258 Frotn Magazines, &c. [is^April 



regularity. Soon after ebb-tide they repair to favourite feeding- 

 grounds up the harbour and scatter over the flats covered with 

 karepo, or zostera, where various Crustacea abound, and up the 

 creeks. As the tide flows and covers the low-lying flats, small 

 flocks, numbering from 200 to 500, which the Maoris call ' waka 

 kuaka,' are seen streaming down the harbour. Later on, the 

 main flock, many thousands strong, in close cuneate formation, 

 head for the Kotiata bank and settle on it. Formerly they went 

 to Otamatea, near the entrance of the harbour, till the rising tide 

 forced them to fly to a ' puta ' on the Otiaia beach. The word 

 ' puta ' means a hole, but it is now applied to various favourite 

 haunts and resting places, where the Godwits regularly collect 

 at certain states of the tide, and, owing to natural or artificial 

 cover, enable a sportsman to approach within gun range. The 

 word is also applied to localities inland or at the back of sand 

 dunes where the Godwits seek shelter during heavy gales. In 

 the old days a ' puta ' that had just been discovered was 

 regarded as the property of the finder. Trespass was followed 

 by severe punishment and sometimes by bloodshed. 



" Mr. Matthews states that the Godwit was strictly protected in 

 that part of New Zealand by the old-time Maori, but after the 

 death of Popata, about forty-five years ago, the conditions were 

 relaxed, and have not been enforced. The season for taking the 

 Godwit opened after the shark-fishing was over, generally about 

 the time of the full moon in February, high spring tides being 

 necessary for making big bags, especially after the introduction 

 of guns. The birds are always very fat after a wet summer. It 

 is a Maori tradition that they fatten on ' kohu.' Sometimes the 

 flock would be surrounded by men carrying 'rama,' orj torches. 

 At the same time swift runners with nets and clubs would rush 

 into the midst of the dazed and confused flock, and many would 

 be killed. The ' tahuhu ' was a long rope a little thicker than 

 a lead pencil, lightly tanned to make it less conspicuous. It was 

 tightly stretched about one foot from the ground and secured to 

 stout pegs driven in at intervals to keep it at the required height, 

 an important item. To this rope nooses, numbering 600 to 800 

 or more, were tied close together, overlapping slightly. Some- 

 times two rows of nooses, one above the other, were tied so that 

 the loop of the upper passed half-way down across the lower. 

 The running part of the lower noose was slightly tied to the 

 standing part of the upper to keep the loop open, but so as to be 

 readily detached when a bird was caught. Another method for a 

 permanent ' tahuhu ' was used. A number of long, stout poles 

 were erected in the regular track of flight. To these from twelve 

 to fifteen or more ropes were fastened about a foot apart. To 

 these ropes the nooses, made of tanned flax fibre, were tied. 

 Sometimes a more simple method was adopted. A large num- 

 ber of pegs were driven in all about and around the resting 



