a ae oy eee See te ee ee ee ee ee 
Fe PSE Ee a ss NNT Swe a ieee re ee ee 
Cotenso.—On the Colour Sense of the Maoris. 65 
small amount of skill in its preparation; as all the several varieties of it 
were only found deposited in very small quantities, whether in the still and 
slow-running waters, or in the earth; or deposited as minute crystals and 
rust-like dust between small layers of shale in some dry cliffs. To relate 
the several long and tedious processes of collecting, roasting, or baking, 
etc., etc., though highly interesting, would take up many pages. And this 
toil was not unfrequently increased through their not at first obtaining the 
true shade of red they wished for, hence they patiently repeated their work. 
Those various hues of red colour all bore different names ; the brightest 
and purest was very highly prized. Notwithstanding, they never adorned 
their hair with red flowers, or with red feathers* from their birds ; these 
latter (obtained from the abdomen and under the wings of the big parrot), 
were used by them to decorate the heads of their staffs of state (hani and 
taiaha), for which purpose they were neatly woven into, or stitched on to, a 
bit of flaxen cloth woven expressly for that purpose. 
And here it may be remarked, that on the early coming to New Zealand 
of Europeans (before the establishment of the colony), and their trading 
with the Maoris, they did not care to select red wares, save in the matter of 
red worsted cravats, and red sealing-wax; the former they generally 
unravelled to weave it into the borders, etc., of their best flax clothing- 
mats, and the latter they used as a base for the fang of the shark’s white 
tooth which the chiefs usually wore suspended in their ears; and, also, 
further to ornament the four mother-of-pearl eyes of their carved staffs of 
state (supra). Subsequently, however, when red articles of clothing both 
woollen and cotton were brought for sale, and (for a time) became more 
eagerly sought after, the Maoris could not be deceived with the cheaper 
common dull red handkerchiefs, though stouter in quality, instead of the 
brighter Turkey-red ones. 
* This was the common custom among all the tribes; yet a legendary incident 
showing the very opposite, may be briefly noticed ; particularly as a proverbial saying of 
some power and often in use is said to be founded on it. On one of their famed “canoes” 
from ‘‘ Hawaiki” reaching the shores of New Zealand, the chiefs on board saw the littoral 
finding anything; and through his so doing, the claim to retain it was usually allowed. 
No doubt there is a far deeper meaning in this ancient story than what appears on its 
surface, 
