108 Transactions.—Miscellaneous. 
were occasionally full of fish bones, as if they had been used for plates ; 
but this may have been accidental. 
In conclusion, I will mention that the collection made during these 
excavations has furnished sufficient material for determining the species of 
the Maori rat and the Maori dog. It also contains complete sets of caudal 
vertebre of the moa; complete feet, with hind toes of D. crassus and D. 
casuarinus (?) ; the complete larynx, hyoid bones, and palate of D. crassus ; 
the ossified sclerotic ring of some species of moa, probably D. crassus ; and 
several sterna, with their sternal ribs. 
Arr. VIIL.—The Mythology and Traditions of the Maori in New Zealand. 
By the Rey. J. F. H. Wouters, of Ruapuke, Southland. 
[Read before the Otago Institute, 12th October, 1875.] 
Part IJI.—Maorr Myrnotoey*—Miscettangous TAues. 
1.—The Tale of a Fishiny Canoe Blown off the Land. 
A tone time ago there were two men living quietly at Hawaiki (most likely 
the Island Savaii at the Samoan group, or Navigators’ is meant). They 
used to go out fishing, and when they came back their wives met them on 
the beach, cleaned the fish, and prepared the meals. One day, while they 
were out fishing for baracouta, there came a great wind, and blew them 
away on the open sea. After having been tossed about by the waves for a 
long time, they came to an unknown land. Here they dragged their canoe 
on shore, and then went about seeking for pieces of dry wood to rub fire 
with, but found none. However, some pieces they had in the canoe, used 
for baracouta hooks, would answer when'dry. These they put under their 
arm-pits. Then, when they went along the beach, they saw some foot- 
marks; some were the impressions of ordinary human feet, but some 
seemed to have been made by club-feet. They wondered what sort of 
beings those people might be, and how they could find them. By and by 
they heard the sound of axes in the bush, and, proceeding in that direction, 
they saw two men busily at work chopping out a new canoe. They seemed 
to be quite absorbed in their work, for their eyes always followed the chips 
as they were flying from their adzes. Once they looked up and scanned 
about, but did not observe the two strangers who were cautiously 
approaching. At last the latter went boldly up and discovered themselves. 
After the first surprise, the men asked, ‘‘ Where do you come from ?”’ 
* See “ Trans. N. Z. Inst.,” Vol. VII., Miscellaneous, Art. 1. 
