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Page:Pounamu, notes on New Zealand greenstone (IA pounamunotesonne00robl).djvu/46

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POUNAMU.

two claws. It is clearly a variant of the same type of ornament; but it presents a daring departure from the usual form, very uncommon in the work of the Maori, who were slaves to traditional conventions.

The single manaia was usually fashioned in the spiral form illustrated from two actual examples in Figure 17.

Two greenstone carved manaia each in the shape of a coiled snake.
Figure 17

This malignant spirit, which figures in so many ancient carvings of the Maori, is commonly shewn attacking man and viciously biting his ear or body. A small carved pendant (Figure 18) in the British Museum represents the head of a manaia.

A small carved greenstone pendant in the shape of a human head. Said to represent the head of a maniaia.
Figure 18

In Figure 19 is shewn the mako, which was a very popular ornament, highly valued as a keepsake. It is a representation