Interior of a Nciv Zealand Native Hut. i6i 



a Maori village. In front of us lay the valley through which 

 flows the Mangatawhiri, which falls into the Waikato a little 

 lower down. The course of the latter was traceable by a range 

 of hills whose eles-ant outlines bounded the horizon. We ex- 

 perienced a most friendly reception from the natives of this vil- 

 lage, and were lodged in the newest wJidri or New Zealand hut. 

 This is constructed in the shape of a quadrangle with elliptic 

 sides, about 20 feet in length by 14 feet in breadth, and con- 

 sists of stakes of palm driven in close to each other, and tied 

 together. The roof, which is 15 feet high in the centre, 

 gradually sloping to about 8 feet at the side walls, is of thin 

 slips of wood, and is covered over by a dense layer of native 

 flax, so ingeniously woven that it is impervious to water, 

 which accordingly runs off. The roof is for the most part sup- 

 ported simply by an upright pole in the midst, but occasionally 

 several of these are used, so as to impart greater strength to 

 the roof. The side walls are usually covered with large mats 

 made of woven rushes. In the middle of the two longer 

 side Avails are two doors placed exactly opposite each other, 

 between which a species of corridor is made, which divides 

 the hut into two apartments as it were. In the event of bad 

 weather, a small whari close at hand serves as a kitchen, 

 the Maori usually following all culinary avocations in the 

 open air in front of his hut. 



'' The village consists of some 15 huts scattered at random, 

 among which some of the inhabitants of both sexes, clotlied 

 in European attire, were sitting or lounging upon the ground, 



VOL. III. M 



