392 
PUA, OK BREAD. 
mouth of the larger one, while the tohunga, or priest, repeated 
a karakia. 
The principal person of each family had to sift it; hut, if 
he had been 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, kapu/capu, paro) of green flax, which are lined with 
leaves of the rangiora or pukapuka (brachyglottis repanda), 
to place the sifted pua in; the siftings (tutae papapa), or 
down, being thrown away. The plug having been removed 
from the bottom corner of the bag, the pua flowed out, which 
was caught in the baskets, carefully avoiding to press it down, 
in which state it resembled small seeds. The baskets being 
filled, they were covered over with leaves as before, and then 
sewed up (runa ), which being done, they were placed in the 
ovens (hangi), the number of which was proportioned to the 
quantity to be cooked. The ovens, having been covered over 
as usual, were left till the steam burst out at the top, which 
was a sign that they were done. When taken out, the sub¬ 
stance still retained its resemblance to seeds; but the baking- 
converted it into a solid mass. 
The principal person of the party then divided them among 
the people. Some of the loaves thus made were from six to 
eight inches in diameter, and thick in proportion. The smaller 
ones were generally eaten at the time, the larger ones 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 tohunga, 
or priest, during the process of sifting, 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 head is put into the baskets, it is invariably filled 
with a small kind of worm, or grub, in very large quantities. 
It is, therefore, generally baked, and it is at once fit for 
making beds and pillows, for which purpose it is commonly 
used, and forms a good substitute for feathers. 
