36 H. C. Collyer on 
A dark green jade, and also a variety of it called oceanic jade, 
are found in New Zealand, New Guinea, and New Caledonia. 
The Maoris of New Zealand place a high value on it. A weapon 
peculiar to the chiefs, called a ‘‘ Mere,” was sometimes made of 
this material, and was then priceless; one was given by the 
Maoris to the Prince of Wales on his visit to New Zealand two 
years ago, as the most valuable thing they had. 
Green jade was also made up into pendants for the ears, 
charms in the form of axes, and especially into certain charms 
called ‘* Tikis,’’ or ‘“‘Hei Tikis,’’ which are in the form of a little 
squat figure with eyes of haliotus-shell, and a wide open mouth 
showing his tongue. An old specimen of a ‘‘Tiki’’ is now very 
valuable, and can with difficulty be obtained, as the Maoris are 
buying back all they can, and none are allowed to leave New 
Zealand. 
On the table are some green jade axes, charms, and ear-pen- 
dants from New Zealand, and also a ‘‘ Mere”’ of diorite, to show 
what a ‘“‘Mere”’ is; it was used for thrusting, not for striking. 
But China is the country in which jade is most highly valued; 
it is considered to bring good luck, hence all who can afford it 
wear a piece about their persons, either in the form of an orna- 
ment for the dress, or a charm-pendant, either carved or a crude 
natural piece. The Chinese name for jade is ‘‘ Yu.” They 
regard it with the most superstitious reverence, and expend an 
immense amount of labour in carving it elaborately when they 
get a good piece to work on. It is such an intractable material 
that years are expended in some of the more elaborate carving. 
The specimens shown include a finely carved cup lent by Dr. 
Hobson. Also a green jade incense-burner, an exquisite charm 
or dress-fastener, cups, and a sceptre; all from Mr. Epps’s col- 
lection. There is also another sceptre from my own collection. 
These sceptres are called ‘‘ Joo-ee,”’ and formerly used to be 
given by the emperor to the governor of a State on his appoint- 
ment, as an emblem of authority. Some are made entirely of 
jade, but the majority are of wood, with pieces of jade affixed, as 
are the specimens before you. In my own specimen, the cement 
fixing them on had perished with age, and on fastening them on 
again I found that the top piece of jade is hollowed out with 
great care to make it lighter, and as the bottom piece is solid 
the sceptre balances well in the hand. The peculiar form seems 
to show that in its origin the ‘‘Joo-ee”’ was a flower with a long 
stalk, in all probability a lotus lily, as the earlier jade specimens 
are all carved with the lotus, and the others have trees or 
flowers on them. 
Among the other specimens from my own collection are an 
ointment-box in the form of an interrupted ring—this is a very 
rare and curious piece ; several carved cups, one of rounded form, 
