CHAP. IV.] VARIETIES OF MATS. 53 



a thick fringe of strings of the same colour. It is 

 generally worn as a toga by the principal men. 



E wakaiwa is a white mat, with yellow, or fre- 

 quently variegated, strings, not twisted, but rolled 

 together, so as to form tubes, which is done by scrap- 

 ing the flax-leaves on one side. They are worn by 

 the women. 



E tahea is likewise a woman's mat, with twisted 

 strings, two or three feet long. 



E hima is a white mat, with white strings at a 

 distance from each other. 



E tatara is a black-stringed mat, with patches or 

 rows of dyed wool, of which substance the natives 

 are very covetous ; and many a red comforter or cap 

 has been converted into these ornaments. They 

 have, however, a red vegetable dye of their own. 

 This is the wood and bark of the rimu-pine. 



E rapaki is a coarse mat, which the women wear : 

 it covers them from the loins to the knees. 



E mangaika is a very thick and large mat, into 

 which black or yellow pieces of flax are closely in- 

 serted, and which are impervious to rain. In these 

 the epidermis, which keeps the fibres of the flax-leaves 

 together, is not separated; and where this is the 

 case the mats are called koka. 



A good sleeping-mat is called takapau, and re- 

 sembles our table-covers : an inferior one is called 

 e porera. 



Mats are also made from pieces of dog's-skin sewn 

 together. They are then called tahi uru. 



