30 
New Zealand Palm, (Aveca sapida,) and the handsome Reed, Kakaho, 
(Arundo conspicua,) were extensively used, The interior of the veran- 
dahs and sides of their Chiefs’ houses was often neatly ornamented with 
chequered work of various regular patterns and designs, caused by inter- 
lacing narrow strips of the leaves of the bright orange-colored Pingae 
(Desmoschenus spiralis,) with the greyish-green Kiekie (freycinetia 
Banksii), and the oliye-colored Harakeke (Phormium tenax,) which, 
worked regularly, had a very pleasing effect. Sometimes, especially in 
the interior, the outside of their better houses was formed of hard fibrous 
slabs cut from the stout red-brown fern-tree, Wekiponga (Dicksonia 
australis) ; and, in other parts of the Island, smaller pieces cut from 
the trunk of the black fern tree, Korau, or Mamaku, (Cyathea medul- 
laris,) were closely placed like a plinth around the lower part of the 
house, especially if it were a sweet potatoe store, to keep out the rats. 
Their large and small fish-traps, or creels, were very strongly and skil- 
fully made of the flexible stems of two species of Muhlenbechia, (adpressa 
and ephedroides,) and also of the long fibrous roots of the New Zealand 
flax ( Phormium) ; the stems of the twining fern (Lygodium articulatum,) 
were also extensively used for this purpose by the Northern tribes. 
Their fishing nets, of all sizes of mesh, (some of which nets were very 
long, and most skilfully made, the admiration of Cook and of all early 
voyagers), were made of the split but unscraped leaves of the New Zea- 
land flax (Phormium) ; for floats, the light wood of the small tree Whau, 
or Hauama, (/ntelea arborescens,) was used, and sometimes the leaves 
of the Raupo, or large Bulrush, rolled up ; and for net-ropes the tough 
stringy bark of the Houhere, and also of the Whauwhi or Houi, (Ho- 
heria populnea, and of its varieties,) was plaited together; leaves of 
Phormium were also used for this purpose, Excellent fishing-lines, of 
various lengths and sizes, were capitally spun by the hand from the 
dressed fibre of the New Zealand flax ; and for hooks, the tough natu- 
rally curved stems of the climbing fern (Lygodium articulatum,) and 
the roots of the shrub Tanhinu (Pomaderris ericifolia,) hardened hy 
fire, were sometimes used; human bone, however, being always pre- 
ferred. Canoe sails were manufactured from the leaves of the Raupo, 
laced across with the fibres of New Zealand flax; while the Hune, or 
downy pappus of the seeds of the Raupo, was used for caulking and 
plugging holes in their canoes. Useful floor and sleeping mats of all 
sizes, and of several patterns and kinds, were woven of leaves of New 
Zealand flax (Phormium), of Kiekie (Mreycinetia Banksii,) and some- 
