Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/18

 When cooked he was raked out of the fire, and when cool enough to handle was knocked on a stone or hit with a stick to crack the baked cake encasing him. When opened out the hair and scarf skin adhered to the inner surface of the clay, and the flesh looked white like chicken. A dexterous twist with the thumb nail scooped out the entrails in a round ball. All was eaten save a few of the large bones and the tail. At this time the older natives were very fond of rats. The younger ones were not keen on them. To-day a Maori would scorn the idea of eating them. Thus rapidly does civilisation stamp out barbarous customs.

In the “forties” the Maoris had a method of extracting sugar from young cabbage trees, which, I fear, is now lost. They began operations by digging a hole 8ft. long, 4ft. wide, and from 5ft. to 6ft. deep. A layer of stones was placed in the bottom, and on them an enormous fire was built. When this had burned down the young cabbage tree was stripped and laid on the stones. Water was then poured over them, and all was quickly covered over with earth and left for many days. Beyond this I do not know what other process was adopted,