8'2 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



this, to me, is indicative of both a high musical ear and a love for music, — 

 to find that they could patiently succeed in extracting even a short series of 

 pleasing notes from such "wretched instruments. 



Captain Cruise (84th Eegiment), who v^^as in New Zealand in H.M.S. 

 "Dromedary," in 1820, and who spent nearly a year here, and therefore 

 had far better opportunities for observation, remarks in his "Journal," — ■ 

 when in the Thames, and not far from the site of the present town of 

 Auckland, — " Two chiefs came on board; one of them, a very tall handsome 

 man, wore a carved flute or pipe round his neck, upon which he played the 

 simple but plaintive airs of this part of the island, with much correctness." — 

 fLoc. cit., p. 212.) 



I may here mention a few incidents which have in past years come 

 under my own special notice, as further showing their natural ear for 

 music — or melody. 



(1.) It is well known that at an early date, say forty years ago, the 

 Maoris showed a great desire to obtain jews-harps, this was common. But 

 to see them — one at a time being quite enough ! — critically examine and try 

 a whole score, or more, of those little instruments, before one was found 

 that was " soft" enough (or suitably melodious) in its twang to please their 

 ear ! I have known them to leave the store where jews-harps were sold 

 without purchasing one after trying many, though sadly in want of one at 

 the time, rather than bring away a "hard" or unsuitable one. They also 

 often spent much time in endeavouring to alter its tone, by trying all 

 manner of schemes and plans with its tongue. Again : in later years, I 

 have known them to improve on the sound of the jews-harp (for their ear), by 

 fixing a small lump of sealingwax, ijr kanri-resin, on the projectmg end of 

 the tongue of the instrument, for the purpose of playing the same ivithin 

 their mouth and ivith their tongue, instead of with their finger ! This cer- 

 tainly rendered the sounds much softer than when played in the usual way. 

 Young men would sometimes be thus occupied for one or two hours, evi- 

 dently delighting themselves with the dulcet sounds. Another little-known 

 item in connection with jews-harp playing, or its musical sounds, I may also 

 mention, as it is very peculiar, namely, I have known the Maoris anxiously 

 to beg for old dessert knives when worn out by constant use and scouring, to 

 make with them (the worn thin remnant of a blade) a small instrument 

 resembling a jews-harp, its sound, they said, being so much sweeter. 



(2.) A little Maori lad, named Itama, whom I was training, and who 

 lived with me some time, showed at a very early age a most refined ear for 

 music. Seeing that he was always endeavouring to elicit pleasing sounds 

 from threads and twine strained over a bit of board, or a shell, I procured 

 him some catgut of different sizes, which highly delighted him. He then 



