50 ■ Transactions, — Miscellaneous. 



of life, and that it is entirely different from the conventional representation 

 of the human figure in the paintings and carvings of the Maoris. 



I am strengthened in my conviction that it is meant for a man, hy 

 observing a similar figure running away from the monster No. 27. No. 16, 

 which has been placed below that group, might be compared to a pair of 

 siDCctacles, but is probably a letter, or an imitation of such a sign. A 

 little more to the right a figure six feet long is very prominent. It 

 is probably the representation of a right whale in the act of s^DOuting. 

 Above it, in No, 22, the figure of a Mantis is easily recognisable ; whilst 

 Nos. 21 and 21a, below the supposed right whale, are again cyphers or 

 letters resembling those of the ancient Tamil inscription. Nos. 23 and 25, 

 although in many respects different, belong, doubtless, to the same group, 

 and represent large lizards or crocodiles. Between them the now empty 

 space of a width of 5 feet 6 inches was evidently also painted over, of which 

 the faint marks on the partially scaled off face of the rock can be dis- 

 tinguished. The left-hand figure is four feet long ; it is, unfortunately, 

 deficient in its lower portion, but it is still sufficiently preserved to show 

 that besides four legs it possesses two other lower appendages, of which one 

 is forked and the other has the appearance of a trident. I wish also to 

 draw attention to the unusual form of the head. No. 25 is a similar animal 

 three feet long, but it has eight legs, and head and tail are v^ell defined. The 

 head is well rounded off, and both animals represent, without doubt, some 

 fabulous animal, such as the taniwha, which is generally described as a huge 

 crocodile, of which the ancient legends give so many accounts. 



No.. 27, a huge snake-like animal fifteen feet long, is probably a repre- 

 sentation of the Tuna tuoro— a mythical monster, and of which Mr. Stack 

 gives such an interesting account in his notes, kindly furnished to me, and 

 which I have added as Appendix No. 3. It is evident that the Tuna tuoro is 

 in the act of swallowing a man. No. 29, who tries to save himself by running 

 away from it. Now, if we admit that the characters belo\y the figures 

 denote an Indian origin, the deduction would not be too hazardous that the 

 accounts of huge snakes and crocodiles were brought by the writers of these 

 signs to New Zealand, or if only pictures or books were obtained from a 

 wreck, the ancient inhabitants of these islands founded their legends of 

 such monsters upon them. Thus 23 and 25 might be crocodiles. No. 27 a 

 boa-constrictor. The figure 26 above the large monster may represent, 

 like 8, a quadi'uped, probably a dog ; and finally. No. 28 is a good picture 

 of a seal or dogfish. The paintings in black are altogether of another style, 

 and have been done in a far more recent period when the aborigines were 

 less skilled. But although these designs are all very juvenile, if we except, 

 perhaps, the animals, which can easily be recognised, they have been 



