Те Rane Hrroa—Maori Plaited Basketry and Plaitwork. 711 
The strips having been treated in this way are ready for None into 
the ordinary mats and baskets for common use. When they become dry 
they become stiffer, and the colour changes to brown. The two surfaces 
have a different shade, whilst that corresponding to the anterior (or inner) 
surface of the leaf maintains its smoother appearance. 
(2.) White Wefts.—The term “ white wefts ” is used because the natural 
(а.) Treatment with hot water: In these days the rough wefta are 
boiled for a few minutes in a large pot or a kerosene-tin. In olden days 
the water was heated in a wooden vessel (kumete) by dropping in red- 
hot stones. The heat softens the strips and helps to get rid of the green 
colouring-matter in the lea 
Light scraping (piahu) : On removal from the hot nm the strips 
are scraped along their whole length on both sides. Shells were used, but 
unt knives are now more in favour. The scraping is done lightly. 80 as 
not to cut down on the fibre. A certain amount of epidermis and colouring- 
matter is removed, and the strips rendered softer and more pliable. The 
light scraping is accomplished by drawing the strip with the left hand back 
towards the body against the lower edge of the shell. The term piahu as 
ee loosely applied to the kaku process is incorrect. As each strip 
is done it is laid down on a heap with the butt-tuft towards the worker. 
+a 6.) Drying (whakamaroke) : The scraped strips are gathered up in small 
bundles, the tufted ends are tied together, and the bundles straddled over 
a line to dry. When dry they assume a whiter appearance. The surface 
a, 
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corresponding to the anterior surface in the leaf has a whiter colour than 
the back, and maintains its smoother appearance. They are softer and 
easier to manipulate than the rough wefts. Kiekie strips are treated in 
this manner, and become ч than flax. The bundles of white wefts, 
` when dry, are often beaten against the ground or a stone to render them 
softer and more pliable. 
For the best class of floor-mats the butt-tufts were not necessary. In 
preparing the wefts for them the takirikiri and kaku stages of the rough 
weft were omitted. After slitting the leaf down to the butt-junction the 
butt was cut off short, leaving a short piece of undivided mg теч the 
divisions of a half-blade together. In some cases, perhap or four 
strips were left united. These were then boiled, lightly заан en dried, 
and e white wefts without butt-tufts. 
e wefts were used in plaiting the better class of floor-mats and 
ьа bónton duin. and some varieties of belts. 
(3.) Dyed Wefts.—The dyeing process is continued on from the last. 
Though red, yellow, and black dyes are used with prepared fibre for weaving 
cloaks, so far as I know black was the only dye used originally in plaiting. 
Coléngo; 1 however, mentions that a blue-black, obtained from the bark of 
the tutu (Coriaria ruscifolia), was used in graceful little baskets for a beloved 
child. Yellow was obtained from the natural colour of the pingao (Scirpus 
frondosus). In these degenerate days — dyes of any "aiio are 
was pounded on a flat stone with a beater and mixed with cold water in 
a wooden bowl (kumete). The white wefts were soaked in this infusion 
for about twelve hours and then hung up to dry. Besides hinau, the leaves 
