Excursion to Drury. — A Native Meal. 163 



fern wlilcli grows in great luxuriance among the moist spots. 

 These leaves impart to the meat a peculiar and agreeable 

 flavour, whereas other plants are apt to alter the ordinary 

 taste of the food. 



'' The women and girls were busily engaged during a few 

 minutes in weaving little baskets of rushes, in which the po- 

 tatoes were served up garnished with eel. A plateful was 

 handed to each of our party, which we were courteously 

 pressed to eat. In every Maori household there is always a 

 sufficient quantity cooked to admit of any casual traveller or 

 a neighbour partaking with the family ; for the Maori pos- 

 sesses in perfection the savage virtue of hospitality, as we 

 frequently experienced. 



^^ The master of the hut in which we passed the night had 

 suddenly disappeared, and was busily engaged, as we wit- 

 nessed through the open door, in arranging his hair, which 

 he combed carefully, after which he anointed it with eel-fat, 

 which he also plentifully smeared over his face, neck, and 

 arms. This curious toilette completed, he wrapped a clean 

 mat round him, and presented himself in full fig, to bid us 

 all due welcome. The mode of salutation among the New 

 Zealanders is unique. The party saluting draws his head 

 rapidly backwards, and winks a couple of times with half- 

 closed eye and laughing face ! 



'' Our bivouac suddenly received an unexpected accession 

 of new arrivals. From the mountain ridge which we had 

 just passed six horsemen were seen descending at full gallop 



M 2 



