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The Pa Maori

Fortified Places Situated on Flat Land

Fortified Places Situated on Flat Land

Very few old native forts are seen entirely surrounded by flat land, for such a situation was abhorred by the Maori. If a hill site was not obtainable, he constructed his pa on the brink of a terrace, or on the bank of a river, stream or lake, thus he possessed at least one easily defended face. Of this type are the three here described, and many more examples might be given, but such do not present the most interesting features of native forts. In most cases forts so situated are those possessing the simplest contour lines, as near as we see to rectangular areas, such as Te Kupenga at Te Teko, and page 176Otenukuku at Ruatoki. An interesting feature in the latter is a deep fosse and a rampart dividing the fortified area into two parts, these works being as strong as the external defences.

The three fortified areas described under the above heading consist of level land, though the outer lines of all impinge upon precipitous bluffs overlooking rivers.