216 Mr. Bennett on the Mode of preparing 



absent at the time of their death ; and that lamentations may 

 be renewed over them at certain periods. 



The preparation of the Moko, or head, among the New 

 Zealanders, most effectually prevents decay, and is at the 

 same time compatible with the perfect preservation of the fea- 

 tures. The process, as practised among them, is as follows: 

 After the head has been severed from the body> the base of 

 the skull is broken by a stick or stone, and the brain removed, 

 &c. ; the cavity of the cranium is then frequently washed out 

 until it is well cleansed. The head is then dipped for a few 

 minutes in hot water, which causes the cuticle to peel off; they 

 are careful at this time not to touch the hair, as by so doing it 

 would readily come off, but it afterwards, when cool, becomes 

 more firmly fixed than before, as is well exemplified in the 

 specimens brought to this country. A piece of thin stick is 

 next placed up the septum narium, for the purpose of keeping 

 the nose in shape, aided also by another piece placed internally 

 to bear against the nose as a prevention against its sinking; the 

 nostrils are also stuffed with muka or flax, or pieces of soft 

 wood, for a similar purpose ; the eyes are taken out (if those 

 of a chief they are eaten, if otherwise they are thrown away), 

 and the eyelids are stitched up, as well as the mouth, for the 

 purpose of preserving their shape. A pit having been pre- 

 viously dug, hot stones are brought and placed in it : this pit, 

 which is indeed the usual native oven, is so constructed, that 

 it is covered over, with the exception of an aperture above of 

 sufficient size to permit the base of the head to rest upon it. 

 Water having been previously thrown over the hot stones, and 

 repeated as often as considered necessary, a steam is pro- 

 duced, which is also increased by the addition of leaves mois- 

 tened with water ; the base of the head is placed over this 

 aperture, and the heat and steam ascend into it; the hot 

 stones, water, &c., to keep up the requisite heat and steam 

 during the process, being renewed as often as required by the 

 person in attendance, until the preparation is completed. The 

 person whose duty it is to attend to the preparation of the head 

 is careful, when any of the skin of the face appears to wrinkle, 

 to smooth down and preserve it in shape. The time occupied 

 in this process previous to its completion is from twenty-four 



