274 Dr A. Thomson on the Moa Caves of New Zealand. 



with earth, and the water in the cave had a sweet taste. 

 There was no evidence of art about this cave, but I saw 

 large pieces of charred wood on the floor, which I found, on 

 inquiry, was burned three years before, when the natives ob- 

 tained some of the Moa's bones, which they sold to us at 

 Parianiwaniwa. The cave appears to have been formed by a 

 fissure in the rock, the erosion of water, and by the falling 

 down of the sides and roof. No plants were seen growing 

 in the cave, and no shells were found ; the air was good, 

 although colder than the external atmosphere. 



The Moa's bones which were procured from this cave were 

 found, some under the sand, some in crevices and corners, 

 and some under the limestone floor. They were broken, and 

 shewed evidence of having been rolled ; but we were after- 

 wards told (when they refused to let us visit the cave again) 

 that bones are to be found in the farthest extremity of the 

 cave, under sand and soft limestone, and that the natives had 

 obtained many bones here some years ago, which were 

 burned because they saw no use of them. Among them was 

 the pelvis and spinal column all adhering ; several of the 

 bones we got were covered with a crust of limestone, In a 

 crevice of the cave, in one of the galleries, slightly covered 

 with sparry limestone, we picked up a most perfect skull 

 and a few bones. This skull is unknown to me. It differs 

 from all the Moa's skulls that I have seen, although I think 

 it belongs to the genus Dinornis. I shewed it to Governor 

 Grey, who informed me that he could not say what bird it 

 was the skull of. I have transmitted it, therefore, with this 

 paper, for examination.* 



I have already mentioned in the narrative, that we were 

 unable to visit this cave a second time, to prosecute our 

 researches ; but I have little doubt, if this were properly 

 gone about, many bones would be found there ; for perhaps 

 the Moas resorted to this cave as a place of refuge. All the 

 bones that we got here had been evidently washed from the 

 interior of the cave, or into the cave by water. 



Before the introduction of Christianity, this cave — " the 

 cave of the Spirit of God " — was held in the greatest terror 



* This skull is in the possession of James Thomson, Esq. of Glendowan, 37 

 Moray Place, Edinburgh. 



