A Maori Whalebone Comb with spirals and beautiful intricate carving all over. From New Plymouth region. No Y number given. The vendor purchased it two years ago and was told an interesting story, however, there is no documented proof to back it up. Folklore History - A Surgeon at the Gables Colonial Hospital in Brooklands, New Plymouth during the 1860s land Wars, was approached one evening by a Maori woman of high bearing to ask the Surgeon to accompany her back to attend her sick son. She guaranteed his safe passage through hostile lines and they both rode back throughout the night to a settlement near Tataraimaka. On arrival her son, a rebel, had suffered a bullet wound by the Colonial forces or 65th Imperial Regiment. The Surgeon stayed two days and removed the bullet, patched him up, and returned to New Plymouth. Two weeks later the Maori woman appeared at the Gables and informed the Surgeon that her son had made a full recovery. She could not pay him but withdrew her whalebone comb and give it to the Surgeon as payment.