416 Geology of 



the same. It was especially in some localities, as for instance, near- 

 the entrance of the cave, replete with kitchen middens of the Moa- 

 hunters. During its formation or even afterwards, the fall of the rocks 

 from the roof did not cease, as all the beds upwards, even those of' 

 European origin, have small lumps of such scoria, or even larger blocks 

 imbedded in them. But now, after the formation of the dirt-bed, as it 

 were at once, tbe Moa-hunters disappear from the scene ; but not 

 without affording an insight into their daily life, by leaving us some 

 of their polished and unpolished stone implements, a few of their 

 smaller tools made of bone, a few personal ornaments, as well as 

 fragments of canoes, whares, and of wooden spears, fire sticks, and 

 other objects too numerous to mention ; but by which the fact is 

 established that they had reached already a certain state of civilisation, 

 which in many respects seems not to have been inferior to that 

 possessed by the ^Maoris when Xew Zealand was first visited by 

 Europeans. 



That after the depositions of the dirt-bed the cave remained unin- 

 habited for a considerable space of time, is not only proved by the 

 clear line of demarcation between that layer and the shell bed above 

 it, in which no moa-bones were found, but also by the deposit of blown 

 sands about a foot thick at the entrance, and gradually thinning out as 

 it advances towards the interior of the cave. Then follows a series of 

 shell beds, consisting of the remains of the following species, now still 

 inhabiting the estuary: — Cliione stutcltburyi (Cockle) ; Huai or Pipi, 

 Mesorfesma cliemnitzii, Pipi ; Ampltibola avellana (Periwinkle) Hetiku- 

 tiku, and JlytiJus smaragdinus (Mussel) Kuku ; interstratified or inter- 

 mixed with them occur a number of ashbeds, with pieces of flax, 

 cabbage tree leaves, charred wood, and remains of mats, wooden 

 and stone implements. 



Some of the shell -beds, generally in their lower portion, are much 

 decomposed. The whole series has near the entrance of the cave, a 

 thickness of more than S feet, gradually thinning out. so that in the 

 centre of the cave it has dwindled to about 4 feet, and disappearing 

 altogether near the termination of the first or principal cave. The 

 thickness and sequence of the beds, and the identity of species proves 

 clearlv that a native population, living principally upon the mollusks 

 now inhabiting the estuary, have occupied every part of the cave 

 durin^ a very long period, that portion near the entrance being of 

 course preferred. It is thus evident that when the Shellfish-eaters 

 came upon the scene, the Moa-hunters had not only disappeared for a 



