Page:Pounamu, notes on New Zealand greenstone (IA pounamunotesonne00robl).djvu/25

 to wind round the rod in the opposite direction and again to raise the horizontal cross-piece. The operator's hand constantly resting upon the cross-piece, exercises pressure only in a downward direction. Sand and water are employed to increase the cutting power of the boring point, which needs frequent renewal or rechipping, and the boring is done from alternate sides of the stone operated upon until a hole is pierced.

In light work, such for instance as grooving an eardrop, only one hand would be placed upon the kurupae, but in the heavier work required for boring a patu or stone club, pressure is exercised by both hands in order to give additional force to the boring point.

Another and more primitive drill consisted of a wooden rod pointed with a small piece of basalt or obsidian and weighted with two heavy stones lashed to opposite sides of it. A string attached to the other end of the rod caused it to revolve, and a piece of perforated wood placed upon the object kept the point of the instrument continually in the same spot.

Canon Stack, in 1879, obtained from Henare Tawha, a Ngaitahu chief who lived at Wairewa, some interesting particulars about the working of greenstone, and the other tools used by the native craftsmen. The father of the chief was Te Pi, a skilful maker of weapons, tools and ornaments of pounamu, who lived at Taumutu, where a great many people were employed in this manufacture. The stone was brought on men's backs from the west coast over the ranges by way of the Kaniere pass. The tools employed by these workers were as follows:—

Kuru was a hammer of greenstone, rather larger than a man's head, with which great blocks of pounamu were broken up, grooves being first made in the blocks by friction with kiripaka