under the above brief heading we propose to give a few notes anent 

 the various scents used by the Maori in former times. These scents were 

 various aromatic leaves and gums, used for the purpose of imparting a 

 pleasing odour to persons or houses. Some were utilised wherewith to scent 

 oil, which was then used to anoint the body. Fragrant leaves of various 

 trees and plants were used for this purpose. 



The sense of smell possessed by the Maori is certainly keen, though they 

 do not appear to object so strongly to foul odours as do we. The term 

 kakara is usually employed to denote fragrance — any appreciated odour ; 

 while the expression haunga would be applied to any smell not appreciated. 

 The word kakara is also used as meaning " savoury," as when applied to 

 food. 



The items used as scents in former times by Natives of the Tuhoe district 

 were obtained from the following trees, shrubs, &c. : — 



Koareare ; sya., raukuwd. Panax Edgerleyi. 



Tunguru-rake. An Olearia. 



Kolara. Probably Olearia Cunninghamii. 



Tarata. PHtosporum eugenioides. 



Pna-kaito. Celmisia spectabilis. 



Kopuru. A moss. 



Karetu. HierocMoe redolens. 



There are other shrubs, plants, &c., that provided aromatic leaves for 

 the dwellers in other districts, but the above are the items that obtain 

 in Tuhoeland. Of these, the kotara and pua-kaito are found only at Maunga- 

 pohatu, in the Tuhoe district, while the koareare and the tanguni-rake are 

 found only on the high ranges. 



The leaves of the above trees, &c., as also those of the white manuka. 

 were used in various ways. They were often enclosed in small bags or 

 sachets, usually made of bird-skin with the feathers left on, which bag 

 was suspended from the neck and hung down on the wearer's breast. The 

 skin of the toroa (albatros) was prized for this purpose. The aromatic gum 

 of the tarata tree was also placed in such sachets. Not only are the leaves 

 of this tree most fragrant when crushed, but the gum that exudes from the 



