470 



Transactions. 



tia haere, has a short piece of wood, curved like the htpu perch for kaka, 

 attached to it near the top by a lashing. This is the pewa or perch. A 

 stay-piece, called a kake, supports it, one end being secured to the outer 

 end of the peiva, and the other to the ti haere. A crotch-piece, known as 

 the turi, crosses the kake, and is secured to it and the base of the perch. 

 This serves as a hook whereby the apparatus is suspended from a branch. 



A poa, or bait, is attached to the 

 outer end of the perch, and consists of 

 forest-flowers, those of a chmbing-plant 

 resembling the rata blossom being 

 preferred. The pewa and rnahunga 

 (upper end of tia haere) have moss 

 secured to their surfaces to make 

 them resemble tree-branches, to ap- 

 pear natural to the birds. The tohe 

 or loop snare and cord (aho) are the 

 same as those for a tnutu kaka, but 

 are slighter. Moreover, there are no 

 ngingita on a pewa. The loop is kept 

 in place by being lapped across the 

 underside of the kake. One side of 

 the loop is brought down on either 

 side of the perch and under the kake, 

 where one bight is pulled through the 

 other and so left. When a bird settles 

 on the perch and the fowler pulls the 

 cord, the tohe or loop is disengaged, 

 and catches the bird just as it does 

 on a mutu. A piece of a small branch 

 of a toatoa tree is preferred for making a perch, as it is said that birds are 

 very particular as to what they settle on. The toatoa branchlet has a 

 whekewheke (rough) appearance, said to be desirable in their eyes. 



Such are the various ways by which birds were taken in the forests of 

 Tuhoeland in former times. By such ingenious wiles did the Child of Ta- 

 matea secure a '' square meal." He knew by long experience just how, and 

 when, and where to take each species of bird. At any time he knew where 

 each species was to be found, what fruit or other food it was hving on, and 

 whether or not it would respond to a lure call, or must be speared, or taken 

 by 7nutu or tahei. He knew just when to lay aside the snare and take up 

 the spear. He knew all the calls, habits, tricks, wiles, foods, and ways of 

 the feathered Children of Tane. For stern necessity had taught him all 

 these and many more things. It is said that necessity has no laws. On 

 the contrary, she has a whole bunch of them. 



An omitted remark : When a fowler is engaged in taking a certain species 

 of bird by any of the methods described, do not imagine that he scorns 

 any other species. Not so. Any bird that settles on his pewa or mutu, 

 or comes within reach of his spear or striking-stick, is taken. All is bird 

 to the fowler. 



Mr. Colenso mentions two kinds of bird-snares that were known by the 

 names of whakoau and pare-kauae. Another name for a perch was taeke 

 manu, apparently a form of mutu or pewa. None of these terms seem to be 

 employed among the Tuhoe Tribe. 



The Pewa. 



1. Ti haere. 2. Turi. 3. Kake. 



4. Pewa. 5. Tohe (loop snare). 



6. Poa. 7. Mahunga. 8. Aho. 



