114 Voyage of the Novara. 



The marks, when completely brought out, are so manifold 

 and various that hardly any two New Zealanders are to be 

 found who are tattooed entirely alike. Accordingly these 

 markings serve neither to indicate variety of tribe, nor dif- 

 ference of rank. A slave, if he possess the means, may have 

 his face tattooed with the same ornaments as his master. 

 However it appears, as we were informed by Colonel Browne, 

 that on the occasion of the chiefs ratifying the treaty with 

 the English, they superscribed the various documents with 

 the lines upon their faces, like so much heraldic blazonry, in- 

 stead of writing their names. 



Another remarkable custom of the Maori consists in the 

 right of the priest to declare certain persons and things 

 taboo^ that is, consecrated and inviolable. This custom, which 

 is nothing else than a religious ordinance instituted for po- 

 litical purposes, is frequently most beneficial in its conse- 

 quences. So great and universal was the respect paid to the 

 law of taboo^ that even hostile tribes were in the habit during 

 war of leaving unharmed all persons and things thus pro- 

 tected. A plot of ground planted with esculents, a fruit 

 tree, a sick person, a '"'■ lady in the straw," — all these were 

 so many objects declared holy and inviolate. 



Formerly polygamy was tolerably frequent among the 

 Maori, although instances were by no means rare in which 

 a man had but one wife to whom he continued faithful. At 

 present this custom, incompatible with the Christian notion 



