Gol-die. — Maori Medical Lore. 65> 



had been frost-bitten. The mutilated stumps had healed, but 

 the limbs were shrivelled and darker than other parts of the 

 body. He believed the disease to be rare, and had never seen 

 a case in the North Island, nor to the south of Akaroa in the 

 South Island. 



The few sporadic cases of leprosy observed amongst the Maoris 

 have been referred to by so many authors that undue importance 

 has been attached to them, and the prevalence of this disease 

 iu the colony has been overestimated. That ngerengere was 

 once very widespread in New Zealand is only a surmise, not 

 supported by any facts. The steps now being taken by the 

 Government to isolate the few remaining cases will doubtless 

 result in the total disappearance of the disease. 



Fractures. 

 Fractures were treated by encasing the limb with splints 

 of bark (papariki), or the strongest parts of the flaxdeaves. 

 Compound fractures were sometimes carefully set, laid upon 

 pillows, kept clean, and the pressure of the clothes kept off 

 by wickerwork hoops. Sometimes the limbs were well set, and 

 the splints very efficiently applied and kept in position until 

 the bones were firmly united. The process of setting of the 

 fracture was greatly facilitated by repeating this special invoca- 

 tion to the demi-god Tiki : — 



thou Tiki, give me thy girdle 



As a bandage for this limb. 



Come thou, bind it up, 



Tie around it thy cords and make it right. 



thou flesh, be thou straight. 



And ye sinews, be ye right, 



And ye bones, join ye, join ye. 



Healing of the broken bone was hastened by repeating a 



charm known as a hono, such as the following : — 



Tutakina i on iwi 



Tutakina i ou toto 



Tutakina i ou mongamonga tena te rangi 



Ka tutaki, tena te papa ka whena. 



which, being translated, is :— 

 Close up your bones, 

 Close up your blood, 



Close up your marrow, and be united as the heavens, 

 And let your bones be strong as the earth. 



Burns and Scalds. 

 The Maoris apply the feathery plumes of the toetoe grass 

 (Arundo conspicua) in the form of a poultice to a scalded sur- 

 face, and, while applying it, repeat the following karakia or 

 prayer to Tiki : — 



5 — Trans. 



