Matthkavs. — Frmin/xreiirex of Manri Life Fifli/ Tears n;/o. 603 



small quantity of kokowai, just enough to give the bones a light tint. As a cos- 

 metic fovthe body and hair, the oil was used either with or without an admixture 

 of kokowai, and it was often scented with kopuru moss, with raukmva [Panax 

 Edqcrleiji), manakura (Melicytus micranthus), or some other scented shrub. 



The koinga shark was closely preserved at Ahipara. This is a small 

 species, rarely exceeding 3 ft. in length. Its flesh was considered more 

 delicate and better eating than that of the kapeta. The liver produced a 

 finer oil, not nearly so rank, and was held in high esteem for anointing pur- 

 poses. This species has two dorsal fins, and in front of each is a strong 

 bony tusk, or spine, which gives it the distinctive name of loinga (a sharp 

 point). The front tusk is about 2| in. in length, and the hinder one a little 

 shorter. The livers were cut into halves and put into calabashes, heated 

 stones being placed on the top, to try out the oil. 



The teeth of the mako shark were greatly prized. They were called 

 ngutukao, and were worn suspended from a hole bored in the lobe of the 

 ear. If sold they always fetched a high price, and I saw two bullocks 

 given for a pair of medium size in 1855. In the north the mako is usually 

 caught at or near the North Cape. The canoe pulls out to the mako ground, 

 when a lot of fish is thrown overboard as a poa (attraction). The mako, 

 which is a tame fish, is attracted alongside by the bait, when a strong 7ua- 

 hanga (noose) is passed over its head below the dorsal fin and then pulled 

 tight around the small of the body. It was never caught with, a hook, 

 for fear of injuring the teeth. Four teeth only were considered of special 

 value, two in the upper and two in the lower jaw. The best-shaped teeth 

 had the points bent slightly outwards, the others were bent sidew^ays more 

 or less according to their position. The 7nako attains a length of from 

 7ft. to 10 ft. While mostly found near the North Cape, stray specimens 

 are occasionally met with between Rangaunu Heads aiM Cape Karikari. 

 We once captured a medium-sized fish in this locality, and lost another 

 — a large one — owing to the line breaking. 



In the "Handbook of the Fishes of New Zealand," 1886, by R. A. A. 

 Sherrin, the author states that the mako of the Maoris is considered to be 

 identical with the Lamna glauca, or tiger-shark. But the tiger-shark known 

 in the north as such is an entirely different fish : it is a good deal larger, 

 growing from 10 ft. to 12 ft., and bigger round the body ; it is also much 

 more powerful and more difficult to handle ; the teeth also are different, 

 being very large and of a triangular shape, like those of a crosscut saw, 

 instead of the slender curved form of those of the mako. 



In the same work, referring to the dogfish, the statement occurs that 

 " the ground-shark (dogfish) deposits eggs, usually two at a time, enclosed 

 in horny cases several inches long, not unlike those of the skate." This 

 is evidently a different fish, as our dogfish, or kapeta, is well known to be 

 viviparous. 



2. PiGEOX-SNARING. 



The bush-pigeon {Carpophaga novae-zealandiae), known in the north 

 by the Maori name kukupa, is fast becoming scarce. It has always been 

 held in the highest estimation by the Maoris on account of the peculiarly 

 delicate flavour of the flesh. As late as the " fifties " the kukupa was found 

 in countless numbers — all the forests were swarming Avith them. At that 

 time the Maoris could only get 1 lb. of gunpowder per man during a year. 

 They were very chary of using this, and made it spin out by using very 

 reduced charges, whilst the old people, including many that I knew well, 

 still used the spear, to which I shall refer later on. Since that time, owing 



