TE WAI POUNAMU

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 283, 27 August 1935, Page 2

TE WAI POUNAMU

Greenstone in Legend

and History

VALUED BY MAORIS Early Expeditions to West Coast New Zealand greeustone, “pouuamu" of the Maoris, is perhaps the most interesting of the Dominion’s geological treasures. Highly prized of old. featuring prominently in the legend aud history of lhe native race, the cause of many a bloody war, greenstone has now assumed a new significance. It has become one of the country’s publicity agents. Our national stone, a semiprecious and particularly beautiful jade, greenstone, is one of the favourite souvenirs of this country carried overseas by tourists.

Its hard texture rendered the shaping of pounamu a lengthy process to the Maori, and even to-day it is a task requiring the most skilled technique and special machinery; most of the greenstone sold in this country lias been shipped overseas to be made up. and this is one of the reasons why greenstone commands such a high price on the New Zealand market. Greenstone formerly played a large part in native life, so the “Dominion” reporter sought out a Maori of his’ acquaintance, to question him of the Maori methods of working the stone. “I know nothing of all that!” said his Maori friend. “The pounamu is no longer part of ray people’s life. We have forgotten all that knowledge. No greenstone is worked to-day by the Maoris, and of ail the articles our fathers made practically all have been stolen and given away and sold. Hardly any of the famous historic pieces remain in the Maoris’ keeping. If you want to know about the pounainu there are clever men and learned books at the Dominion Museum, nud there are vendors of greenstone in the shops. They can tell you; it is a sorrow to me.” Maori Legends. The Maoris attributed the discovery of pounamu to the navigator Ngahue, who took back to Hawaiki greenstone for the adzes used to hollovv the canoes for the migration to Aotearoa. The variety known as “inanga” was said to have been found first by the voyager Kupe, who when first he reached New Zealand discovered a pebble of the stone In the Arahura while netting whitebait. Inanga, of course, is the Maori word for whitebait. Several other varieties of the stone were distinguished by the Maoris; that known as “tangiwai” was a softer, lighter, translucent stone. Kawapawa, the greenstone used by the jewellers, was most prized. Pounamu kahurangi was yet another variety of the stone. Greenstone was observed in the possession of the Maoris by Captain Cook and all the other early visitors. The sole sources from which the Natives obtained it were the beds of the mountain torrents on the West Coast of the South Island. From this the island took its native name, “Te Wai I’ounnniu"—the Waters of Greenstone. The Arahura and Teremakau Rivers, andtheir tributary creeks, were the principal places where it was found. Mostly the stone was picked up in the form of pebbles and boulders brought down by the floods, and after freshes the Natives would search the river-beds, locating the stone by its bright colour, heightened by the effect of the water.

An Arduous Joiuuey. To reach the rivers where the stone, was found involved a long and difficult journey over the Southern Alps. These rough and desolate ranges presented formidable difficulties to even the early European prospectors reasonably well equipped to face the rigours of the high country. To the early Maori the obstacles must have proved immeasurably greater. The main'and shortest greenstone route led up the Rakaia Valley, and over Browning Pass. The name of Hokitika, at that point of the coast, signifies “The direct return.’’ There were in those days pas at Hororata and at Double Hill, and probably at other places in those hills, A favourite camping place, sheltered from the north-west gales that prevail in that part of the country, was in the lee of Fighting Hill; in that district the remains of Maori ovens and middens are still found, and the plough turns up adze-heads of pounamu, marking the old route through the ranges. The crossing of the mountains meant risking starvation, drowning in the treacherous waters of the deep and rapid rivers, or loss of the coveted stone at the hands of hostile war parties on the return journey. As a matter of fact, most of the greenstone owned by tribes other thap those who had established claims to the greenstone territory was obtained by barter. The curious customs of muru and utu, and the continual intertribal wars, kept tho greenstone in circulation, It has been stated that behind practically all the bloody and fre.quent wars in the South Island was the greed of greenstone; those West Coast river-beds were a bone of continual contention.

Working the greenstone-was a long job iu those days. It was perhaps the hardest substance known to the Maoris. By hammering it. or by splitting it with tire and water, they were able to break it into rough pieces suitable for the manufacture of adzes, jueres, chisels and larger articles, while from chips and splinters they fashioned needles, fish-hook points, earrings and pendants, rings for the legs of parrots, aud the little grotesque ornaments, “hoi tiki.” Patient Craftsmanship.

The Maori sawed the stone, slowly and laboriously, with a flat slab of sandstone, or a wooden stick and a handful of quartz sand, rubbing away patiently hour after hour. Often he sluiced the cut by hanging over the stone, as he worked, a dripping calabash of water. Holes were drilled with the ingenious "tuirl,” an upright shaft, tipped with stone or shell, weighted with a crude ily-wheel, and rotated with a string. Seashells are said to have been used to etch the fine lines of tikis. Final polishing was achieved by the use of sand, water, and wood. The manufacture of an adze, mere, or large article must have taken years to complete. But the Maori was altogether unhurried. Our modern race against time had not touched him. If he did not himself bring the work to a finish. his son could carry if on, and the third generation if necessary. No doubt the tremendous amount of labour required to complete any article greatly enhanced its value. A man would carry a piece of greenstone about with him, and whenever he had a spare moment, would produce and , take a rub at it. Sent Overseas to be Cut. Even to-day the working of greenstone is no simple matter. There are

only three or four men cutting greenstone in this country, and almost all that sold commercially is sent over to Germany to be made up. Wellington jewellers told the "Dominion" reporter that this accounted for the high price of greenstone. The locally.cut- articles, he said, did not attain the same standard of perfection as those sent overseas; and as the New Zealand craftsmen were far from cheap, it was preferable to import the foreign-cut stone. A heavy duty of 20 per cent, was imposed on the stone returning into the Dominion; whereas oilier semi-precious stones, such as Japanese rock-crystal, came in at a 5 per cent. duty. Greenstone in the raw was obtainable relatively cheaply, although the supply was by no means plentiful In the old days prosjiectors panning gold in the southern creeks. often brought in quantities of greeustone pebbles washed from the shingle of tlie riverbeds, but that has gradually ceased. To-day the tracks o-er the mountains are trodden only by musterers. trampers, and professional hunters. and the waters of greenstone have ceased to be the cause oi bloodshed and war.