38 Trcmsactions. — Miscellaneous, 



public- or market-places, with us. Eongomaraeroa, — though, sometimes, 

 under an abbreviated or different name, — was always considered to be the 

 patron, precursor, or master of the kumara. 



2. Pohutukawa,- — ^the name of the sea- side tree in the North Island 

 (north of Table Cape), Metrosideros tomentosa; also, of a variety of the 

 kumara with reddish flesh, something like the colom- of the wood of that 

 tree ; and the name (accordmg to some legends) of the first kumara on the 

 West Coast ; and, also, of an old variety of kumara, universally known in 

 the North Island. 



3. Eurutangiakau, — this quaint and ludicrous figurative name, liter- 

 ally means, (The)-owl-crying-(by-the)-rocky-sides-(of-the)-sea ! It may, 

 however, also, mean, (The)-thicket-(by-the)-resounding-sea-cliffs ; or, (The)- 

 sheltered-resonant-clump-(of-the)-sea-side. (The word ruru bemg equally 

 common for owl, and for shelter, or sheltered ; and here given by 

 metonymy to the wood, or thicket, which yields the shelter.) I incline to 

 this last meaning, in connection with the name of "his own child" (see. 

 No. 4, infra) ; which tree also often grows on dry spots near the sea. The 

 sea-side name is also quite in keeping with the former name of Pohutukawa. 



4, Te Akerautangi, — -the rustling-leaved-flA-e [DodoncBa viscosa), a small 

 tree, so-called from the sounding of its harsh dry leaves striking against 

 each other when set in motion by the wind. (Another proof of the high 

 discriminating faculties of hearing and of observation of the ancient Maoris.) 

 Of the hard wood of this tree (their hardest), their digging-spades [koo) used 

 in planting the kumara, and their staffs of rank (taiaha, and hani), some- 

 times used as weapons of offence, were made.* This "child" of the 

 thicket, is such a digging-spade, or staff, carved and ornamented in the 

 usual manner, as described, with its four eyes, etc. There is, however, 

 something more here, hidden, — some esoteric meaning, — in the Janus-like 

 ornaments of those implements, — especially in the one used only in culti- 

 vation, — indicative of a looking-both-ways, and of working diligently, — 

 and that, too, always under strictly tabooed regulations. 



5. Pani, — this word has several meanings, — (1) To paint, daub, anoint, 

 etc.; (2) To close, or obstruct, an entrance, way, etc.; (3) To be friendless, 

 forsaken, to be deprived of parents, etc. ; also, a widow, orphan, etc. Pos- 

 sibly here it may be taken to indicate that this personage, Pani, was at first 



* This is commemorated in their poetry, thus : — 



" Ko ta namata riri, 



He kahikatoa, he paraoa, 

 He Akerautangi." 

 The fighting weapons in the days of old were (made of) the kahikatoa (wood), and spern^^ 

 whale bones, and the akerautangi (tree). 



