372 
KORO MATTTA. 
Koro Matua — The Thumb, or Great Toe. 
The advocates of the progressive development theory of 
the human race and its Simian origin, might be led to 
view this as a proof of the fact, that there is but one word 
in the Maori for the thumb and great toe, and also the 
same for fingers and toes, koro applying equally to both, 
thus, koromatua is the thumb or great toe, and koro iti the 
little finger and toe as well ; before the natives wore shoes 
they had almost as much command over their toes as fingers, 
and could lay hold of substances with them, and pick up any- 
thing with ease. 
HE TAIAHA, OR CHIEF’S STAFF. 
