= Hurron.—On Maori Cooking Places, Shag River. 107 
on the river side of the spit below high-water mark, but none below low 
water mark. These stones had no doubt been washed out of the sand by 
the undercutting of the river. 
On the whole, I am inclined to think that the totara stump proves that 
the occupation of this midden was previous to the introduction of iron tools 
by Europeans, and the state of preservation of the shells and bones points 
to the same conclusion, but I know of nothing that proves that the moa 
remains are more than a century old, although it is quite possible that they 
may date back for several centuries. There is certainly not the slightest 
evidence to show that this spit was occupied at two distinct periods, with a 
long interval between, during which interval the moa became extinct, as 
stated by Dr. von Haast. In my opinion, the very last Maoris who camped 
there fed occasionally on the moa. 
Having now given all the facts that I know relating to the occurrence of 
bones and shells in these middens, it only remains to mention those facts 
entirely collected by Mr. Booth, that throw some light on the habits of the 
Moa-hunters and the nature of their feasts. 
Of the leg-bones of the moa, nearly all the tibia were broken for the 
purpose of extracting the marrow; in three months’ work Mr. Booth only 
found three whole ones. Of the femora found, about one-fourth or one- 
fifth were unbroken. The metatarsi were generally broken. All the pelves 
but one were broken. The spinal column appears to have been generally 
cut through at the junction of the neck with the body, and again at eight 
or twelve inches below the head. Very few heads were found that had been 
broken for the extraction of the brain. The sternal ribs were generally still 
lying in their places with the sterna showing. Mr. Booth remarks that 
there had been but little flesh upon them. 
In one place, ten feet square; fifteen pelyes were found, with a few 
vertebre attached to them; but usually the bones were scattered. All 
these fifteen pelves were much broken. 
In reviewing these facts, Mr. Booth concludes that food was not so 
abundant with the Maoris, as supposed by Dr. Haast, as almost all the 
bones except the skulls were broken. He also thinks that the moa feasts 
were only occasional, a small flock of six or seven individuals of the same 
species being captured at atime. He also remarks that the charred state 
of some of the necks proves that they were occasionally roasted, while 
others may have been steamed. Mr. Booth also thinks that the Maoris 
used the bones for fuel, as in several places he found heaps of burnt bones 
from six to twelve inches in depth, and no wood, only a few small pieces of 
charcoal and burnt grass and sea-weed. He also remarked that the sterna 
