412 THE PAHS. [chap. xvm. 



All the hills are thickly covered with tall fern, together 

 with a low bush which grows like a cypress ; and very litlle 

 ground has been cleared or cultivated. I then tried the 

 sea-beach ; but proceeding towards either hand, my walk 

 was soon stopped by salt water creeks and deep brooks. 

 The communication between the inhabitants of the different 

 parts of the bay, is (as in Chiloe) almost entirely kept up 

 by boats. I was surprised to find that almost every hill 

 which I ascended, had been at some former time more or 

 ess fortified. The summits were cut into steps or succes- 

 sive terraces, and frequently they had been protected by 

 deep trenches. I afterwards observed that the principal 

 hills inland in like manner showed an artificial outline. 

 These are the Pahs, so frequently mentioned by Captain 

 Cook under the name of " hippah " ; the difference of sound 

 being owing to the prefixed article. 



That the pahs had formerly been much used, was evident 

 from the piles of shells, and the pits in which, as I was 

 informed, sweet potatoes used to be kept as a reserve. As 

 there was no water on these hills, the defenders could 

 never have anticipated a long siege, but only a hurried 

 attack for plunder, against which the successive terraces 

 would have afforded good protection. The general intro- 

 duction of firearms has changed the whole system of 

 warfare ; and an exposed situation on the top of a hill is 

 now worse than useless. The Pahs in consequence are, at 

 >the present day, always built on a level piece of ground. 

 They consist of a double stockade of thick and tall posts, 

 placed in a zig-zag line, so that every part can be flanked. 

 Within the stockade a mound of earth is thrown up, behind 

 which the defenders can rest in safety, or use their firearms 

 over it. On the level of the ground little archways some- 

 times pass through this breastwork, by which means the 

 defenders can crawl out to the stockade to reconnoitre 

 their enemies. The Rev. W. Williams, who gave me this 

 account, added, that in one Pah he had noticed spurs or 

 buttresses projecting on the inner and protected side of the 

 mound of earth. On asking the chief the use of them, 

 he replied, that if two or three of his men were shot, their 

 neighbours would yot see the bodies, and so be discouraged. 



These Pahs are considered by the New Zealanders as very 

 perfect means of defence; for the attacking force is never 

 so well disciplined as to rush in a body to the stockade, cut 

 it down, and effect their entry. When a tribe goes to war. 



