Chap. VIII. NATIVE HOUSES. 229 
have open walls, built of upright sticks at intervals of 
an inch or two. They have thatched roofs to protect 
the cooks and the store of firewood, which is gene- 
rally piled up inside in rainy weather. The open walls 
let out the smoke and let in the air, and these kitchens 
are therefore much more adapted than the others for 
the bedroom of a traveller. At this time, too, the na- 
tives, although most of them professing Christianity, 
had by no means divested themselves of many of their 
ancient superstitions ; one of which was a positive in- 
terdiction against the very presence of food or drink in 
a ware puni. To light a pipe from the fire inside was 
considered equally sacrilegious. In order to avoid the 
inconvenience of these restrictions, and yet refrain 
from offending against any of the customs which I 
found still revered by my kind hosts, I therefore found 
it much better to take up my abode in a ware umu or 
vmre kauta, both which names apply to the kitchens. 
Here I had only to avoid one thing, namely, the 
hanging food overhead ; for this also is a terror, and 
if done intentionally, a grievous offence to the Maori 
anywhere. 
I had hardly got to sleep, when I was awakened by 
the dogs barking, and a sudden rushing of garments. 
Puke came in from the adjoining ware, where the 
boys and the slave girls had been sleeping, and told 
me that they had been alarmed by hearing people 
prowling about in the neighbouring potato-gardens. 
He whispered that it was probably the Ngatiraukawa 
come on another midnight attack ; and begged the 
loan of my guns and ammunition, in order that he and 
the other boys might reconnoitre. The girls had run 
off to the main village on the first alarm. I imme- 
diately acceded, for their sakes, although I felt sure 
that I should not be injured, even if the report were 
