PUA BREAD. 
507 
of finely split flax, so as to allow only tlie smallest par- 
ticles to escape, men only were allowed to sift tlie pua, 
winch was done by shaking these bags over the mouth 
of the larger one, while the tohunga repeated a karakia. 
The principal person of each family had to sift it; but, if 
guilty of any crime, the pua would fly up in his face, and 
he would be forced to give place to a better man; whilst 
some were sifting, others were plaiting small baskets 
( rourou , hapukapu, paro) of green flax, which were lined 
with the leaves of the rangiora or puhapuka (hr achy glottis 
rcpanda), to place the sifted pua in : the tutae papapa, 
or down, being thrown away, the plug was then removed 
from the bottom corner of the bag, the pua flowed out, and 
was caught in the baskets, carefully avoiding to press it 
down, in which state it resembled small seeds, the baskets 
being filled were covered over with leaves as before, and 
then sewed up {puna), and placed in the ovens ( [hangi ), these 
having been covered over as usual, were left till the steam 
burst out at the top, the sign they were done ; when taken 
out, the substance still retained its resemblance to seeds ; 
but the baking converted it into a solid mass. 
The chief of the party then divided the loaves amongst 
the people, some thus made were from six to eight inches 
in diameter, and thick in proportion ; the smaller ones were 
eaten at the time, the larger being reserved as presents, for 
state occasions, or for supplies during war ; a loaf of seven 
inches in diameter was sufficient to satisfy two full-grown men. 
Having been rendered sacred by the prayers of the to- 
hunga, no one could eat of it until the first oven, containing 
only three or four baskets, had been cooked for the priest, 
who then took off the tapu. 
It is remarkable, that when the down ( hune ) obtained from 
the raupo heads is put into baskets, it is invariably filled 
with a small kind of worm, or grub, in large quantities, it is, 
therefore, generally baked, and then is at once fit for making 
beds and pillows, for which purpose it is commonly used, 
and forms a good substitute for feathers. 
To make bread of the hinau (eloeocarpus hinauj, the berries 
