THE MOKO-HINOU SCARE.
WE have received this morning a very m-obable explanation of the mysterious smoke at Moko-Hinou, which, unfortunately for the lovers of the sensational, does away altogether with the volcano theory, made such a mouthful of by our Spmnorarv. We arc informed by an officer c& Customs, who. has visited the island on several occasions, that it is the habit of the natives to resort to it in large numbers m the early
summer of each year, for the purpose of catching and drying the young mutton birds, which are to be found, congregating there. The natives knock the birds down while they are yet unable to fly ; and with that curious inversion of civilized practice which often distinguishes a savage state, strip off the skin, with its plentiful fat, and throw the carcase away. They then dry the skins, and preserve them for food. During the stay of the Maoris on the island they very often, accidentally or purposely, make large brushwood fires. On a calm day the smoke from these ascends to a great height, and may be descried at an immense distance. Although no timber is to be found at-Moko Hinou there is a g thick growth of scrub and ti-tree.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2406, 6 December 1877, Page 3
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206THE MOKO-HINOU SCARE. Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2406, 6 December 1877, Page 3
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