Mode of dcUverij of New Zealand Orators. 105 



Tlie natives, who were standing- closely packed on either 

 side, and listened in breathless silence, expressed their 

 acquiescence by head and hand at the end of each oration. 

 The manner in which they are accustomed to express them- 

 selves at these assemblies is quite unique. The speaker plants 

 himself at a distance of about ten steps from his audience, 

 whom he gradually approaches in his speech till within three 

 feet, when he turns round in silence, resumes his former dis- 

 tance, and begins anew. This custom has several advantages ; 

 it gives the orator time to collect his thoughts, while his elo- 

 quence has time to sink into the heart of his hearers. Each 

 speaker advances his opinions and sentiments with singular 

 calmness and dignity. Only at certain '' points," which seem 

 to him to be of importance, does the orator throw up his right 

 hand, while on his left arm, hanging by his side, lies his 

 stone club, without which no chief would think of addi^essing a 



meetmg. 



During these speeches we had drawn near tlie groups sur- 

 rounding us. The majority were dressed in European 

 clothes, the cliiefs usually wearing a black cap with gold 

 band, the rest in the most various costumes, apparently as 

 accident or caprice had dictated their choice. The old men 

 were tattooed more or less, according to tlieir rank, strongly 

 contrasting with their European habiliments. The elder 

 women, except that they were bare-footed, were mostly clad 

 in European dress, some even in elegant silks and muslins, 

 and had their lips and chins tattooed, whereas the young folk 



