CoLENso. — On the Colour Seme of the Maoris, 65 



small amount of skill in its preparation ; as all the several varieties of it 

 were only found deposited in very small quantities, whether in the still and 

 slow-running waters, or in the earth ; or deposited as minute crystals and 

 rust-like dust between small layers of shale in some dry cliffs. To relate 

 the several long and tedious processes of collecting, roasting, or baking, 

 etc., etc., though highly interesting, would take up many pages. And this 

 toil was not unfrequently increased through their not at first obtaining the 

 true shade of red they wished for, hence they patiently repeated their work. 

 Those various hues of red colour all bore different names ; the brightest 

 and purest was very highly prized. Notwithstanding, they never adorned 

 their hair with red flowers, or with red feathers* from their birds ; these 

 latter (obtained from the abdomen and under the wings of the big parrot), 

 were used by them to decorate the heads of their staffs of state [hani and 

 taiaha), for which purpose they were neatly woven into, or stitched on to, a 

 bit of flaxen cloth woven expressly for that purpose. 



And here it may be remarked, that on the early coming to New Zealand 

 of Europeans (before the establishment of the colony), and their trading 

 with the Maoris, they did not care to select red wares, save in the matter of 

 red worsted cravats, and red sealing-wax ; the former they generally 

 unravelled to weave it into the borders, etc., of their best flax clothing- 

 mats, and the latter they used as a base for the fang of the shark's white 

 tooth which the chiefs usually wore suspended in their ears ; and, also, 

 further to ornament the four mother-of-pearl eyes of their carved staffs of 

 state (sicpra). Subsequently, however, when red articles of clothing both 

 woollen and cotton were brought for sale, and (for a time) became more 

 eagerly sought after, the Maoris could not be deceived with the cheaper 

 common dull red handkerchiefs, though stouter in quality, instead of the 

 brighter Turkey-red ones. 



* This was the common custom among all the tribes ; yet a legendary incident 

 showing the very opposite, may be briefly noticed ; particularly as a proverbial saying of 

 some power and often in use is said to be founded on it. On one of their famed " canoes " 

 from " Hawaiki " reaching the shores of New Zealand, the chiefs on board saw the littoral 

 pohutukawa tree [Metrosideros tomentosa) bearing a profusion of red blossoms ; then one 

 of them named Tauninihi flung his own red (feather) head-ornaments into the sea, in order 

 to re-decorate his hair with those beautiful red things before him, saying, " Those on land 

 were far better ! " but, on gathering them, they fell to pieces, and he discovered them to 

 be only mere flowers ! and was, consequently, much chagrined. After this, his cast-away 

 red head-dress was washed on shore at a place near by, and found by another person 

 named Mahina ; who, on Tauninihi seeking to recover it from him, refused to give it up, 

 saying, that it was a waif washed on shore and found by Mahina ; which saying also 

 settled the matter. This sentence became a proverb, and was always used by a Maori on 

 finding anything ; and through his so doing, the claim to retain it was usually allowed. 

 No doubt there is a far deeper meaning in this ancient story than what appears on its 

 surface. 



