The National tribune., 1892-09-08

: e,
state of action and roar with activity. On the
lake shore-beyond the mud holes-lSsue
snrngs of boiling water. The veins Doll OUT
of the hillside and empty streams OF scaidinS
water down into the lake. The currents of hot
water arc large, and vast volumes are poured
| from the earth.
The springs are two feet in depth. and the
water is in an intense state of ebulltion; the
temperature is exceedingly high, and the
waters boil with great violence.
The streams which run from the springs are
always al scalding point, and the noise OF the
boiling caldrons heard some distance
| away.
are cooked hard in the hot waters within
! minute. The natives boil their potatoes and
cook their chickens in the boiling fountains.
On the hills around the lakeside sits village
! of Maori huts and other natives have rows OF
| tents nearer the shore The huts are made OF
! Kauri bark aud covered with boards. The
tents are constructed of canvas, stretched over
poles.
The natives have leased the phur springs
and baths to the Government of New Zealand,
/ which lets them out to managers.
| But the Maoris retain the boiling springs.
| They also own the territory around the lake,
and keep herds of cattle and fiocks OF sheep ON
their lands They lease out a portion oil their
| grounds to Colonial cattlemen for pasturage
! from the sale of their cattle and wool enable
/ the natives at the springs TO live In comfort
and plenty.
| Conveniences for living at the lake are many.
! The people don't need any fires for preparing
their meals, and don't have to collect fuel or
chop or haul wood. The boiling springs fur
nish all the heat necessary for cooking. NO
stoves or kettles or pots or ovens or Goals
! are wanted.
/ In the morning and the afternoon the Maoris
/ gather around the springs to prepare their meals.
| They bring baskets of Irish potatoes, strings
/ of fish, chickens, beef, and mutton. separate
| spring is used for scalding the chickens aud
fish. The fowls are dipped in the hot waters,
and the feathers are plucked off; the bodies
are then dressed, sailed, and attached TO
| string and dropped into A boiling spring to
cook. The chicken is occasionally pulled out
| of the water and tested; if the flesh is not
done, it is returned into the spring. The fish,
when scaled aud washed, are put in nets to
! keep the hot water from boiling the flesh away,
| and cast into the scalding fountains.
When the native wishes TO If his fish is
cooked TO suit his taste, he pulls bis string, and
1 I'D comes the net holding the fish. Potatoes are
| also cooked in their skins in nets TO prevent
| their crumbing away in the boiling springs.
Beef and mutton joints are attached TO the end
of lines like fish bait, aud thrown into the
hot waters.
During cooking hours the natives are seen
| souatted around the banks of The springs, with
! lines in their hands. The strings connect the
/ Maori's fingers with fish or chicken in the
depths Of the springs. The crowds resemble
! fishermen angling, and may be taken by the
/ uninitiated for picnic. When the viands
! have been in the water long enough and the
native has discovered by experience the length
OF time required 10 cook his foOd-and he gem
! orally keeps his watch or clock handy-the
| Maori draws in his cord and his meats come out
ready for the table. 1t is then transferred in
! trays and buckets into his hut or tent, and
placed Cd his waiting board. The family then
| sit down TO their rcpaEt.
took stroll out among the springs to see
! the natives cooking their supper and to taste
some of their victuals One brown-eyed Maori
girl was holding two strings in her hands. She
| seemed TO fancy my appearance, and con-
cluded to cultivate her acquaintance. My adj
| vanees were received with favor, and an inter
change of thought was readily established,
which finally became enjoyable as well as in
| structive
| asked the young native how she prevented
her finger-tips from getting scalded when she
| felt the hot meats to see if they were done. She
pulled some nut-shels-bollowed out-from
| her pocket, which she used on her fingers when
| forks were not within reach. She was not,
| however, disposed to undertake my education
| in the modes of native cookery without receiv-
| ing some facts in return. She wished to know
! if / had ever seen meals boiled in hot springs
before, and how the girls did their cooking at
| my house.
When informed her that | was bachelor
and did not keep any house, but lived at a
hotel where the manager provided meals, like
goods furnished al a store, she said that was
very nice and awfully convenient, but the
haoris didn't keep any hotels and everyone
| had to cook. She pulled her strings and
touched her birds and potatoes with her nut
cups and pronounced her viands ready TO eat.
She invited me to spend the evening with
her, take supper, try her potatoes, and test her
! boiled birds, and tell her about the
world beyond the seas. j considered the &C.
cason good one TO get an insight into Maori
life, enjoy its hospitality, sample its diet, and
gain know edge of the customs aud character
istics of the social world in Its primitive es-
tate.
We adjourned to her tent by the lakeside
She placed her birds in bowls box, aud
the potatoes were put in gourds Black pepper
and salt in bottles were also added to the
spread. Stools were arranged for seats and
we sat down TO our meals. She explained that
her father and mother were absent on a visit
and would not lie back until morning. In the
meantime she was keeping house alone.
She wanted 10 know bow ! liked her cook
ing and what thought of the birds. They
were fat, and cooked 10 a nicely, said but /
4 thought that they tasted very strong of sui
phur She said the natives got used 10 it and
didn't notice it, as all the hot springs were
| strong sulphur fountains. She stated that the
sulphur food contained medicinal properties,
cleansed the blood, renovated the system, and
relieved disease. The Maoris who ate that kind
of diet had good health, and were hardy and
vigorous. Many sickly natives came as inya-
lids from distance to the springs to receive
the benefits of the sui phur waters and sulphur
! food. They all derived relief, and were i'm
, proved by their visit. The springs had long
been National Santarium among the Maoris,
and TO their waters they had focked for ages
10 obtain exemption from their physical ills.
The natives had not, and never would, sell or
barter away these fountains of health.
. The healing waters were inheritance from
r their fathers, which they proposed to retain to
the last and bequeath legacy to their
children.
Weather Forecasts.
lCopyrightedls 1892, by w. T. Foster. St. Joseph Mo-
, Nv last bulletin gave forecasts of severf