Mode of Tattooing. 1 1 1 



first introduced by one of the tribes of the east coast by a 

 certain Mataora, and the first man whose face was thus tat- 

 tooed was named Onetunga. 



Usually this painful operation is performed by a priest 

 (Tolmnga\ who paints, or rather sketches out, one of the many 

 different models with black colouring matter upon the face of 

 the person to be tattooed^ having first obtained his opinion, 

 by showing him his visage reflected in a tub-full of water for 

 lack of a mirror. As soon as the latter has signified his 

 assent to the design selected, the further process is begun. 



The instruments used were the following : — ■ 



The '' Uhi," a small piece of wood, one extremity of which 

 is armed with a small piece of sharjj-edged bone, set in a 

 vertical direction. This needle-like tool, which was formerly 

 made either of human bones or of those of the albatross, has 

 been since supplanted by proper steel instruments. 



The " Ta" or ''Tula," a stalk of fern, which is pressed 

 upon the Uhi in order that it might enter the skin, and 

 bring out the desired pattern. 



The necessary colouring stuff [NgaraJm) is made from tlie 

 soot of the wood, when burnt, of the Kauri fir (^Dammara 

 Australis), which is collected in the leaves of the Ti-reed ( C'or- 

 dyline Australis)^ and is prepared with an infusion of the bark 

 of the Hindu [Elwocarpiis Hinaii), in the form of small cones. 



Immediately before the tattooing begins, the colouring 

 matter thus prepared is moistened with the juice of the 

 fruit of Tupa-kihi ( Coriaria Samentosa). The complete " Moko " 



