CoLENSO. — On the Bay in which Cook took possession, of N.Z. 



99 



similar to the one mentioiiecl, excejDt sticking the end of the spear in the 

 ground. I have also seen a native stick an arrow in the ground and then 

 whip it into the air. As to the bird spears referred to by Mr. Colenso, I 

 am only aware of one, viz, the " pigeon spear." This was made out of a 

 piece of rata vine 30 to 40 feet in length, and more resembled a stiff piece 

 of rope than a spear, it beuig perfectly flexible, and could be easily trailed 

 through a thick bush — a very desirable acquirement. The head of this spear 

 was formed out of one of the human leg bones ffihula), both sharpened 

 and jagged. The person using this spear would slowly raise it, balancing it 

 as it swayed about, immediately mider the bough of the tree upon which 

 the pigeon sat, until the point came within a few inches of the bird, then 

 by an upward thrust impaling it. So stupid is the pigeon that even now it 

 will see its mate shot witlim a few feet of where it is sitting, perhaps on the 

 same branch, and in many instances never attempt to fly away. A shorter 

 hand spear may have been used when trapping the brown parrot. All 

 these weapons, however, fell into disuse after the introduction of fire-arms 

 some sixty years ago, which may account for the disappearance of the bow- 

 and-arrow. I think a more extensive i^aper upon this subject would be of 

 service. I have only endeavoured to record a curious method of propulsion 

 which arrested my attention. 



[Note. — See also Sir Gr. Grey in " Polynesian Mythology," p. 157 ; 

 Thomson, in " Story of New Zealand," Vol. I., ch. VII ; White in " Te 

 Eou," p. 116. Ed.] 



Art. VIII. — On the Bay in which Captain Cook took formal Possession of 2\ew 

 Zealand. By W. Colenso, F.L.S. 

 [Read before the Hawke Bay Fhilosopliical Institute, 13th August, 1877.] 

 For several years I have been of opinion that all our colonial almanacs 

 are in error on this subject. They all give the IStli of November, 1769, as 

 the day in which Cook took possession of New Zealand in the name of the 

 King. This they have always done, and in this they have been followed by 

 other publications, both Colonial and British, when s^Deaking of the circum- 

 stance. My object in bringing this matter in a few words plainly before 

 you is to initiate an enquiry, which, whether I am right or wrong, will 

 serve to settle the question. And I have good reasons for believing that 

 what I shall state will cause you all to agree that, at least, there is consider- 

 able doubt about it. 



