Ingenious Mode of Drilling Nephrite. — Cannibalism. 121 



to manipulate this stone, which is so hard that even iron does 

 not bite it, probably gave rise to the notion that when found 

 the stone is in a soft state. Sandstone, however, is found 

 efficacious in the process just as it polishes iron also, and the 

 holes requisite for suspending it, are made by the very simple 

 process of drilling with a piece of pointed hard wood, with fine 

 sand and a little water. 



Cannibalism may be said to have entii-ely ceased in New 

 Zealand. Any allusion to this revolting practice is very 

 painful to the New Zealander of j;he present day, as reminding 

 him of his former low position in the scale of nations. Every 

 time that we endeavoured to make any inquiry of the natives 

 respecting this custom, they withdrew with an ashamed look. 



In like manner dog's flesh has ceased to be an article of 

 food, ever since the introduction of pork by Captain Cook. 

 Formerly the native or Maori dog, which at present is very 

 scarce, was eaten on certain occasions, while its blood played 

 a somewhat conspicuous part in Maori pharmacy. 



The vegetables most extensively used for food before the 

 arrival of the Europeans were ; — 



1. Raorao {Pteris esculenta), a fern three or four feet high, 

 which covers vast tracts of land, and the root of which, before 

 the introduction of the Peruvian potato, formed the chief sub- 

 sistence of the Maori. 



2. Kumara {Convolvulus Batata), or sweet potato, the most 

 valuable of New Zealand products. Various legends of ad- 

 venture exist among the natives respecting its first introduc- 



