78 Transactions.—Miscellaneous. 
and attached to a stout line, composed of the fibres of the Korari (Phor- 
mium tenas), which, after being cleaned from the parenchymatous parts, are 
twisted together by the hand, is drawn quickly through the water by a 
person paddling a small canoe ; the larger fish, believing this glittering lure 
to be their prey, eagerly pursue it, and greedily catching at the same, are 
taken. In favourable weather a great number of fine fish are soon captured 
by this method. Among the New Zealanders it is a very favourite sport, 
and one thatis not alittle animating when several canoes are engaged. I 
have seen upwards of twenty small canoes thus employed on a fine summer’s 
evening, on the beautiful sheet of water in the Bay of Islands. I may here 
mention that, previous to the introduction of the Gospel among the New 
Zealanders, their hooks were often composed of human bone; those of 
their enemies being used for that purpose. Sometimes they formed their 
hooks from the tough stalks and branches of Tauhinu (Pomaderris ericifolia) 
and Mangemange (Lygodium volubile), hardening them by the aid of fire. 
At present they invariably prefer the hooks which they make from iron 
nails to those of our manufacture, the latter, they allege, being much too 
brittle. 
Norte ©, page 65. 
Whoever has read the marvellous ‘‘ Thousand-and-One Nights" must 
be well acquainted with the monstrous stories related of this extraordinary 
bird; its celebrity, however, is not confined to that work. ‘‘ Rukh,” says 
the author of the Arabic Dictionary, ‘‘is the name of a monstrous bird, 
which is said to have powers sufficient to carry off a live rhinoceros.” To 
this animal Marco Polo also refers, in his relation of the story of the 
ambassadors :—‘‘ The rukh is said, by persons who have seen it, to measure 
sixteen paces across the wings from tip to tip, the feathers of which are 
eight paces in length, and thick in proportion. A feather of the rukh was 
brought by those messengers who were sent by the Grand Khan for the 
purpose of making enquiries respecting it, which feather is positively 
affirmed to have measured ninety spans, and the quill part to have been 
two palms in circumference.” The existence of this immense bird seems to 
have obtained universal credence throughout all the Eastern nations; and 
while ancient historians make mention of certain enormous and peculiar 
animals as common to the Orientals, scientific men of modern times have 
wisely omitted such relations from their nomenclature. 
Norz D, page 72. 
After all, it may very possibly be observed by some, that I act rather 
more precipitately than is consistent with judicious consideration in thus 
rejecting in toto the whole of such evidence. And such persons may also 
recollect the hastily formed conclusion originally arrived at by some of the 
