CoLENSO. — Botany of the Nortli, Island of Mw Zealand. 2G3 



are still greatly prized. A few superior articles of apparel were also raade 

 by the nortliern tribes from tlie leaves of the neinei {Dracophyllum lati- 

 folmm). Of tbe brigbt yellow leaves of the pingao {Besmoschcenus spiralis), 

 strong and useful folding girdles were woven ; and from tbe inner bark of 

 the autetaranga (Pimelea arenaria), small white cloth-like strips were also 

 obtained, for fastening up the hair or wearing as ornament in the ears. 



(2.) The timber trees and other plants of various degrees of utility 

 comprised the following : — For canoes, the natives from the Thames north- 

 wards generally used the kauri (Dammara australis), and the southern 

 natives the totara {Podocarpus totara), which was preferred by all ; the 

 kahikatea (P. dacrydloides) was pdso often used for this purpose. Troughs, 

 trays, and other large vessels were also made of totara and of mataii (P. 

 spicatd). The framing of the principal houses was of totara timber ; while 

 their roofs, and sometimes their sides, were often covered with its bark, 

 obtained from the living tree and laid on in large slabs. The bark of the 

 manuka (Leptosperonmn scopariuni) was also used for covering the roof, but 

 is greatly inferior. The carved work of the chiefs' houses was made out of 

 both totara and mataii ; but for the carved figure-heads of their canoes the 

 pukatea {Atlierosperma novce-zealandice) was generally used ; while the 

 ornamental carved work of the sterns was made of mataii or totara. The 

 titoki {Alectryon excelsuni) furnished handles for light axes ; and sometimes 

 the kowhai {jEdioardsia grandiflorct) was used, particularly for the heavier 

 ones. The ake (JJodoncea viscosa), and the maire* {Santaluon cimninghamii 

 at the north, and Olea sp. at the south), supplied hardwood for war imple- 

 m.ents and for carved walking- staves ; and of another hardwood, manuka 

 (Leptospermum scoparium), husbandry implements, canoe-paddles, and spears 

 for war and taking fish were made. Long war-spears were also made of 

 rimu (Dacrydium cupressinmn) ; but the very long bird-spears (30-36 feet) 

 were made of tawa {Nesodaplme tawd) , the working of which out of a large 

 tree with only their stone implements, obtaining as they did but two spears 

 from a single tree, was indeed a most patient and admirable performance, 

 often -feaking two years for its completion. The hard-ioooded mairetawhake 

 (Eugenia maire) was also prized, and used by the northern tribes, among 

 whom alone it grew, for husbandry implements. The channelled stems of 

 the neinei (JDracopliyllii/m latifoVmni), and the red young saplings of toatoa, 

 or tanekaha {Pliyllocladus tricliomanoides') ^ made valued walking-sticks. The 

 long straight young trees of manuka, and of tawa, were used for battens for 

 the sides and roofs of their houses ; stems of the kareao (fRMpogonum parvi- 

 Jiornni), and also kakaho reeds (Ariindo conspicua^, a,nd slips of totara timber, 



^S&e par. 26 (S). 



