86 
The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [April 
made several figures of which they did not know the names, and some, 
such as carved doorways, were very beautiful. A fine figure was the repre¬ 
sentation of a double canoe ; this required two persons for its completion. 
It must be noted that it is impossible to say whether the figures now 
recorded are genuine Maori patterns, or whether they have been introduced 
from elsewhere by early Europeans or others. Figures that do not occur 
elsewhere are possibly true Maori, as also are figures whose resulting pattern 
is the same but whose working-out is different. 
In the descriptions of the following figures the simple nomenclature 
of Mrs. Jayne has been followed in preference to the scientific nomen¬ 
clature of Drs. Haddon and Rivers. 
The string used should be about 6 ft. long, or a little more, the ends 
being spliced to form the loop, or tightly sewn so as to make a smooth join. 
Fig. 1.—Position 1. 
Most of the movements start with the string laid across the palm and 
caught behind the thumb and little finger of each hand. This is known 
as position 1. (Fig. I.) The string across the palm is the palmar string, the 
long string running across from thumb to thumb is the near thumb string, 
the one running from little finger to little finger is the far little-finger string. 
Fig. 2.—Opening A. 
The most usual opening is made by inserting the right unbent fore¬ 
finger, or index, under the left palmar string and drawing out the loop. 
The left unbent index is then inserted under the right palmar stiing, which 
is also drawn out in a loop that extends between the strings of the loop held 
on the right index. Draw all strings taut, and they are in the position 
known as Opening A. (Fig. 2.)^ 
