426 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



In a small volume published in 1830 — a volume of the 

 " Library of Entertaining Knowledge," which gives an ex- 

 ceedingly interesting account of the New-Zealanders of that 

 day — an implement, described as "a pole with a crossbar fixed 

 to it, about 3ft. from the ground," is mentioned as being used 

 by the Maoris for digging. This, no doubt, was the ko. The 

 spade and plough of the pakeha have entirely superseded the 

 ho and the kaJieru, which was an implement used by the Maori 

 for such work as would now be done with the hoe, shovel, 

 and rake. It was made of hardwood also, as indeed were all 

 Maori implements used in tilling the ground. It was, I believe, 

 used for loosening and levelling the surface of the ground in 

 preparation for planting, for removing w^eeds, and for various 

 other purposes. Other implements, as the tiliou, the tikoko 

 (a kind of shovel), and an instrument called a tima, used as a 

 hoe, may be included in the list of tools once plied by the 

 Maori farmer ; also short wooden instruments, fashioned with 

 more or less care, used for ngaki, or weeding, and hauhake, 

 digging and gathering the kumara crop. These scarcely 

 require special notice. 



The Maori is an expert fisherman. His kupenga, or seine, 

 was a very large one, often over 1,000ft. in length. Its 

 material was the leaf of harakeke, or flax-plant, which was 

 split by hand into shreds or strips. These were made up into 

 bundles and hung up to dry, or to partially dry — treatment 

 which made them softer and tougher and more easily handled 

 in the process of netting. The manufacture of the kupenga was 

 a great work, in wdiicli the whole community in a kainga, or 

 village, took part, each family making an allotted portion. 

 Strict rules were enforced to secure the orderly prosecution of 

 the work. Restrictions were imposed with respect to eating 

 and to the rules of tapu. The knot is the same as is used in 

 the manufacture of our nets. The takekenga, or mesh, how- 

 ever, was formed over the bunched fingers, and was made 

 closer and stouter in the middle part of the net where the 

 strain is greatest. 



The kahanmga and kahararo (upper and lower ropes of the 

 seine) were made of undressed flax, harakeke, also strongly 

 platted with three strands ; the pouto, or floats, were made 

 of the whau, and placed at intervals of 18in. ; the sinkers 

 were stones. The centre of the net was marked with a larger 

 and ornamental float. Great care was taken of these nets, 

 which, after use, were dried, folded, and laid up in a heap upon 

 a stage. At the end of the season they were thatched, to pro- 

 tect them from the weather, and were thus made to last a 

 long time. Landing-nets (pukoro or rohe) were also used, and 

 several kinds of fishing-baskets, made of netting stretched 

 over a hoop and fastened to a pole. 



