446 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



fourths of an inch thick in the middle, tapering on either side 

 to a tolerably sharp edge. The stone was of a pale-green 

 colour, mixed with opal, so as to present a wavy appearance, 

 like that of a mackerel sky, translucent at the edge, and not 

 disfigured by a single black speck. This weapon was named 

 Pahikauri, and was obtained from a chief on the East Coast, 

 whom an ancestor of Te Heuheu had killed in battle. 



" Specimens of the stone are found, in detached blocks or 

 pebbles, in several mountain-torrents on the west coast of the 

 Middle Island. The places most renowned, near which it is 

 sought, are Arahura and Ohonu, on the north-west coast ; 

 Wakatipu, a lake in the interior, one of the sources of the 

 river Mataura ; and Piopiotahi, a torrent on the south-west 

 coast 



"In search of this stone the natives of other places have 

 been in the habit of making long voyages, and journeys across 

 the mountain from the East to the West Coast. When pro- 

 cured it is fashioned and polished by rubbing it on flat blocks 

 of sandstone (Jioanga). This is a work of so much labour that 

 to finish such a weapon as that above described often requires 

 two generations. Hence one cause of the great value set upon 

 it. Another cause of its value is that the extreme toughness 

 of the stone enables it to bear a fine edge ; so that, before the 

 New-Zealanders knew the value of iron, they had a useful 

 substitute for it, from which they made hatchets and chisels. 



" By some the strange notion has been entertained that 

 this stone was found in a soft state by the natives, it not being 

 credited that they could have learnt the art of fashioning it 

 otherwise. Mr. Banks and Captain Cook also expressed their 

 wonder by what process this was done, as they found the stone 

 so hard as to resist the force of iron. But sandstone will cut 

 it as readily as it does iron ; and holes are drilled through it 

 with the aid of a little fine hard sand and water and a sharp- 

 pointed stick, by a simple process which is described in another 

 place. Stones of different qualities, determined by different 

 shades of colour and transparency, are distinguished from one 

 another by names, and have corresponding values. The best 

 quality is called kahurangi, a word often used, in the same 

 way as we use the word jewel in poetry, to denote a precious 

 object : — 



" Whaia c hoc hi te iti kahurangi, 

 Kia tapapa koe : he maunga tikctike 



(Seek the kahurangi — the jewel, the highborn : 

 When you stoop, let it be to a lofty mountain) 



are lines which were applied to a woman of rank who had 

 fallen in love with a slave, and were sung to her by her rela- 

 tives, who disapproved of her unworthy connection. In Phil- 

 lips's ' Mineralogy ' this stone is described under the name of 



