BuLLER. — On a Curious Maori Flute. 569 



of the flute, there is another precisely similar carving in relief, 

 and another again at the bottom of the instrument ; but the 

 last has elevated ears (as if to catch the strains of music), and 

 the mouth is open, the orifice of the flute representing the 

 throat. The entire outer surface of the flute between the 

 heads I have described is very elaborately carved in the neat 

 and regular ivhakarauponga pattern. The blowing-orifice, or 

 mouth of the flute, is placed in a plain circle just below the lips 

 of the top figure. The three other apertures are placed near 

 the bottom of the instrument, the first being just Gin. from its 

 extremity, and the two others at distances of 2in. and I'Sin. 

 apart respectively. It produces a rich note like that of our 

 own flutes, and not the shrill penny-whistle piping of the ordi- 

 nary Maori koauau. I am assured that the tradition in the 

 family is that this is the identical flute on which Tutanekai 

 discoursed his love-song to Hinemoa, the maiden of Eotorua, 

 several hundred years ago. But that seems to me only a 

 pleasant fiction. The comparative newness of its appearance 

 prevents our referring this relic to any remote period, besides 

 which the fine carving is undoubtedly produced by cutting with 

 an iron chisel. It seems to me rather an adaptation of the 

 principle of our own flute than a very ancient form ; although, 

 on the other hand, the late Dr. Shortland, who was no mean 

 authority on Maori matters, is said to have believed in its 

 historical authenticity, placing a value of £100 on the relic. It 

 must be remembered, also, that there are other flutes on 

 the true koauau pattern, and of admittedly ancient date, 

 claiming the honour in question ; notably, the famous human- 

 bone flute, called Te Murirangaranga, presented by the Eoto- 

 rua tribes to Captain Gilbert Mair after his gallant defence of 

 Ohinemutu, for which he afterwards received the decoration 

 of the New Zealand Cross ; and the interesting wooden flute 

 in Sir George Grey's collection, now deposited in the Auckland 

 Art Gallery. 



To return, however, to Dr. Shortland's flute, now under 

 notice, I may mention that the cavity, due apparently to the 

 natural hollowness of the wood when deprived of the pith, is 

 exactly three-quarters of an inch in diameter. As already 

 explained, this is hermetically closed at the top ; but at the 

 bottom of the instrument there is an artificial constriction, 

 about two inches up, with an orifice in the centre, exactly of 

 the size of the note-holes, or i^in. in diameter. This is very 

 curious and suggestive, reminding one of the peculiar tonsil- 

 like contrivance already described by me in treating of the 

 pukaea, or long war-trumpet.-'' 



* Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxv., p. 527. 



