POLYNESIA. 39 



revenge, or in a season of famine ; but it is now continued purely for 

 the gratification of a depraved appetite. On this point the testimony 

 of the natives themselves is distinct and positive, and as they are 

 aware of the abhorrence with which the act is regarded by the whites, 

 there can be no good reason for disbelieving them. 



Of the four Oceanic races, the Polynesians and Melanesians are, 

 generally speaking, addicted to cannibalism, while among the natives 

 of Australia and Micronesia it is, so far as we are informed, unknown. 



TATTOOING. 



The custom of tattooing is not peculiar to the Polynesians, but it 

 deserves mention, as affording a means of distinguishing the natives 

 of the different groups from one another. The word tau, or tatau, 

 from which "tattoo" is derived, is applied to it in most of the islands; 

 in New Zealand, however, moko, meaning properly " lizard," or " ser- 

 pent," is used, perhaps in reference to the peculiar curves and 

 spirals of which their tattooing consists. The mode in which it is 

 performed is nearly the same everywhere. The colouring matter is a 

 mixture of soot, or powdered charcoal, with water or oil. This is 

 struck into the skin by means of a small implement of bone, resem- 

 bling a piece of fine-toothed comb, fixed transversely to the end of a 

 short handle, after the fashion of an adze. In New Zealand, instead 

 of a toothed instrument, a sharp chisel is used, which renders the 

 operation much more painful. 



We can hardly doubt that the custom was originally adopted from 

 a sense of decency. The usual dress of the Navigator Islanders is a 

 mere apron of leaves, tied around the middle of the body, which it 

 covers only in front. The tattooing is applied also to the middle of 

 the body, from near the waist behind, down to the knees. In front, 

 however, the abdomen is free from it, except only a small patch over 

 the navel. When asked why this spot was tattooed, they replied, that 

 as it was the part which was connected with the womb before birth, 

 they were ashamed to leave it uncovered, showing clearly the feel- 

 ing which had given origin to the custom. The general effect, at a 

 little distance, is to give the person the appearance of being dressed 

 in short, dark-blue drawers. 



The Tonga tattoo is the same with the Samoan ; for though their 

 usual dress, which is a wrapper of bark-cloth, entirely conceals it, 



