466 Transactions. 



to project in a suitable manner it is utilised as a hiwi. being termed a hiwi 

 ariki. Each hiwi has its proper name, according to the angle at which it 

 is placed, and each one has its own form of mutu for use thereon. A hiwi 

 placed in a vertical position is termed a pou tauru, and sometimes pou wha- 

 Jcaara. The mutu termed a porae is used on this pole. The hiwi used for 

 the kira perch is longer than others, so that it may project further from 

 the tree. For this is used for taking shy birds, which are generally female 

 birds (karawa), says my informant. Thus the kira perch is also attached 

 to a longer rod than are other perches. 



Each imitu or perch is lashed on to the end of a hght rod termed a kokiri- 

 kiri or tia-haere. This rod is of considerable length. A small stick is 

 secured in the lashings so that it forms a crotch, termed a pekapeka. The 

 perches were, before being used, always exposed to the weather for some 

 time, that they might acquire an old. weatherbeaten look, otherwise the 

 birds would not settle on them. They were usually made of maire, or kahi- 

 katea, or totara. Many of these mutu were ornamented with carvings, the 

 upper part of the upright piece often carved into the form of a grotesque 

 h^ad. There is often some carving on the knob (termed toretoi-e) at the outer 

 end of the perch. The perch is sometimes notched hghtly {ivhakakaka). 

 Four holes are made in each mutu. One is bored through the upper part 

 of the upright piece, and through this passes the snare-cord. Another is 

 pierced through the end of the perch, just under the knob. Pieces of aka 

 (vines or thin roots), or the quill of a feather, are inserted in this hole, the 

 two ends left projecting an equal distance on either side. These ends are 

 then bent forward along the perch and there secm'ed by a sHght lashing. 

 At the base of the perch a hole is made in each side of the upright, and 

 similar pieces of qviill thrust therein. These ngingita. as they are termed, 

 are for the purpose of holding the loop snare [tohe) in position until it is 

 pulled therefrom by the fowler when he snares a bird. 



The name of the permanent poles (hiwi) lashed to the branches of the 

 snaring-tree is an expression having two meanings, as bearing on our pre- 

 sent subject. Hiwi means " old-looking, weatherbeaten," as of timber or 

 other items, and also it equals kohiwi as impljang a hard core or heart. A 

 tree or branch from which all sapwood has decayed and fallen, leaving 

 merely the hard, sound heartwood, is so termed. I heard a Native say, 

 " Whakairia te ynutu kia hiwia." He was spealdng of a new snaring-perch, 

 and meant that it should be exposed that it become old-looking. The 

 permanent poles were probably termed hiwi because dry hiwi branches of 

 trees were first used for the purpose. 



Behold, then, our merry fowler ensconced upon his stage far up among 

 the branches of a mighty tree. He has with him his mutu kaka or parrot- 

 perches of four different forms, each lashed on the end of a hght rod. He 

 proceeds to arrange the snares thereon and place them in position. The 

 running noose which forms the snare is a hght cord of two strands. Each 

 strand is made of twisted flax-fibre, and the two strands are then twisted 

 together. This loop snare is called a tohe, and ivhakatohe means the making 

 and arranging of the snare. The snare is arranged by laying it along on top 

 of the perch and allowing it to hang down on either side. The free end of 

 the cord is then passed through a hole in the upper part of the upright piece 

 of the mutu, and to it is attached a long cord of twdsted flax-fibre, termed a 

 kaha by Tuhoe, but aho by some tribes. In order to prevent the snare 

 from being disarranged it is pressed in under the four ngingita, two on each 

 side of the perch. Both kaha and tohe have been hung in smoke for some 



