a prickly shrub of New Zealand, Discaria toumatou, Raoul.; also called WildIrishman (q.v.). The Maori name is Tumatahuru,of which Matagory, with various spellings, is a corruption,much used by rabbiters and swagmen. The termination goryevidently arises by the law of Hobson-Jobson from the factthat the spikes draw blood.
1859. J. T. Thomson, in `Otago Gazette,' Sept. 22, p. 264:
«Much over-run with the scrub called `tomata-guru.'»
Alex. Garvie, ibid. p. 280:
«Much of it is encumbered with matakura scrub.»
1892. W. McHutcheson, `Camp Life in Fiordland,' p. 8:
«Trudging moodily along in Indian file throughthe matagouri scrub and tussock.»
1896. `Otago Witness,' 7th May, p. 48:
«The tea generally tastes of birch or Matagouri.»