Parramatta 13th June 1815
Revd Sir,
	I have sent you a Box containing Various articles principally wearing apparel Such as are manufactured and used by the natives of New Zealand.
No 1 named Neck’ho is worn by the Chiefs & the Ladies as a mantle, No 2 do, No 3 is worn by the Common people universally, and in the nights and rainy weather the Chiefs also wear them. Some of them are exceeding large, and nearly cover them from head to Foot and in the evening when they encamp they have the appearance of a number of Bee hives if it should rain they draw them over their heads and when it is fine weather they put their heads out like a land Tortoise out of its shell, No 5 ka’ka’how is worn by the Chiefs and their wives as a Great Coat in England, the thick Canvas mat is worn in the Field of Battle 4 of them will resist any Spear, and in action are Worn by the Chiefs, as a Coat of Mail before they put them on they wet them, in Order that they [f] may resist the force of the spear more effectually, I recommend you to put the thick mat into water and you will see an instantaneous effect produced, the Canvas will be rendered stiffer and more like a board, which appears to be the peculiar quality of the New Zealand Flax, I have sent a small quantity of the Flax dress’d, but whether it will be an article valuable for Commerce, I am not competent to judge perhaps some of the members of the Society or their friends may ascertain this point upon the Specimens of the Flax, I have sent together with the wearing apparel, I should be glad to receive information upon the subject, as the flax in New Zealand, is an annual plant and grows without cultivation, more or less in every part I have visited, and would afford constant employment to the Women, and Children, Should it be found of any Value to Civil Society, There is also in the case a Stone To’kee or Adze, such as are used by the Chiefs in making their canoes, for the want of edge tools. No 9 named Ha’ ha’ is mearly [sic] an ornament [f] worn by the Chiefs, round their necks and is considered valuable by them, N0 11 named Hee’tik kee is worn as a belt by the chiefs, No 14 War’ra’ is a sleeping Mat, No 15 Shun’na’ is an upper Garment worn by the wives of the Chiefs, there is also a small Wood funnel in the Box, which is used by the natives in putting their Oil into Calabashes, I shall also send a few Spear [sic] in charge of Mr Wilkinson Master of the Sydney Packet and shall had [sic] to your Collection of curiosities every opportunity that occurs
I have the honor to be
Revd Sir
Your most Obedient Servant
Saml Marsden

Revd J. Pratt
P.S. Names of Article
 in the Box
No 1— Neck’ko’
No 2—do
No 3—Ta’ha’
No 4—Tha’fa’
No 5— Ka’ka’.how
No 6—Ra’-pa
No 7—Pa’.o.kow
No 8—Ka’ka’.how
No 9— Ha’.ha’
No 10—Pa’.too.too
No11—Hee.tik.kee
No12— do—
No13—Pa’.o’.kow
No14—War’.ra’
No15—Shun’na’
Also in the Box—
A few Fish hooks
the Box sent by
Sydney Packet, in
Charge of the Master.