ved from the Maori, a vowel after a mute
letter is not sounded. It is called in the North Island
<i>Tupakihi</i>. In Maori, the verb <i>tutu</i> means to be
hit, wounded, or vehemently wild, and the name of the plant
thus seems to be connected with the effects produced by its
poison. To "eat your toot": used as a slang phrase; to become
acclimatised, to settle down into colonial ways.

1857. R. Wilkin, in a Letter printed by C. Hursthouse,
`New Zealand,' p. 372:

"The plant called `tutu' or `toot' appears to be universal over
New Zealand. If eaten by sheep or cattle with empty stomachs,
it acts in a similar manner to green clover, and sometimes
causes death; but if partaken of sparingly, and with grass, it
is said to possess highly fattening qualities. None of the
graziers, however, except one, with whom I conversed on the
subject, seemed to consider toot worth notice; . . . it is
rapidly disappearing in the older settled districts and will
doubtless soon disappear here."

1857. C. Hursthouse, `New Zealand,' p. 395:

"The wild shrub Tutu (<i>Coriaria ruscifolia</i>), greedily
devoured by sheep and cattle, produces a sort of `hoven'
effect, something like that of rich clover pastures when stock
break in and over feed. . . . Bleeding and a dose of spirits
is the common cure. . . Horses and pigs are not affected by
it."

1861. C. C. Bowen, `Poems,' p. 57:

"And flax and fern and tutu grew In wild luxuriance round."

1867. F. Hochstetter, `New Zealand,' p. 139:

"The toot-plant, tutu or tupakihi of the Maoris (<i>Coriaria
sarmentosa</i>, Forst. = <i>C. ruscifolia</i>, L.), is a small
bush, one of the most common and widely distributed shrubs of
the islands. [New Zealand.] It produces a sort of `hoven' or
narcotic effect on sheep and cattle, when too greedily eaten.
It bears a fruit, which is produced in clusters, not unlike a
bunch of currants, with the seed external, of a purple colour.
The poisonous portion of the plant to man are the seeds and
seedstalks, while their dark purple pulp is utterly innoxious
and edible. The natives express from the berries an agreeable
violet juice (carefully avoiding the seed), called native
wine."

1872. A. Domett, `Ranolf,' p. 103:

"The tutu-tree,
Whose luscious purple clusters hang so free
And tempting, though with hidden seeds replete
That numb with deadly poison all who eat."

1883. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand,