buried.” When Ruatona replied, “What, wilfully throw away the bit of (food obtained by extra exertion in) the scarce summer season?” And so that hand-to-hand fight ended in favour of Ruatona, who kept possession of Kapuarangi.

Art. III.—Contributions towards a better Knowledge of the Maori Race. By W. Colenso, F.L.S. [continued.* See “Trans. N.Z. Inst.,” Vol. XI., Art V., p. 77; and Vol. XII., Art VII., p. 108.] [Read before the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute, 8th November, 1880.] —“For I, too, agree with Solon, that ‘I would fain grow old learning many things.”’—Plato: Laches. On the Ideality of the Ancient New Zealander. Part III.—On their Poetical Genius. It may truly be said that with the New Zealander poetry is, or was, part of their daily life. Whatever differences in taste may have existed among the various ancient tribes (iwi) composing the Maori people, in this matter they were pre-eminently as one,—all used it, all were moved by it, all enjoyed it. Indeed, I have very good reasons for believing that poetry—in one shape or other—was much more commonly used than even their proverbs were,—which formed the subject of my last paper read before you under this head. Is it not true, that under much of poetry, as well as of proverbs, there lies a philosophy? With nursery ditties and jingles they strove to amuse and quiet their young children, and with longer legendary and historical rhythmical recitals the old informed their youth, and dissipated the ennui of wet days and long nights. With smart songs of encouragement, sung alternately and in full chorus, they eased the heavy labour of their most laborious works,—such as dragging the hulls of their large canoes from the forests—often over many miles of the roughest country, without any road—to the sea, and also the large totara timber for their chiefs' houses; and often whole trunks of trees to form the outer wall of fortification around their town (pa). They paddled their war-canoes to suitable inspiring songs, which were regularly chaunted by their chiefs, or fit men,† Called kai-tuki, hau-tu, etc., —a kind of vocal marine fuglemen, encouragers, chaunters; who, standing on the thwarts (more like birds than men!) directed, and kept, and gave time, both by voice and gesture, to the paddlers. often two, if not three, in each large canoe, to which song the paddlers kept time, both in paddling and in occasionally slapping the blades