168 Transactions. 



after the fight was over. The chief, killed by a musket-ball, lay 

 in state on a platform in the large enclosure [marae]. His hair 

 was decorated with huia feathers, a fine kaitaka mat [cloak] was 

 spread over him. a greenstone mere [battle-axe j was in his hand, 

 with the thong around his wrist; his spear and musket were by 

 his side. The bodies of slain persons of inferior rank were lying 

 in the verandahs of their respective houses, each covered with the 

 best mat [cloak], and with the personal weapons conspicuously 

 placed beside," &c* 



As observed, so soon as the breath of life departed the wailing 

 for the dead was (and is) commenced by those present. Silent 

 grief is not thought much of by the Maori. When the people 

 of neighbouring settlements hear the gun-firing, or lamentation, 

 they repair to the scene. The relatives of the dead are nearest 

 the body, the other portion of the assembled people are standing 

 further from it, but at one or both sides, not in front of it, and 

 facing the direction in which the mourning party will march on 

 to the marae, or village courtyard or common. They are per- 

 fectly silent, save a few old women, who are in advance of the 

 main body, and, with bowed bodies, are weeping and wailing in 

 an extremely doleful manner. No cry of welcome is heard. The 

 mourning party march up in column, very slowly, and utter no 

 sound. When within a distance of 30 yards, more or less, of 

 the village people, and facing them and the corpse, the column 

 halts, and then the tangihanga, or crying for the dead, is com- 

 menced by both parties. No word is uttered, but the mournful 

 crying and wailing has a most lugubrious sound. A Maori pan 

 open his tear-fonts at the shortest notice, even when attending 

 the obsequies of his greatest enemy, for whom he has neither 

 liking nor respect, They have a poor opinion of the silent 

 grief of the white man, and express doubts as to its genuineness. 

 A Maori enjoys a tangi, certainly if the defunct person is not a 

 near relative or friend. 



The mourners do not look at each other, or at the opposite 

 partv, during the crying, but usually look downwards. The 

 tears simply stream down their faces; also their noses have an 

 unpleasant habit of running copiously at such times. Hence the 

 old-time saying, " Ko Boimata, ko tlwpe nga kai utu i nga fain 

 a Aitua " (" Tears and Hupef are the avengers of the strokes of 

 misfortune "—i.e., of death). This expression is often made use 

 of in funeral speeches. A Maori mourning party is not a plea- 

 sant sight. 



This scene continues for some time. Those seen by myself 

 were continued for varying periods, from half an hour to per- 



*See "Transactions of the New Zealand Institute/' vol. xii, pp. 38-39. 

 t Hupe : Discharge from the nose is so termed. 



