Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/28

therefore greenstone was the best known substitute, for, apart from its beauty, it was very hard and durable. The pa at the mouth of the Arahura River, “in the heart of the greenstone country” (where Ngahue landed in the dawn days of the world), was the principal storehouse of this coveted commodity, and in consequence was attacked many times by raiders. When these raids occurred or even when the Maoris first came to Westland are moot points. Authorities differ, but from what can be learned of a people who knew not writing in any shape or form, it would seem that about the year 1300 the Ngatiwairangi tribe crossed over from the North to the South Island, settling down at West Wanganui, some miles north of Karamea. Here they resided in peace for about two hundred and fifty years, spreading as far south as Milford Sound. During this time they were practically a lost tribe, though there must have been some connection with the North Island, as greenstone gradually made its appearance there. In their isolation they became wonderfully efficient at grinding this hard and beautiful stone, and were a happy and a contented people. But, alas, history then repeated itself, for even as a woman had been the cause of driving Ngahue from the cradle lands of his people, which led to his discovery of greenstone, so was a woman, again through the same agency, the cause of the downfall of the Ngatiwairangi tribe. It so