88 Transactions.— Miscellaneous. 
public- or market-places, with us. Rongomaraeroa,—though, sometimes, 
under an abbreviated or different name,—was always considered to be the 
patron, precursor, or master of the kumara. 
2. Pohutukawa,—the name of the sea-side tree in the North Island 
(north of Table Cape), Metrosideros tomentosa; also, of a variety of the 
kumara with reddish flesh, something like the colour of the wood of that 
tree; and the name (according to some legends) of the first kumara on the 
West Coast ; and, also, of an old variety of kumara, universally known in 
the North Island. 
8. Rurutangiakau,—this quaint and ludicrous figurative name, liter- 
ally means, (The)-owl-crying-(by-the)-rocky-sides-(of-the)-sea! It may, 
however, also, mean, (The)-thicket-(by-the)-resounding-sea-clifis ; or, (The)- 
sheltered-resonant-clump-(of-the)-sea-side. (The word ruru being equally 
common for owl, and for shelter, or sheltered; and here given by 
metonymy to the wood, or thicket, which yields the shelter.) I incline to 
this last meaning, in connection with the name of ‘‘ his own child’”’ (see, 
No. 4, infra); which tree also often grows on dry spots near the sea. The 
sea-side name is also quite in keeping with the former name of Pohutukawa. 
4. Te Akerautangi,—the rustling-leaved-ake (Dodonaea viscosa), a small 
tree, so-called from the sounding of its harsh dry leaves striking against 
each other when set in motion by the wind. (Another proof of the high 
discriminating faculties of hearing and of observation of the ancient Maoris.) 
Of the hard wood of this tree (their hardest), their digging-spades (koo) used 
in planting the kumara, and their staffs of rank (aiaha, and hani), some- 
times used as weapons of offence, were made.* This ‘‘child” of the 
thicket, is such a digging-spade, or staff, carved and ornamented in the 
usual manner, as described, with its four eyes, etc. There is, however, 
something more here, hidden,—some esoteric meaning,—in the Janus-like 
ornaments of those implements,—especially in the one used only in culti- 
vation,—indicative of a looking-both-ways, and of working diligently,— 
and that, too, always under strictly tabooed regulations. 
5. Pani,—this word has several meanings,—(1) To paint, daub, anoint, 
ete.; (2) To close, or obstruct, an entrance, way, etc.; (8) To be friendless, 
forsaken, to be deprived of parents, etc.; also, a widow, orphan, ete. Pos- 
sibly here it may be taken to indicate that this personage, Pani, was at first 
* This is commemorated in their poetry, thus:— 
The fighting weapons in the days of old were (made of) the kahikatoa (wood), and sperm- 
whale bones, and the akerautangi (tree), 
