mokihi

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

or Moki


n.

Maori namefor a raft; sometimes anglicised as Moguey.

1840. J. S. Polack, `Manners and Customs of New Zealanders,'vol. ii. p. 226:

«In the absence of canoes, a quantity of dried bulrushes arefastened together, on which the native is enabled to cross astream by sitting astride and paddling with his hands; thesehumble conveyances are called moki, and resemble those made useof by the Egyptians in crossing among the islands of the Nile.They are extremely buoyant, and resist saturation for a longerperiod.»

1858. `Appendix to Journal of House of Representatives,'c. iii. p. 18:

«We crossed the river on mokis. By means of large mokis,carrying upwards of a ton. . . . Moki navigation.»

1889. Vincent Pyke, `Wild Will Enderby,' p. 82:

«For the benefit of the unlearned in such matters, let me hereexplain that a `Mokihi' is constructed of Koradies, Anglice, the flowering stalks of the flax, – – threefaggots of which lashed firmly in a point at the small ends,and expanded by a piece of wood at the stern, constitute thesides and bottom of the frail craft, which, propelled by apaddle, furnishes sufficient means of transport for a singleindividual.»