Bread Unknown

When my family first went to Te Araroa from Orutua, the people were without any means by which they might provide themselves with food and clothing. Bread and tea were then unknown in this district, and occasionally my own people went without these luxuries. We always kept cows which supplied us regularly with plenty of milk. It was not at all uncommon to see a whole family drink milk with potatoes and kumaras. Another regular meal was marrow taken with fat. The marrow was cut up into pieces into which was poured hot fat. My father often killed a bullock which he distributed amongst every family. Today, to have no bread and butter would be considered a hardship; and today the Maoris can provide as sumptuous a meal as can be obtained in a good hotel.