222 Mr. Bennett on the Mode of preparing Human Heads. 



reply, ' I thought that, after having been accustomed to devour 

 human flesh, she would not be able to relish any other kind!' 



It is supposed that, by purchasing the preserved heads from 

 the New Zealanders, an encouragement is held out for them 

 to engage in war, or to murder their slaves. This I consider 

 erroneous. They have preserved them, from time immemorial, 

 as trophies, and whether they are or are not purchased by 

 Europeans, the custom will continue, until civilization has 

 extended among these noble, but savage people. During a 

 long stay at New Zealand (and that principally at the river 

 Thames, where it is generally considered they might be pur- 

 chased in some quantity), not more than six were procured ; 

 the reason assigned for their scarcity by the natives being, that 

 there had been lately no wars among them. 



In conclusion, we may observe, with Dr. Good, that ( one 

 common character runs through savages of every kind. The 

 empire of the heart is divided between two rival deities, or 

 rather demons selfishness and terror. The chief ministers 

 of the first, are lust, hatred, and revenge the chief ministers 

 of the second, are cruelty, credulity, and superstition. Look 

 through the world, and you will find this description apply to 

 barbarians of every age and country. It is equally the history 

 of Europeans and Africans ; of the Pelasgi, who were the 

 progenitors of the Greeks ; and of the Celts and Scythians, 

 the successive progenitors of the English. All the discoveries 

 of modern circumnavigators confirm the assertion ; and though 

 the captivating names of Friendly and Society Islands have 

 been given to two distinct groups in the vast bosom of the 

 Pacific Ocean, and the inhabitants in several of them have 

 made some progress in the first rudiments of civilization and 

 government, there is not a people or a tribe to be met with, 

 who are yet in a savage state, that are not still slaves to their 

 debasing and tyrannical passions*.' 



* Book of Nature, vol. iii., p. 280-81. 



