28 T7rnisactions.— Miscellaneous. 



ouce cut died. The first European who discovered and named it, Dr. 

 Forster, spoke very highly of it. 



7. The blanched heart-shoot [korito) and bases of the youngest leaves of 

 the tii, or kouka, or ichanake, the cabbage-tree of the settlers (Cordyline 

 australis), were also commonly eaten both raw and roasted in the embers or 

 hot ashes ; but more as a makeshift in travelling or fishing (eels), etc., 

 than as a regular village article of food. Being common, and almost every- 

 where at hand, it was very useful at such times of hunger, — as I, myself, 

 have proved ; its taste is slightly bitter, but not unpalatable. 



The large tap-root of this plant was also dug up and split and cooked 

 for food ; it was very fibrous, yet contained a large amount of both 

 saccharine and farinaceous substance. It took very long in cooking, and 

 was chiefly resorted to in times of great scarcity of vegetable food. 

 Upwards of 30 years ago, at a time of severe want of vegetable food here in 

 Hawke's Bay, through long drought and failure of their crops, the roots of 

 this tree were extensively used in every village, — the modern Maoris being . 

 greatly benefited through having iron pots in which to boil them. Another 

 species of this genus, tii-koraha ( Cordi/line pimiilio), a, very much smaller 

 plant of low growth with narrow grass-like leaves, had much more fleshy 

 and saccharine roots ; these were sought and dug up, hung in the wind and 

 dried in small bunches, and eaten sometimes in their raw state. This plant 

 was more commonly fomid at the north, growing in the open fern lands. 



8. A very capital article of food was the blanched heart (korito) of the 

 southern palm-tree, nikau (Areca sapiclaj ; but as a fine tree only afforded a 

 single dish, and the obtaining of it always killed the plant, it was not very 

 commonly used. It, however, is excellent eating, even in a raw state, juicy, 

 succulent, and nutty, with an agreeable taste, and is very wholesome. It 

 proved of very great service to me once when I had both lost my way and 

 my companions too, m travelling in a new country, and was starving. 



9. Another highly curious article of vegetable food was the inmgapunga, 

 the yellow pollen of the raiqoo flowers — the common bulrush, or cat's-reed 

 mace {2'ypha angusiifolia). This was collected in the summer season, when 

 the plant is in full flower, in the wet swamps and sides of lagoons, streams, 

 and lakes. I have been astonished at the large quantities of pollen then 

 obtained. On one occasion, more than tliirty years ago, I had several 

 buckets full brought me by the present chief, Tareha, in his canoe, some of 

 which I sent both raw and cooked to the Kew Museum. In appearance in 

 its raw state it exactly resembles the ground yellow mustard of commerce, 

 and when put up into bottles Avould be mistaken for it. It is obtained by 

 gently beating it out of the dense flowering spikes. To use it as food it is 

 mixed up with water into cakes and baked. It is sweetish and light, and 



