Settlement of the North Island by an Unknown People.

Subsequent to the discovery of New Zealand by Kupe, the North Island was settled in many parts by a dark-skinned folk of inferior culture, whose origin is unknown. They are said to have been a people of spare build, thin-shanked, with flat noses, distended nostrils, and generally unpleasant appearance. Their eyes were peculiarly restless, their hair upstanding. They lived in rude huts, wore little clothing, and were an indolent people, fond of hugging the fireside. Their ancestors had come from a very warm far-away land—a much warmer land than New Zealand. They arrived here in three canoes, named “Kahu-tara,” “Tai-koria,” and “Okoki.” These vessels had been driven from their home-land by a westerly wind, and, after a long drift, reached the Taranaki coast, where these folk settled. As time went on they occupied many parts of the North Island, and were most numerous at Taranaki, Tamaki, the Bay of Plenty, and Hawke's Bay, when the voyager Toi arrived.