4556 Tue ZooL_ocistr—Aueust, 1875. 
it with part of the sands thrown out, the rest being thrown with the 
shells excavated around the spot. However, it was clearly visible 
that the ground had afterwards been levelled, as it were, under the 
feet of human occupants, and about six inches of newly-formed 
shell bed, being continuous and level with the more distant layer of 
the same nature, had been deposited over the grave, the whole being 
capped with three inches of European accumulations. It is thus 
evident that the burial had not only taken place long before the 
Europeans came to the cave, but that the Maoris continued for a 
considerable number of years to frequent the cave, and to take their 
meals there after that event had happened. 
This fact naturally leads me to conclude that the cave was not 
constantly, or even regularly, visited by the Maoris; and that its 
occupation occurred only occasionally, and by different tribes of 
natives; because, judging from the character and superstitions of the 
Aborigines of the present time, we can safely say that, after the burial 
of one of them, the cave would have become strictly “tapu” to all 
those having any knowledge of the fact, at least as far as the taking 
of meals is concerned. This opinion is also shared by the Rev. J. 
Buller, whom I consulted on this question, and who, having been 
living for many years amongst them in the Northern Island, is per- 
fectly acquainted with all their customs. From this fact alone, 
and the conclusions therefrom, if admitted, we are obliged to assume 
that considerable space of time was necessary to form this shell 
bed alone. / 
The body, as before observed, had been tied together with flax, 
the knees being placed below the chin. Owing to the antiseptic 
properties of the sand, there were still some ligaments and skin upon 
the bones, and some hair upon the skull. The skeleton, which has 
been articulated by Mr. F. Fuller, and now stands in the Canterbury 
Museum, belonged to a man ofa height of nearly six feet, past 
manhood. The ulna of the left arm is broken, and was only par- 
tially healed when the man died. We are so accustomed to observe 
natives possessing a fine set of teeth, that it is rather striking to see 
that this Aborigine must have suffered very much from bad and 
distorted teeth. Thus we find that most of the premolars and 
molars are missing in the lower jaw, the alveoles being already 
quite absorbed. In the upper jaw the first molar on the right side 
and the first molar on the left are distorted inwards, their anterior 
surfaces being adherent to the alveoles, which are developed into 
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