Haast — On an ancient Manufactory of Stone Implements. 151 



At that time it doubtless formed part of the mainland, as shown by the 

 kitchen-middens and rude stone implements, flakes, and cores appearing 

 exposed on both sides of the nearly vertical cliffs, in positions corresponding 

 with each other. 



This locality is the more interesting, as it belongs doubtless to an inter- 

 mediate period, when the Moa had already become extinct, and when 

 possibly cannibalism had begun to be first indulged in. 



The Otokai kitchen-middens are, therefore, different from those existing 

 near the mouth of the Kaikorai Creek, some six miles to the north, situated 

 amongst the remarkable sand-dmies, which cover here an area of more than 

 a square mile, and ascending to an altitude of 300 feet on the southern 

 slopes of Otago Peninsula. 



At the foot of these sand-dunes, and fronting the northern banks of the 

 Kaikorai Creek estuary, a well-defined line of kitchen-middens lies about 

 five feet above high-water mark, having a thickness of from several inches 

 to more than one foot. 



These kitchen-middens consist mostly of shells, of which Chione stutch- 

 buryi and Mesodesma novce-zealandicB are the most numerous. It is remark- 

 able that these shells are nearly twice the size of those now inhabiting the 

 Kaikorai estuary. In addition, Mytiliis smaragdinus is well represented, but 

 it is rather smaller than the same species found at present near the coast 

 close by. A^nphibola avellana and some others are also occurring in more 

 or less large quantities. 



Amongst these shells Moa bones are scattered here and there. 



They are broken, often burnt, and have doubtless been deposited con- 

 temporaneously with the shells. It is thus evident that the Moas had 

 already become so scarce that they only occasionally could be obtained, and 

 the natives had to look towards getting other food as a regular means of 

 subsistence. However, it is to be expected that more towards the centre of 

 these sand-dunes, older deposits proving human occupancy exist, and which, 

 as in other localities, will consist almost exclusively of the remnants of the 

 extinct Dinornithidce. Stone implements in the same locality are not scarce. 

 They consist of very rude adzes and knives, mostly chipped from basaltic 

 boulders obtained in the neighbourhood ; however, similar tools made of 

 flint, chert, quartz, and chalcedony are also represented. 



Some few perfect and more numerous broken polished stone implements, 

 together with whetstones and other polishing materials, were also obtained. 

 Although I could devote only one day to an examination of this interesting 

 locality, I was enabled to obtain a good insight into the character and 

 position of the kitchen-middens under review, being fortunately guided by 

 Mr. F. L. Jeffcoat of Winchendon, who lives close by, under Stony Hill, 



