CoLENSO. — On the Vegetable Food of the Ancient New Zealanders. 19 



the remains of them) more than forty years ago in travelHng.* The variety 

 which was suited (in its prepared fibre) for making into fishing-hnes, would 

 not serve for making nets (which were made of unscraped flax) ; and what 

 was required for the woof of their superior woven flax garments, would not 

 serve for the warp of the same, — while another kind again was used for 

 their dyed borders ; they also used a different variety for the girdles of their 

 chiefs ; another variety for the hard, almost closely woven, sack-cloth-like 

 lining of their prized dog-skin and kiwi-feather garments ; another kind was 

 used for the inner garment (or small apron) of the young girls of rank ; 

 another sort for the common shaggy rain-protecting shoulder mats ; and yet 

 another sort for making the all but impenetrable hard shield, or arm- 

 buckler, used to receive and ward-off spear thrusts, in their assaulting of 

 forts. The di-essed fibre of some kinds was soft, of others glossy and silky, 

 while of other kinds it was harsher and stronger, more linen-thread like ; 

 and the colours and lengths of their staple also greatly differed. 



A similar question here arises in the mind, as has already been brought 

 to our notice in considering both the ktimara and the tare plants, namely — 

 the old Maoris having many distinct and well-known varieties of their flax, 

 how did they get them ? And while this question is more easily and natu- 

 rally answered, owing to the Phormiiim plants abundantly seeding, still, 

 there is another (or more than one) remaining to be met : — Did the old 

 Maoris, the ancient cultivators of the flax plant, did they accidentally discover 

 all, or any, of those several sorts naturally produced ? Or did they, in their 

 cultivating of the plant, and so bringing together the finer and choicer speci- 

 mens — did they, in their so doing, cause, or help to raise the new varieties ? 



This question, however, cannot readily be answered ; although, duly 

 considered, (especially in connection with what has preceded about those 

 other cultivated plants), it will, I think, be found to have a good deal to do 

 with that very important question which has yet to be solved — the great 

 antiquity of the Maori race. Of which more anon. 



in. — Of the Wild ob Uncultivated Food-peoducing Plants of the 

 Ancient New-Zealandek. 

 These were many in kind, some strange and peculiar, yet mostly all 

 common. 



* In travelling through the dense forests of the interior, on two occasions, I came 

 suddenly upon a small cleared area of an acre in extent, which had been regularly planted 

 with a iine variety named oue. At that time, and for many years, no one lived within 

 miles of it, and my Maori companions gazed with wonder, some taking a leaf with them 

 to show when they got home. So here, in Hawke's Bay, in 1845, there were the remains 

 of old plantations of several varieties. In the spot where the township of Havelock now 

 stands was a fine old plantation, and from it I obtained specimens of a prized sort, named 

 tapoto, for Sir W. J. Hooker, which I thought to be a new species. 



