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AMULETS: PRIMITIVE, MODERN 363
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need not hesitate to believe that these reports did much to render jade amulets generally fashionable.
An
old Polynesian legend recounts that jade was brought to New Zealand
from a distant land by a certain Ngahue, who sought by this means to
save the precious material from an enemy who coveted it. He settled at
Arahua, on the west coast of the middle island, and in this region he
found an eternal and safe resting place for his jade, which he valued
above all things.28 This legend has often been adduced as a
proof that the New Zealand jade was brought from other countries, but
as it proceeds to state that Ngahue made neck and ear ornaments of this
material, there is at least as great probability that we have here the
supposed origin of the hei-tiki ornaments, and that the legend
testifies to the popular belief that the art of making these objects
came to New Zealand from without.
The
quasi-magic character of New Zealand jade (nephrite) in the eyes of
Maoris of the olden time is proved by the fact that certain
superstitious restrictions were established in regard to the cutting
of nephrite, one of these being that no woman should be allowed to
approach the jade-cutters while they were engaged in their task. For
the drilling of holes in jade implements or amulets the cord-drill was
employed, and the surface of the object received its polish by rubbing
it with a piece of sandstone, after it had been roughly fashioned, by
chipping, to the desired form. The toughness of jade is such that
infinite patience and long-continued effort must have been necessary to
complete any ornament or implement under these primitive conditions.29
A curious and characteristic jade artefact, known as nbouet or koindien, is found among the natives of New Cale-
*·
Grey, " Polynesian Mythology," London, 1855, p. 132. " Elsdon Best, "
The Stone Implements of the Maori," Dominion Museum Bulletin, No. 4,
Wellington, New Zealand, 1912.
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