NEW ZEALAND. 413 



or small bright-coloured feathers. Around the necks of the chiefs 

 and their wives is hung their "heitiki," made of a stone of a green 

 colour, which is held very sacred, and which, with their " meara," — a 

 short cleaver or club, — is handed down from father to son. The 

 heitiki has some resemblance to a human figure, sitting with crossed 

 legs. This stone is procured from the southern island, near the 

 borders of a small lake, which receives its name from the stone, being 

 called Tewai Pounamu or the Green-stone Water. From the name 

 of this stone, Cook, by mistake, gave the name of Tavy Poenammoo 

 to the southern island. It is also supposed that Captain D'Urville's 

 name of Ika-na-maw (meaning, the fish out of Mawi), given by him to 

 the northern island, may also be the name of some place on the 

 northern side of Cook's Straits. Those who are acquainted with the 

 natives and their language say, that they have no native name for 

 either of the islands, or any part of the country, and have adopted 

 into their language the names given by the whites, with modifications 

 to suit their tongue. 



It was a long time before Pomare would consent to his wife parting 

 with the heitiki which she wore, and that belonging to himself (his 

 atua) he would not allow us to take off his neck, even to look at. Our 

 consul interpreted for me a singular story that the southern natives 

 had invented, relative to these stones : " That they were found in a 

 large fish, somewhat resembling a shark, which they were obliged to 

 capture and kill for the purpose of obtaining them. When first taken 

 from the stomach of the fish the stone is soft, but from exposure 

 becomes hard, and must be wrought in its soft state." This story 

 was related by Pomare. The smaller stones were about three inches 

 in length, and the lamer ones about five inches. 



Pomai'e is a fine-looking man, and is handsomely tattooed. He is 

 six feet in height, and well formed, with the exception of his feet and 

 legs. His dress was any thing but becoming : a blanket was tied 

 about his neck, and hung ungracefully about his person, leaving his 

 right arm free ; beneath this he wore a shirt and loose pair of drawers, 

 descending to his knees ; the rest of his person and his feet were bare. 

 In his hand he usually carries a short cloak of dogskin, called topuni, 

 shupuni, or patutu. These short cloaks, are in shape, not unlike those 

 of the knights in ancient times : they are about three feet long, being 

 formed of common cloth, mat, or sewed dogskin, dressed with the hair 

 on. Pomare's dress was surmounted by a blue naval cap, with a 

 gold-lace band. The tattooing may gh r e his features somewhat of a 



vol. 11. 104 



