174 Transactions.—Miseellaneous. 
and green, which, however, are rarely used, being less easily prepared, and 
less effective. 
The serolls with which the rafters and ridge-pole are covered, are 
confined to the pattern, called Pare-mango. The other well-known pattern, 
the Kowhaiwhai,* being altogether omitted. 
There are fifteen carved upright slabs on either side of the building, 
placed exactly opposite to each other. They average seventeen inches 
in width and from two to three inches in thickness, and are about 
_ two feet apart. The surface of each post is divided into two equal parts, 
on each of which a grotesque representation of the human form is carved 
in slight relief, the eyes being inlaid with pawa shell. The style of carving | 
generally employed throughout is the Ponga. At both gables there are 
seven posts, the middle one, on which the ridge-pole rests, being the widest 
and best finished. From each of the side-posts, a broad rafter, slightly 
convex, springs, resting on the ridge-pole, which is a broad, flat piece of | 
timber highly ornamented. The rafters are covered with scrolls, done in 4 
white, upon a red-blue, or green ground. The artist, unfortunately, did 
not confine himself to ancient patterns, but introduced various novelties of 
his own designing, consisting, for the most part, of representations of the 
leaves of different plants and shrubs. At each gable end there is a boarda 
foot wide, running up from the wall-plate to the ridge-pole, covering the 
ends of the uprights, and painted with grotesque faces, not unlike Chinese 
designs. These are intended as specimens of the style adopted in orna- 
menting whatas and out-door buildings. There are two posts, 9in. x 12in., 
supporting the ridge-pole, and covered with a modern diamond pattern. 
These posts, in a native home, would have been round, and the surface 
carved ; but suitable timbers for the purpose could not be obtained. The 
door-way is placed at the south end, and is three feet wide, and six feet nine 
inches high, being at least two feet higher than was usual in former times, 
when the door-way was made low, in order to place a person entering with 
hostile intent, at a disadvantage. The wooden door, working in a socket, 
is replaced by a pane of glass. The window is three feet wide, and four 
feet high, the ancient proportions being here reversed, and glass again sup- 
plies the place of a wooden shutter. Beneath the window was the seat of 
honor, where the chief sat, and, this being the left hand side, was tapu, or 
sacred, the opposite side being noa, or common. It was through the window 
that the officiating priest entered to perform the purifying ceremonies which 
always attended the opening of a new house—an occasion looked forward 
to with some anxiety by the builders, for, should any mistake be made by 
® Gaad anosimeanoc af hin be eo 
PeClmens 
i pattern may be seen in the church at Otaki, 
