Kai-tangata

The Kai-tangata pa is situated on a ridge running out into a swamp near Urenui, northern Taranaki. I am indebted to Mr. G. L. Stephens for a plan of its defences and particulars as to area. See Fig. 71 opposite.

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A marks a fosse dividing the fortified area from the mainland; it is 14 yds. long, 10 ft. wide and 10 ft. deep. B area is 27 yds. by 18 yds. in size. The sides of the various areas have been scarped for defensive purposes, which scarps would be surmounted by stockades.

C marks another fosse 18 yds. long and 10 ft. deep, excavated in two parts, a block having been left in the middle to give access to D area, which is but 10 yds. by 15 yds. E marks a little terrace on the eastern side of D area and 6 ft. below it, while G is another and lower terrace, along the outer edge of which a parapet is seen at W.W.

H area is 37 yds. by 10 yds. and lies 10 ft. above K; its southern end being protected by the deep fosse at F. K area is 27 yds. long and a terrace extends from it round the western slope of H area. From terrace G the access to K area is clear, being a gradual slope upwards to K. The short scarp of K near I has not been deemed deep enough, hence at its base a trench 6 ft. wide has been excavated. The curved line shows the former entrance from the eastern side by way of S to G, then up to area K.

At S is a deep fosse 15 ft. wide, with a scarp of over 20 ft. on its northern side, at the top of which lies the fine area, L, 200 yds. long and about 37 yds. in width. The eastern side of L has been scarped, below which the slope is a steep one. The western side has a more gradual slope, and here two terraces have been formed. The upper one, R, ten feet below L, averages about 12 yds. in width; while the lower one, T, shows much abrasion; apparently it has been about 10 ft. wide.

M area is but 12 yds. in length, i.e., north and south, but is 29 yds. wide; it is connected with terrace R. The ascending approach to the summit area L was as shown; the access to N area is likewise marked.

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N area is connected with terrace T, which connects with the terrace on the western slope of O area. The outermost fosse at P cuts off the end of the ridge and is 25 ft. deep, the bottom being now 8 ft. wide.