WAS IT SECOND SIGHT

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9544, 2 December 1893, Page 5

WAS IT SECOND SIGHT

In the new volume of " Transactions of the New Zealand Institute" there Is published the following ouriouu story, told by Mr R.I. Kinsley, of Nelson:Dnring my reoent trip to Tahaka district I camped for one night near Black Point. I hod previously been told that the natives had a legend that at this spot, before the advent of the pakeha, there had been a maiwaore of their race by an invasion from th» North Island. 1 was farther informed that there was not the least likelihood of making any discoveriea ol Native relics, as the place had teen thoroughly searched again and again. Mr Brjant aDd myself arrived on the spot late in the afternoon, nod as soon aB the camp had been pitoued, etc., I started to reconnoitre, as the shades of evening were f»st falling, and I wished for a clear definite programme for ao early morning start. After ascending the headland aud taking a hasty survey of the surrounding*, and as I turned to retrace my steps, I en- ( deavored to pioture to myself the prohable line of attack and retreat, etc. As if'by »n inspiration I seemed at a ulanoe to comprehend the whole scene; and, further, in the event of a wounded chief fleeing for his life, one spot appoared the moßt likely for him to endea- < vor to reach, and there, I argued, he would be most probable to hide his Bieß or any other article he valued. In the twllght I went straight to the Bpot— a group of limestone rocks. When near, I found there were several holes or cavities in them, some filled with stones. My mind was concentrated upon one of theße; and after removing the loose stones at a distance of about ten inches I could distinctly feel the end of a atone axe. After some trouble I removed it, and then, digging into the soil with my fingers, I unearthed two bone points for spears (drawings of the three artioleß are given). On the following morning, after five or six hours' fruitless searoh all over the headlands, I completed the search in this Bame oavity, and unearthed another axe of very hard atone (4|in by 1\), a thin greenstone axe with a hole drilled in it, a boue implement (which I take to be a kind of whistle, and whiob, it was stated, is made from a human armbooe) a small piece of white quartz crystal, some pipi shells, and bones of the barraoouta. The depth of the cavity was a full erm's-length, and from the solid nature * of the accumulated soil I should suppose that these implements must have been deposited where I found them at leat eighty to a hundred years, and perhaps longer. Thejstrange part appears to be the remarkable way in which I was led, as if by intuition, to where they weie found, more especially when next morning a laborious soaroh of five or six hours resulted lv not a trace of anything else being discovered.