A Strange Animal.

Manawatu Herald, 13 September 1898, Page 3

A Strange Animal.

A strange animal, like a huge lizard, whioh is believed to be a fcomi by the natives, was seen disappearing^ in an immense rata tree near Gisborne, by a bushfeller. The kumi, whioh was a protector of the Moa, has nofc been known to have been seen for three generations. A party is searching for it.

Further particulars of the alleged discovery of a Kumi show that a bushfeller on Lysnar's station, Nowhana, 50 miles from Gisborne, was startled last week by a strange animal which he surprised in the bush,. and which ran into a hole in an immense rata tree. Other bushfellers who were near were called, and distinctly traced the track of the animal to the tree and up the trunk to its hole. On the ground were footprints larger than a man's hand, and circling round the tree was the track worn by the claws of the creature. The man who saw it said it was like a huge lizard with four legs, and from his description well-informed natives say it tallies exactly with the description handed down to them by their forefathers of a reptile called the kumi, which is not known to have been seen for at least three generations, but the old Maoris in this district have stories that they existed and grew up to 12ft. long, living in large trees or amongst boulders. They possessed huge jaws with curved teeth (as the one, described), and used to lie in wait for their prey. The kumi used to be found in company with the moa, and they were believed by the natives to be protectors of the moa. They were able to ascend trees, travelling up them in spiral fashion, just as the animal seen last week is said to have done. According to tradition they were known to exist in three hills in this district, Nowhana being one of these. They were known by a strange noise, somewhat like the noise inside a drum, and it was a peculiar noise that attracted j attention to the animal seen the other day. The head of the kumi was bigger than a man's, and like a bulldog's.