0H| a TO TiiJi MAIHliAKI). 
u 
The rods are made of various lengths according to the pre- 
ference or skill, of the individual who uses them. Along and 
heavy rod in the hands of a skilful man is usually considered the 
most destructive, hut the average length may I think be put at 
about 10 feet. It has its largest diameter (IJ inches) at about 
one-third of its length, and then gradually tapers to each end, at 
the base to about three-quarters of an inch, and at the top to a 
slender point. On the thickest end is placed a brass ferule, in- 
side which is a small cavity for the reception of the barb or fang, 
an instrument' laboriously made locally from large old three- 
cornered files. It is about six inches in length with an arrow- 
shaped head ^nd two or three rows of barbs formed from the 
angles of the file at regular intervals. At the end nearest where 
it is fitted to the ferule is a collar, around which is bound a strong 
cotton cord, the thickness of a Cod-line.” This passes through 
a loop fixed to the staff at its centre, and the remaining length 
some 40-60 feet is neatly coiled down in the bows of the canoe. 
When a turtle is struck the barb pierces the shell, and the rod 
(detached by the force of the blow) acts as a float to indicate the 
direction the game has taken in its attempt to escape. 
Turtle are taken by this method only when found basking 
in the sun on the surface of the water, the approach being made 
very carefully by canoes, using paddles as a means of progres- 
sion ; but they are also captured in large quantities by means of 
the nets made by the female portion of the community, the un- 
married members of which are for a great part of the year occu- 
pied in this manufacture. The nets being let on shares” to the 
turtle fishers, they form — for the makers — a very suitable means of 
obtaining a livelihood ; in fact, almost the only means that is 
open to single women, other than cultivating provisions, which, 
however, is seldom attempted except by the poorest class. 
The ^^Raawa” has a much thinner exterior than the Aii- 
poo” and though sometimes used for the same purpose is not 
considered so serviceable, and is therefore relegated to the subor- 
dinate position of furnishing material for lathing and flooring of 
native huts on the provision grounds. 
What strikes attention to this tree, and renders it peculiar is 
that the upper portion of each root is entirely above ground. 
They spring out of the stem, each successive one higher up the 
trunk than the last, and extend diagonally till they approach the 
surface, when they ramify into smaller rootlets and enter the 
ground. As fresh ones spring out from the stem, those which 
previously supported the tree rot, or die oft in regular succession, 
thus leaving the entire trunk (often 60-80 feet in height) entirely 
supported by the concentric rings of outer roots, so that in old 
