TBANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 379 



stems, convolvulus-roots, and the berries of the karaka and 

 hinau, the Maoris cultivated the kuniara, hue, and taro. Fish 

 of various kinds were caught during the proper season, and 

 cured in vast quantities by drying in the sun, just as the Caribs 

 of the Mexican Gulf cured their boucan. Wild pigeons, kakas, 

 koko, tui. Paradise ducks, wekas, and mutton-birds were cooked 

 -and preserved in their own fat, in vessels made out of large 

 kelp-leaves. Netting, carving, and the grinding and fitting of 

 stone implements and weapons occupied the old men, and 

 much of the leisure time of the young. They beguiled the 

 long winter evenings by reciting historical traditions and tribal 

 genealogies, by repeating poetry and fairy tales, and by songs, 

 dances, flute-playing, and round games. 



" In their social and domestic relations," to quote Mr. 

 Colenso, " much harmony and good feeling prevailed. They 

 were courteous in their behaviour towards each other, and so 

 unwilling to hurt the feelings of others that in convejing 

 bad and startling news they employed a song or quoted a say- 

 ing of well-known meaning. They avoided wantonly hurting 

 any one's feelings, and were scrupulously careful not to 

 cause offence to visitors by look, word, or gesture. Any one 

 guilty of rude behaviour was spoken of as one who had had no 

 parents — one hatched from a cuckoo's egg. If they met an 

 enemy in the company of one of their own friends and allies, 

 no matter how deadly the feud between them might be, they 

 would be quite civil to the enemy, and do nothing to harm him 

 while with their friend, for fear of giving him pain, though, once 

 separated from the friend's protection, they would not hesitate 

 to kill and eat him. 



Their chivalrous conduct on some occasions towards tneir 

 foes was very remarkable — perhaps unparalleled except in the 

 age of knighthood. Instances are recorded of a besieging 

 party, when informed that their enemies were in want of food 

 or weapons, sending a supply. 



The story of Tutewaimate's encounter with the robber- 

 chieftain Moko illustrates this pleasing trait in the JNIaori 

 character. 



Tutew^aimate, a powerful chief who ruled the tribe inhabit- 

 ing the Canterbury Plains about the year 1550, was subjected 

 to considerable annoyance by a robber-chieftain named Moko, 

 who waylaid the convoys of provisions and goods being brought 

 to him, and killed the porters. But, as the latter were slaves, 

 Tu did not think them worth avenging; but when Moko, in the 

 course of these predatory attacks, killed a relative of his the 

 great chief resolved to avenge his kinsman, and, accompanied 

 by a large army, proceeded to attack Moko. Leaving the bulk 

 of his forces at Kapukariki (Gust), Tutewaimate pushed on 

 early one morning with a few chosen warriors to Moko's 



