AND VILLAGES IN NEW ZEALAND. 155 
three hundred baskets of corn. You may see 
here and there a hut ; and here and there a sty, 
or a store, or a ruin ; with bunches of flax grow- 
ing in all directions, to serve the purpose of lines 
or fastenings for their loads, which they invaria- 
bly carry upon their shoulders. On the road, I 
have met a train of men and women with loads 
on their shoulders, the average weight of each of 
which has been ninety pounds, and which they 
have had to carry from twelve to twenty miles. 
That which most strikes the attention, in ap- 
proaching a native village, is, the stores which are 
built at the top of the highest trees. They are 
platforms made of strong poles, interlaced with 
twigs ; and are very durable. Placing potatoes 
and corn at this height, secures them from the 
rats, and also ensures to the owner the whole of 
his property ; as no person can ascend to take it 
from him, without being detected : and should he 
be visited by a stripping-party, the trouble which 
they must be at, to procure the food thus placed, 
is almost a sufficient guarantee for their not 
attempting it. The plantations of the natives are 
not all in the immediate vicinity of their resi- 
dences ; though they always have a little planta- 
tion near at hand, for present purposes, or to pre- 
vent the necessity of disturbing their main crop. 
Their cultivations are scattered ; the kumera- 
ground is sometimes many miles from the potato- 
field; the early potato is sometimes many miles 
from either : and the .Indian corn is planted any- 
