Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

An account of Colenso's journey on foot (and canoe) from Hicks Bay down the East Coast, across to Te Reinga, Waikaremoana, Rotorua, through the Waikato to the Manukau Harbour and north to Paihia.

p.6 "Leaving Te Kawakawa and travelling by the seaside, we passed several of the Taro plantations of these natives, (Caladium esculentum, Vent.). These plantations were in nice condition, and looked very neat, the plants being planted in Quincunx order and the ground strewed with white sand, to which the large pendulous dark green and shield-shaped leaves of the young plants formed a beautiful contrast; small screens, composed of the young branches of Leptospermum scoparium, intersected the grounds in every direction to shelter the young plants from the violence of the N. and E. winds."

p.7 "On these flat rocks of indurated clay I observed a peculiar kind of Alga (Sa), which, boiled, is commonly used as an article of food by the natives of these parts; they call it Karengo."

p.12 At Anaura. "I observed, in the houses of the natives at this place, a quantity of a thick succulent species of Fucus hung up to dry which they informed me was used as an article of food, mixing it with the expressed juice of the fruit of Coriaria sarmentosa to give it consistency; this Fucus they call Rimurapa."

p.16 "... procumbent upon the sand, grew a small plant, somewhat resembling in habit and general appearance Tetragonia expansa, but differing in the fruit, the berries being large, succulent, pimpled, and dewy, and filled with a carmine-coloured juice; this juice is used by the natives in writing as a substitute for ink; but like most other simple vegetable dyes is very evanescent; the natives call it Kokihi."

p.18 Notes that ngaio on East Coast attain height of 30-35 feet, " and is very commonly used by the natives for posts, poles, rafters, &c."

p.27 At Waikaremoana. (23 December 1841) "They had scarcely any food for their own use; and although they exerted themselves to the utmost in their endeavour to be hospitable towards me, they could only allow us two scanty meals of roots and herbs per diem."

"A peculiar sea-bird, called by the natives, Tete (which often flies irregularly at night, making a noise resembling tee-tee-tee-tee, rapidly uttered, whence its name) is sometimes caught here in large numbers. From the natives" account, it would appear that these birds at certain times resort to the tops of the highest and barrenest hills, where the natives assemble and make fires on foggy nights, which fires decoy the birds thither, where they are easily taken with nets. I have often heard this bird at night, but have never seen one."

p.37 on Dicksonia fibrosa. "The natives separate this fibrous epidermis into thick slices, which they use for many purposes in the construction of their houses and stores, being easier cut by them, with their scanty means, than wood. A piece as large as a small plank may readily be obtained. They find it, also, to be much more effectual than timber, in excluding rats and mice, as these animals cannot gnaw through this dry and fibrous substance with the facility which they can through wood."

p.45 "I observed the natives continually masticating a kind of resinous gum, which was insoluble in water, and did not decrease through the process of repeated chewing; this, they informed me, they procured from the Pukapuka (Brachyglottis repanda, A. C.), assuring me that the swallowing of the substance would cause death."

p.51 In Waikato, (near Cambridge) observes large-leaved dock, which local Māori said was introduced by "Negapuhi" [sic] in order to spoil their lands (which cause Colenso doubts). Mentions again the introduction of dock to Poverty Bay, sold to Māori by whites as tobacco seed. "It is now to be met with in several districts, in common with many other noxious European weeds. I have often noticed in travelling, ce