644 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



" kiika" ; they are used for the huhahuka of the capes 

 (strips same as for timu) and for the alio. This term " kuka," 

 also " koka," is apphed also to the dry leaves of the ti 

 (cabbage-tree), of which, however, there are very few in this 

 region. " Ou maki a te tuakoka, kaore he kdkd, he aha, no 

 reira ka kakahu i te kuka ti." This term "tuakoka" is 

 applied to a poverty-stricken person or place. " E tuakoka 

 ana te kainga nei," said of a place where food is scarce. 



Kahu Kuri (Dogskin Cloaks). 



These were probably the most highly prized of all the 

 ancient cloaks. There is but little information on record 

 anent the old Maori kuri. Pio, of Ngatiawa, states that 

 the ancient tribes of New Zealand possessed the dog, it being 

 known as " kuri ruarangi." The kuri was used for hunting 

 the kakapo, weka, and kiivi, and was also eaten. The tails 

 and skins were used for cloaks, or, rather, to adorn the sarne, 

 for the body (papa, or kaupapa) of the cloaks was almost in- 

 variably of lohitau. 



Kahu-iuaero : This was the most highly valued. The 

 cloak was woven of dressed flax, and so thickly covered with 

 white dogs' tails thac papa of the cloak w^as quite concealed. 

 The hair of these tails was long, and the tails thick and 

 bushy. 



Mahiti : This was of the same materials as the kahu-zvaero, 

 but the tails were not so numerous, being attached at wide 

 intervals. 



Puahi : This was made of the skins of white-haired dogs, 

 the skins being cut into strips, and sewn on to the body of the 

 cloak. 



Toptini : This was made in the same manner as the puahi, 

 but of black skins. This was the least prized of these cloaks ; 

 still, all were worn by chiefs only. 



Ihupuni : Of similar make to the topuni, and of black 

 skins. 



Tapahu : A war-cloak of dog-skin. Used as a protection 

 against spear-thrusts. ''He tapah^o a Iratvaru " is an ancient 

 saying, Irawaru being the tutelary deity of dogs. This cloak 

 was formed by sewing together the skins of dogs, no flax being 

 used in its contruction. 



We have given a list of such cloaks as were used by the 

 natives of this region in former times. These cloaks and capes 

 were all worn across the shoulders, and were fastened either 

 in front or on the right shoulder. The rougher class of such 

 garments were fastened by means of the two strings before 

 mentioned but the finer ones (kakaMi) were often fastened 



