612 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



or otherwise, when, as Polack* aptly observes, and as will 

 presently be explained, they were not only the " trophies of 

 battle," but the " oriflamme of either party," by whom they 

 were "preserved similar to the tattered rags that ornament 

 the cathedrals of polished nations." 



In order to fully estimate the significance which attached 

 to the various uses of these grim mementoes of departed 

 grandeur it is necessary to understand something of the rela- 

 tions ill which the chiefs stood towards their tribes. This 

 may be roughly stated as very similar to that which existed 

 in olden time between a Highland chieftain and his clan, and 

 of which a shadow remains to the present day. Although 

 there were often a number of minor chiefs scarcely inferior in 

 rank, the position of the leading chief was distinct and supreme. 

 He was the active intelligent representative head in whom was 

 concentrated the strength and glory of the whole body of his 

 people. He was their leader in war and their counsellor in 

 time of peace. In all public matters his will was unquestioned, 

 and on setting out on a fighting expedition his formal consecra- 

 tion by the tribal tohunga (priest) extended to the whole of his 

 party. Any respect paid to the chief reflected honour upon 

 the entire tribe ; any insult must be wiped out if necessary by 

 the blood of the whole body ; and, conversely, an injury to 

 the tribe was felt to be an injury to the chief, and must be 

 noticed and avenged accordingly. Amongst his own people 

 the person of the chief was enveloped in a peculiar sacredness 

 (tapu), which extended to the most minute article of his belong- 

 ings, but which was concentrated, so to speak, in his head, 

 that part of the body being considered by the Maoris as the 

 seat of honour and the home of all the virtues which the man 

 possessed. To meddle with a chief's garments, weapons, or 

 ornaments, or to eat the food prepared for him, was a grave 

 offence, but to touch his head, although accidentally, or even to 

 mention ti with disrespect, was a crime punishable with death. 



In time of war the heads of the principal chiefs on either 

 side formed the centre round which the whole business re- 

 volved. Whenever a chief fell within the lines of his own party, 

 as Mr. Marsden was informed by Hongi and Te Morenga, the 

 victors immediately demanded that the body be delivered to 

 them, which was at once done if his people considered them- 

 selves unable to continue the fight. The head was then cut 

 off, and all hostilities ceased, until, after an elaborate ceremony 

 of " auguration," the tohunga declared whether the combat 

 should be renewed. The head was kept for the chief on 

 whose account the war had been undertaken ; and as soon as 

 it could be conveniently done it was preserved and sent round 



* J. S. Polack, "New Zealand," 1838. 



