Austral English Part 193

i. p. 95:

"Sitting on the branch of a tree, as a pro tempore pulpit, he shakes his head, bending to one side and then to another, as if he remarked to this one and to that one; and once and again, with pent-up vehemence, contracting his muscles and drawing himself together, his voice waxes loud, in a manner to awaken sleepers to their senses."

1890. W. Colenso, `Bush Notes,' `Transactions of the New Zealand Inst.i.tute,' vol. x.x.xiii. art. lvii. p. 482:

"It is very pleasing to hear the deep rich notes of the parson-bird--to see a pair of them together diligently occupied in extracting honey from the tree-flowers, the sun shining on their glossy sub-metallic dark plumage."

Partridge-Pigeon, n. an Australian pigeon.

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 8:

"The partridge-pigeon (Geophaps scripta) abounded in the Acacia groves."

Partridge-wood, n. another name for the Cabbage-Palm (q.v.).

Pa.s.sion-flower, Native, n. Several species of the genus Pa.s.siflora are so called in Australia; some are indigenous, some naturalised.

1859. H. Kingsley, `Geoffrey Hamlyn,' p. 398:

"The native pa.s.sion-flower, scarlet and orange, was tangled up with the common purple sarsaparilla and the English honeysuckle and jessamine."

Pastoralist, n. The squatters are dropping their old name for this new one. A Pastoralist is a sheep or cattle-farmer, the distinction between him and an Agriculturist being, that cultivation, if he undertakes it at all, is a minor consideration with him.

1891. March 15 [t.i.tle]:

"The Pastoralists' Review," No. 1.

1892. `Scribner's Magazine,' Feb., p. 147:

"A combination has been formed by the squatters under the name of the Pastoralists' Union."

Patagorang, n. one of the aboriginal names for the Kangaroo (q.v.), and see Paddy-melon.

Pataka, n. Maori word for storehouse, supported on a post to keep off rats. See Whata.

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' c. i.

p. 283:

"We landed at the pataka, or stage."

Patiki, n. the Maori name for the Flounder (q.v.). The accent is on the first syllable of the word.

1820. `Grammar and Vocabulary of the Language of New Zealand'

(Church Missionary Society), p. 190:

"Patiki, s. a fish so called."

1844. F. Tuckett, `Diary,' May 31:

"A fine place for spearing soles or patike (the best of fish)."

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 412:

"Patiki, common name for the sole and flat-fish; the latter is found in rivers, but decreases in size as it retires from the sea."

1879. Captain Mair, `Transactions of New Zealand Inst.i.tute,'

vol. xii. art. xlvi. p. 316:

"Large patiki, flat-fish, are occasionally speared up the river."

Patriot, n. Humorously applied to convicts.

1796. In `History of Australia,' by G. W. Rusden (1894), p. 49 [Footnote]:

"In 1796 the Prologue (erroneously imputed to a convict Barrington, but believed to have been written by an officer) declared:

`True patriots we, for be it understood We left our country for our country's good.'"

Patter, v. to eat. Aboriginal word, and used in pigeon- English, given by Collins in his vocabulary of the Port Jackson dialect. Threlkeld says, ta is the root of the verb, meaning "to eat."

1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' vol. ii. c. vii. p. 223:

"He himself did not patter (eat) any of it."

Patu, n. Maori generic term for all hand-striking weapons. The mere (q.v.) is one kind.

1882. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open,' p. 82:

"It (fern-root) was soaked, roasted, and repeatedly beaten with a small club (patu) on a large smooth stone till it was supple."

Paua, n. the Maori name for the Mutton- fish (q.v.). Also used as the name for Maori fishhooks, made of the paua sh.e.l.l; the same word being adopted for fish, sh.e.l.l, and hook.

1820. `Grammar and Vocabulary of Language of New Zealand'

(Church Missionary Society), p. 191:

"Paua, s. a sh.e.l.l-fish so called."

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 416:

"Pawa (Haliotis iris), or mutton-fish. This beautiful sh.e.l.l is found of considerable size; it is used for the manufacture of fish-hooks."

1855. Ibid. p.397:

"The natives always tie a feather or two to their paua, or fish-hooks."

1877. W. L. Buller, `Transactions of New Zealand Inst.i.tute,'

vol. x. art. xix. p. 192:

"Elaborately carved, and illuminated with paua sh.e.l.l."