MAHIOLE OR HELxMETS. 



Ix every day life the ancient Ha^vaiian trusted to the protedlion of his thick, 

 coarse hair, and woi-e no hat. When the conch-shell trumpet called to battle, however, 

 the chiefs donned a head-covering both ornamental and iiseful. While it was firm 

 and thick enough to resist a severe blow, it was remarkable for beaut}- of form. So 

 graceful were its lines that writers have likened it to the helmets of the Greeks and 

 wondered at the connection. Did the Hawaiians borrow the form from the Spaniards 



or other Europeans? To this we must answer 

 decidedly no. Neither Spaniards nor other 

 Europeans wore Greek helmets at the time 

 when intercourse would have been possible; nor 

 is it probable that any of these voyagers knew 

 an^'thing about Greek helmets. It would be 

 more reasonable to look in the opposite direc- 

 tion, to New Guinea, where the forms of head- 

 covering varied greatly it is true, but often pre- 

 sented a form far more analogous to the Ha- 

 waiian maliiole than anvthing we find on Greek 

 medals, coins or sculptures. Figure 31 will 

 show the connexion. It came from the north- 

 ern coast of New Ireland | B. M. 1664], a region 

 where manj- Polynesian colonies are found. 

 Dr. von Luschan has figured another frorii the 

 same locality in his interesting essa\- on the 

 influence of foreign art on African productions."* 

 Indeed caps with crests are common enoi^gh all over the \\orld, but the old 

 Hawaiian had another excuse for the form of his head covering. It was a custom to 

 cut the hair close at the sides of the head leaving a ridge of stiff, erect hair, like a 

 mane on the top of the scalp, and this mane-like ridge was called )iiaIiioh\ the same 

 name that was given to a helmet. Originalh- this personal decoration was a mark of 

 rank, but like all such exclusive tokens was in course of time seized by the aspiring 

 democracy. At the period when feather helmets were in vogue the niahiole was a token 

 of chieftainship, and if covered by any cap, the latter would repeat the token. Hence the 

 skullcap was supplemented by a ridge which often, as will be seen in the illustrations, 

 became an imposing crest. Cook and his companions were much impressed by the 

 beautv of this helmet and the accompanving feather cloak; the picture given in his 



^^Fit'titdft' Eiiijliii-s in Afrika. Kelix von Luschan. tins If'fiiL'rmanns Illmtrieiiot Deuhclit:ii Momtlilu/tni, Sr/>ti^mbt'i\ iScjS. 

 40 



FIG. 31. 



