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The Pa Maori

Mount Eden

Mount Eden

Maunga-whau or Mt. Eden is one of the best examples of the interesting hill forts of the Auckland district, and a good illustration of that type of hill fortifications in which fosse and parapet are almost entirely lacking. Casual observers have written of trenches and earthen walls that do not and never have existed in these volcanic cone strongholds of the isthmus area. Their very numerous lines of defence consisted almost entirely of steeply scarped faces supplemented by lines of stockades.

The crater rim of Mt. Eden is about 500 yards in circumference, and the lip or lowest part of such rim is on the N.W. side. The S. and S.E. sides are the highest. The crater is in the usual form of an inverted cone; it is about 55 feet deep as measuring from the low lip, but from the S.E. side it is about 110 feet deep. The bottom shows a collection of debris composed of blocks, boulders and small pieces of scoria. The interior slopes have several terraces from 30 yards to 80 yards in length on the eastern side, and one on the upper part of the western side. All terrace formations were undoubtedly residential areas. The terraces vary much in size. Some are small, while others page 317 Fig. 80—Mt. Eden at Auckland, An old hill fort. View of western part of crater rim showing levelled areas. are as much as 45 yards in width, and scarped faces of 40 feet are seen. A great number of the rectangular semi-subterranean storage pits are seen, but none of the well-like wholly subterranean pits. Presumably the soil is not suitable for the latter type. One pit measured is of huge size, being 14 yards by 13 yards, and 7 feet deep, with much debris in it. Another is 40 feet long, 30 feet wide and 10 feet deep. Yet another near by is almost as large.

Fig. 81—Mt. Eden, showing crater and terrace formations. A. H. Messenger

In Fig. 81 above is shown the summit of the hill, as also the crater and several terraced formations on a flank spur. Fig. 83, p. 319, gives the view looking northward from the summit, and Fig. 82 below a view of the summit area from the flank spur. Fig. 80 above from a photograph, shows a part of the summit area.

In writing of Mt. Eden, Dieffenbach says:—"On the outer surface of the hill about twelve terraces rise throughout its extent, at regular intervals of about twelve feet. All the cones in the neighbourhood of Maunga-whau have this terraced appearance; and although the page 318natives, who formerly had settlements on almost all these hills, have contributed much to this regular appearance by levelling the steps, they are evidently in their origin the work of Nature."

Fig. 82—Terrace formation, Mt. Eden. A. H. Messenger

Here Dieffenbach was in error; the terraces are entirely artificial in their origin, all formed by the natives in past times. The intervals of twelve feet is too low an estimate; the scarps are much higher.

Regarding the old workings seen at Mt. Eden Mr. Messenger remarks:—"Practically the whole mount, from base to summit, has at one period been under close occupation, and on its lower slopes the deep volcanic soil must have proved admirable for cultivation purposes. Looking down on the broad, level terraces that in some cases almost encircle the upper slopes of the mountain, one is filled with admiration at the immense labour involved in their formation, especially with the primitive implements at the disposal of the natives. When fully occupied, with each one of the innumerable terraces protected by stockades, the mount must have presented the appearance of a vast stronghold. … It seems almost incredible that, of all the thousands who visit Mt. Eden to view the magnificent panorama that stretches to every point of the compass, only a very few display even the slightest interest in all these astonishing remains of the old-time inhabitants. Most people seem to accept the broad, level hill summits and wide terraces as quite a natural formation. … page 319 Fig. 83—Mt. Eden, view from summit looking from eastern edge of crater northwards, showing successive hills on the northern face of the mountain and terraces with excavations. A. H. Messenger page 320The deep excavations shown in the drawings are from 12 to 16 feet deep and 47 feet long on the surface. Other excavations are circular in shape and 6 feet deep, with a circumference of about 40 feet."

Fig. 84—The Old Stockaded Hill Forts must have presented such an appearance as this.