782 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



of purification are performed, of which there are two forms. In 

 one form two fires are kindled — " new fires/' made by the friction 

 of wood — one for the gods and one for the priest-chieftainess. 

 Fern root is cooked over the fire for the gods, waved over the 

 child by the priest, and afterward placed in some sacred spot. If 

 the female tribe-priest is present, she waves the fern root cooked 

 on her fire, touches the baby in several places, and, pretending to 

 eat the fern root without doing it, also puts it away. If she is 

 not present, a lay figure is made of weeds to represent her. In 

 the other form a number of clay balls, representing as many an- 

 cestral chiefs, are made by the priest, and little mounds, each 

 named after a god, near them. The priest takes a branch, parts 

 it, binds half round the baby's waist, chants his invocation ; then 

 sprinkles mother and infant by means of a branch, and chants 

 again. When the song is finished he plants the branch, and if it 

 grows the child will be a warrior. Then three ovens are made, 

 one for the mother, one for the priest, and one for the gods, and 

 food is cooked on them. A number of pieces of pumice are placed 

 in a row and named for the child's ancestors. The priests offer 

 food from the gods' oven to each stone in turn, of which they are 

 invited to eat ("the soul" of the food), and with this the tapu is 

 removed. Infanticide is not practiced, because there is room for 

 all, and the tribes want boys for warriors and girls to be mothers. 

 At puberty the eldest son of a head chief is initiated into the 

 secrets of priestcraft and witchcraft, with ceremonies that be- 

 gin with a feast in which the people are not allowed to eat from 

 dawn till dark. A shed is built, exclusively by chiefs, of palm 

 branches, the number of sticks on each side of which must be 

 equal, in which the old Arihi sleeps the first night. The young 

 man is sent to him at dawn — naked, for fear his clothes may 

 bring defilement. He is urged to sleep, while the priest watches 

 for omens of jerkings. If an arm or leg jerks inward, it indi- 

 cates luck ; but if it jerk outward, the lad can not be taught. The 

 incantations are repeated and the secrets are taught. The legends 

 say that in the old land whence the Maoris came there was a col- 

 lege in which the young men were taught astronomy, agriculture, 

 etc. A young chief's instruction was considered successful if he 

 was able to strike a slave dead by repeating a charm. This state- 

 ment may be disbelieved, the author remarks, " but tapu is an 

 awful weapon. I have seen a strong young man die the same day 

 he was tapued ; the victims die under it as though their strength 

 ran out as water." 



Tattooing is practiced by all — the full tattooing of a brave 

 taking place after he has distinguished himself in war. It is per- 

 formed to the accompaniment of tattoo songs, and involves tapus. 

 The person undergoing the process is prohibited from eating fish, 



