Cheeseman. — 0)1 Maori Carved Burial-chests. 453 



side of the cave at the point marked 7 in the sketch. The 



figure 3 represents where the 

 tallest chest was placed, and 1 

 and 5 the positions of those next 

 in size ; 2, 4, and 6 those of the 

 " others. 



Round the corner of the cliff, at the west end of this cave, 

 and about 12 ft. higher up the cliff, was a second cave, barely 

 more than 6 ft. m total length, and with a very small entrance. 

 Right in the entrance, and almost blocking it, was a single 

 burial-chest carved on the surface to represent a lizard. It was 

 placed with its flat or hollow side downwards on the floor of the 

 cave, the head of the lizard pointing to the south. The chest 

 itself was empty, but numbers of skeletons (from twenty to 

 twe)ity-four, according to Mr. Morrell) were packed around it — 

 so closely, in fact, that the chest could not be removed until the 

 bones were displaced. 



The only other articles found in the caves — but in which of 

 them Mr. Morrell does not state — were a short tao, or spear ; 

 a ko, or spade ; a wooden comb ; and some fragments of Maori 

 flax cloaks. 



The discovery of the burial-chests naturally caused great 

 excitement among the Maoris residing near Waimamaku, and 

 at first they strongly objected to the proposed removal of the 

 chests to the Auckland Museum. They were unable to under- 

 stand why these sacred articles should be taken from them, 

 especially as they were actually the receptacles of the bones 

 of their ancestors. They regarded the matter as an attempt 

 to trample on their most sacred rites and traditions ; and it 

 was not until there had been several heated discussions between 

 the Maoris and the Resident Magistrate, Mr. Blomfield, that an 

 arrangement could be arrived at. Mr. Blomfield at length 

 succeeded in con^'incing them that as the chests, if left at Wai- 

 mamaku, would soon perish by the ravages of time, it would be 

 wise on their part to deposit them in a secure place where they 

 would be preserved for ages to come, and would form a per- 

 manent memorial of their ancestors who made them, and whose 

 memory they themselves wished to keep alive. Ultimately it 

 was agreed tlxat the articles should be handed over by the Natives 

 to the Hon. the Native Minister as their trustee, and that he 

 should place them in the Auckland Museum to remain there 

 for ever. The chiefs concerned in the gift were Ngakura Pana 

 and lehu Moetara, of Waimamaku, and Hoterene Wi Pou and 

 Heremaia Kauere, of Otaua. 



A considerable amount of evidence was taken by Mr. Blom- 

 field when holding his inquiry, and this I have been kindly 



