HOW, AND WHY, HE USED A STONE AXE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 27, 26 April 1907, Page 2

HOW, AND WHY, HE USED A STONE AXE.

_ IBy W.H.I 31c stood in the gracious sun, ;md but for a loin mat, naked, cross-chop-ping a log with an axe of (he sort bushmcn of a hundred years ago wagered their fame upon : An axe like unto a solid tapered wedge, three inches wide and lourteen inches long; furnished with an eve at I lie thickend, into which was hal'tcd a handle, straight and mis-shapely as a fencestake. I stood and looked on ; whereupon he ceased, and we conversed. Later lie viewed his axe wltii proprietary pride, and mused aloud •' " Pakeha I ana mahi !" (Oh! whiteman of inscrutable' invention !) Then he withdrew from behind a stump a stone axe two stone axes-" Oneround and narrow, like a Ion", linger, ground to an oblique cutting an,",lc, lashed to a hoe-shaped sapling; and the other fashioned, a.-, to mas:, and form, like an onc's tangue, with a square sharpened uul, and similarly mounted ; the whole resembling a wierd, fantastic ad/.e. Then we conversed further, and he asked: "Kia kite koc?" (that you max 1 witness?) And hutching on his ham;; before an eight inch log, reached for the smaller too!, and scored an cquitorial meridian around as far as he could. Then he went to the other side and continued his latitude, proiick ut in outline and depth. Then he spread his line upon the log, and bedding his small linger in the grove, scratched a mark beside his thumb. This was hisgnage which he peeked into a grove cqui cI i: Ia n ( from the other. In all this labour lie allowed no impatience to deviate his attention ; merely pausing to survey progression and verify alignnients. When no further decpeuings were possible, he canted his head to an admiration an,",lc, and asked: "Kua kite koe ? (have you observed?) 1 had ; and he said : " A, tenci ano," (then this also followeth). Then he reached for the heavier tool, and

bruised out-shapeless tlufly chips with true aim Tsand precise indentment. When the nearer side: lay bare to (lie depth of both groves, he stepped across with pursed mouth, and treated the other side the same. Then he perpended his body fair over his work, and placing his left foot upon the log, topped off the upper curvature into a llat and level facet. Then he again took up the narrow tool and deepening the pievious groves, repeated the process of chipping and groving until he reached (he centre, when 1 said : " Kali, kua marama," (enough, 1 am enlightened), " Hut why do you keep those ancient tools? " " Thy tobacco, O Ji iend, and I will explain : The whilcman's axe reduced the tale of my pigs by two : so when a softer wood eric:; for removal, I use the'stone axe, and thus lengthen the life of the more precious. Kua marama?" (are you enlightened?) . And I replied-' "Kua marama." ]

It will be seen by a notice in another column, thai Mr A. S. (ircsham, dentist, intends paying a visit to the King Country next week. Mr (iresham will be at TeKuiti on Tuesday next, and intends bringing with him a complete dental equipment, in order to be able to undertake, in addition to painless extractions, plate work, filling and stopping.