Page:Pounamu, notes on New Zealand greenstone (IA pounamunotesonne00robl).djvu/20

16 Another tradition tells how Tamatea pokai-whenua (fair son), accompanied by a slave went inland to Mount Kaniere, and on the way stopped to cook some birds that he had killed. The slave accidentally burnt his finger while preparing the meal and thoughtlessly touched it with the tip of his tongue. For this impious act he was punished by being transformed into a mountain, ever since known by his name Tumu-aki. Another consequence of his breach of the tapu was that Tamatea never found his wives, and, so the story goes, the best parts of the enchanted greenstone into which they were changed is often found to be spoilt by flaws known as tutae koka, the dung of the bird which the slave was cooking when he licked his burnt finger.

From Haimona Tuakau, a very intelligent native of the North Island who spent many years at Arahura, Hohonu and other places on the west coast of the South Island, and knew a great deal about greenstone, Canon Stack ascertained the following particulars respecting the native names of various kinds of pounamu and their respective colours. Kahotea is stone of a dark vivid green and is distinguished by the spots of black and brown which diversify its colour. Kawakawa is stone of a pure rich green colour, and is not spotted or veined with dark or light markings. Auhunga is slightly paler than kawakawa. Inanga has a colour paler still, so that in parts it approaches grey or creamy white. Aotea, as its name implies, is of a cloudy white.

All of these are semi-opaque. Of a different quality, but most valuable of all kinds of poumamu, is kahurangi, a translucent stone of pale green. Of this there are two kinds, one entirely devoid of markings, the other known by the whiteish streaks of the colour of inanga which run through it. Kokotangiwai is a transparent greenstone, soft and brittle, with characteristic markings having the