xlvi 



INTBODUCTION. 



Bangihiwinui, the late owner. These singular monuments are now becoming very scarce, and the 

 history of the present one gives it a peculiar interest.* 



On the southern shore of the lake stands the 'pataka,' or Maori storehouse, called Te Takinga, 

 the elaborately carved porch of which was a special object of attraction in the New Zealand court 

 at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, 1886. 



The wooded islet shewn below is of artificial construction, and was formed in ancient times 

 to serve as a place of refuge. The manner in which this was accomplished is thus described by a 

 Maori narrator in the ' Story of Papaitonga' (I. c, p. 573): — 



That other island yonder, the smaller one, was called Papawharangi. It is an artificial one, having been 

 made by human hands in the following manner : First of all poles were driven in to define the extent of the 



VIEW SHOWING PAPAWHARANGI ISLET. 



proposed island. Then great lumps of ' negro-head ' were brought from the shore and cast into the w T ater 

 within the line of the poles, and this was continued till a mound was formed level with the surface of the 

 water. Then enormous quantities of kalcahi shells from the refuse-heaps were brought over and cast upon 

 the platform of ' negro-heads ' ; and after this many canoe-loads of soil were thrown on top. Then dry fern, 

 and ' negro-head,' and all kinds of rubbish were spread over the surface, and lo ! there was dry land in the 

 midst of the waters. Upon the island so formed residential ' whares ' were erected— four of them. But, 

 owing to the encroachments of the water, the island has become diminished in extent ; formerly it extended 

 out to where you see the raupo now growing. However, if you take the trouble to look, you will find the 

 boundary poles still fixed there, with any number of skulls also, and dead men's bones. 



* Stone chisels and other evidences of ancient occupation are often dug up on the island, and on the camping 

 grounds of the olden time just opposite to it. Not long since, a highly finished stone adze of phenomenal length, and with 

 a sharp cutting-edge in spite of its undoubted antiquity, was unearthed in the vicinity of the lake, and this relic called 

 by the Maoris " the sacred toki of Papaitonga," is now in the author's possession. There is a tradition, also, of 

 a beautiful mere-pounamu (green-jade club) lying hidden under the pellucid waters of the lake, having been lost from a 

 canoe in one of the ancient fights. But one of the most curious of the Papaitonga relics is a leaden bullet taken out of 

 a log of hard totara, more than ten inches below the surface, when being cut up at the Ohau saw-mill, this ball having 

 evidently penetrated a growing tree during one of the early fights a hundred years ago ! 



