CoLENSO. — On Moas and Moa-hiinters. 501 



would like, simply because all New Zealand, from the very night of their 

 history, was occupied tribally — that is, as deadly foes — after the manner 

 of Cain and Abel ; the tribes, too, being numerous, and often changing 

 their names, and becoming extinct throngh warfare. 



G. I scarcely clearly understand this. (1.) I don't believe in that 

 objective Hawaiki ; yet a tradition says a dog came with them, and swam 

 •to shore before their canoe touched land, through smelling a dead whale 

 stranded on the shore (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. x., p. 154). (2.) The ancient 

 Maori dog was certainly not frugivorous in a country sans fruit ; rather 

 omnivorous (see my paper on their dog. Transactions, vol. x., pp. 139- 

 150). It was pretty numerous in Cook's time, and after, as I have shown. 

 Cook's people bought them for food, being a domestic animal, and never 

 too plentiful owing to the great demand for it — for its flesli and hairy 

 skin — for feasts and for chiefs' garments ; and always following the fate 

 of its masters in their frequent wars, it gradually became lost ; partly, 

 too, owing to tlie early introduction of the foreign breeds of dogs, which 

 became more and more requisite to enable the Maoris to catch their wild 

 pigs for barter, &c. There are traditions about the dog, some queer and 

 strange (vol. x., i?. 154). 



7. There are also traditions about the greenstone and its early use, 

 ■but very short and casual [e.g., see Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xii., pp. SO, 81). 



Christchurch, 11th April, 1885. 

 My dear Mr. Colenso, — 



Your welcome letter of the 31st aud 1st April came to hand, to- 

 ,gether with the aiiswers to my questions, for which my best thanks. 

 This, together with your papers, will help me a great deal. I would at 

 once have sent you the two numbers with Quatrefages' papers, but they 

 were out. I have sent them with this mail, together with BuUer's pam- 

 phlet, in which the tradition about the pet j\Ioa is given. You will see 

 that he makes light of it. Now, will you do me this great kindness, and read 

 Quatrefages' paper carefully, and give me some notes on it ; also mark 

 ■with pencil numbers where you wish to draw my attention. Any point 

 you can throw light on is of great value to me in my answer. Please 

 show the paper also to our mutual friend Locke, with my kindest 

 greetings, aud ask him to give me his views upon the same, as well as on 

 BuUer's. The pet IMoa must have been very small or it could not have 

 been retained by a man with a broken leg. Nobody regrets more than I 

 do that by stupidity and want of interest your valuable labours upon the 

 Maoris have been retarded; but I have still great hopes that you will 

 take them up again with great vigour. What I liave seen of you has 

 -shown me that there is still any amount of vitality and " go " in you, and 

 so I have not yet given up all hopes. I have, unfortunately, no specimen of 

 Hookeria flexicollis, or I would send it with great pleasure. 



Ever faithfully yours, 



Julius von Haast. 



P.S. — The pamphlet sent was also very welcome. However, I have 

 not yet found the time to read it con amove, as the lectures have just 

 begun, and I have my hands full with work. 



This last letter was followed by a telegram : — 



Christchurch, 18th May. 

 Please return books. Urgently wanted. 



Julius von Haast. 



Napier, 18th May, 1885. 

 My dear Professor Von Haast, — 



Your telegram of this morning, requesting instant return of 

 Ijooks you kindly lent me, I have received, and respond at once. I would 



