discovered in New Zealand . 
83 
account than those of an ox: these hones they cut up 
into small pieces, for the purpose of fastening to their 
fisli-hooks as a lure instead of the Haliotis shell*; it 
answering that purpose much better from its going 
more equably through the water. 
It was almost ludicrous—whilst at the same time it 
showed the powerful effect which this belief of theirs had 
over them—to witness their unconcealed fear, almost 
amounting to horror, on requesting them to go to the 
residence of the Moa to procure it, or to act as our guides 
thither for that purpose. Unlike, too, what has been very 
frequently observed in savage nations, this fear seemed 
* The shells of several species of the Haliotis , Ostrea , and other 
nacrescent genera, are commonly used by the natives inhabiting the 
isles of the South Pacific for this purpose. A narrow slip of the 
shell is firmly fastened to the back of the hook, the barb of which is 
generally concealed by a tuft of metallic-surfaced blue feathers, pro¬ 
cured either from the Korora (Aptenodytes minor), or the Kotare - 
tare (Duccio Lcachii), The hook thus prepared, and attached to a 
stout line, composed of the fibres of the Koran (Phormium tenax), 
which, after being cleaned from the parenchymatous parts, are 
twisted together with the hand, is drawn quickly through the water 
by a person paddling a small canoe ; the larger fish, believing this 
glittering lure to be their prey, eagerly pursue it, and, greedily 
catching at the same, are taken. In favourable weather a great 
number of fine fish are soon captured by this method. Among the 
New Zealanders if is a very favourite sport; and one that is not a 
little animating, when several canoes are engaged. I have seen 
upwards of twenty small canoes thus employed on a fine summer’s 
evening, on the beautiful sheet of water in the Bay of Islands. I 
may here mention that, previous to the introduction of the Gospel 
among the New Zealanders, their hooks were often composed of 
human bone, those of their enemies being used for that purpose. 
Sometimes they formed their hooks from the tough stalks and 
branches of Tauhinu (Pomadciris ericifolia ), and Mangemanyc 
(Lygodium volubile), hardening them by the aid of fire. At 
present they invariably prefer the hooks which they make from iron 
nails to those of our manufacture; the latter, they allege, being 
much too brittle, 
cT 2 
