38 
feathers, &c., with their covers, were generally carved out of Mataii 
wood; and flying-kites were veiy ingeniously made of the Toetoe ( Cyperus 
ustulatus). After the introduction of flint and steel, the pith of the 
flowering steins of the New Zealand Flax, served for tinder; and so did 
the P u taw a, a fungus ( Boletus ) of enormously large growth, often found 
on the upper branches of the Tawhai-rau-nui ( Fagus ?fusca ). On the 
New Zealanders learning to write, they used the juice of the root of the 
New Zealand flax as ink ; the crimson juice of the berry of the Kokihi, 
(a species of Tetragonia — T. trigyna ,—) and the dark juice of the berries 
of Sclwfflcra digit ala, were also used for the same purpose. Sometimes 
they used a green leaf of New Zealand Flax for writing on, etching on it 
with a nail, or style of hard wood, thus unknowingly imitating their Asiatic 
neighbours. It is highly doubtful whether the New Zealanders ever used 
any vegetable as an internal medicine before their intercourse with Euro¬ 
peans ; for severe burns, however, they applied outwardly the ashes and 
charcoal dust of burnt fern fronds, ( Pleris esculenta ,) and the fine red¬ 
dish dust of the large decaying fungus Pukurau (Ly coper don Fontainesii). 
The blanched bases of the leaves of the llarakeke (. Phormium ), and the 
roots of the Rengarenga or Maikaika, (Arthropodium cirrhatum,) were 
sometimes roasted and beaten to a pulp, and applied warm to unbroken 
tumours and abscesses. As a cataplasm for ulcers they used the leaves 
of the Kohoho or Poroporo, (Solarium aviculare ,)—and for wounds and 
old ulcerated sores, they used the large leaves of the Pukapuka, or Ran- 
giora, (Br achy glottis repanda), and also the Ilune, or Pappus down of 
the large Bulrush, but merely as a protection against dust, &c. Layers 
of dry Totara bark, and the lower parts of stout green flax leaves, served 
admirably as splints, in cases of broken bones; the New Zealanders being 
far better Surgeons than Physicians. And the leaves of several particu¬ 
lar plants were in request for their rude steam, or vapour, baths, for 
Rheumatic, and other stubborn and chronic complaints ; but it is highly 
questionable whether the benefit derived from such baths did not arise 
entirely from the warn vapour. They sometimes rubbed the fresh juice 
of the Ngaio (Myoponim ladum) over their skin, to keep off the perse¬ 
cuting Namu (Sandfly); and for several years they have used as purga¬ 
tive medicines, the juice of the root of the New Zealand Flax (Phor¬ 
mium), and the bark of the Kowliai (Fdwardsia grandiflora) ;—as a 
tonic, the leaves of the Kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile)\ as a demul¬ 
cent, in colds, &c., the bark of the Houhere (llolieria populnea) ; as a 
diaphoretic, Mentha Cunninghamii ; and, as slightly alterative, a decoc- 
