> 
748 Transactions. 
the third joint—approximately at the junction of the line of life and the 
line of head. So far as concerned the koauau we had with us, the position 
of the holes agreed fairly well with the finger-joints, as he said; but 
reflection must show that this arbitrary method of measurement would | 
necessarily result in irregularity : forefingers differ in the proportions the 
phalanges bear to one another; and even did they not differ, this means 
could apply only to the koauau of three holes. On being asked if there : 
were definite recognized proportionate distances between the holes he said > 
No; the fingers first told in playing if the holes were in the correct E 
positions, then the ear told if the notes were correct in sound. (Moe 
must be said of this later.) , 
The general term for the holes was wenewene. 
aha (the means of strengthening the sound) ; 
“ corrected ” the sound of the other 
the koauau round the neck ; always three in the front, ехсерё іп the nose- _ 
flute, which had an extra large hole for the nostril just below the top. 
the nose-flute the three holes were smaller. dx 
koauau we had brought to Rotorua was conical in bore, the 
narrower part downward. This, he said, was intentional ; “that is why 
it sounds well.” The size of the end apertures bore no definite ratio one 
to the other—that is, no measured ratio—‘‘ the eye of man controlled — 
these things." 
H 
tune, but each had its special quality of tone. 
tunes had words; there were no tunes without. Опе or more 
people might sing to the sound of the koauau, but softly, so that the so! 
of the instrument might not be lost, and the words and the sound 
flute both be heard. The tune played in unison by Tutanekai on 
e putori 
: х h : + 
village, said that about dusk, from almost every house in the kainga, СО 
be heard the soft sounds of the koauau; “ but that was long ago,” said. 
ee 
evenings, the sounds of its supplanter, the brass fife. m 
е particulars obtained from Iehu Nukunuku correspond in 8? 
respects with those obtained from Kiwi-amohau. The koauau was 
