24 [PART i, 



CHAPTER III. 



Native Customs regarding Children -Tattooing Marriage. 



WHILE the approach to European customs has been 

 thus followed by a train of evils, art and civilized 

 life have as yet done little to aggravate the pains of 

 child-birth. The mother at the approach of labour 

 seeks refuge often alone in a neighbouring wood, 

 and in a few moments after the birth of the child 

 goes to a running water, bathes herself and the 

 infant, and is soon seen again occupied with her 

 usual work amongst her associates. But until the 

 time of baptism she is "tapu," that is, sacred, or 

 unclean, if we prefer the Biblical translation of a 

 Hebrew word of the same signification. Generally, 

 however, only the wives of chiefs are subject to 

 this rigorous custom. The mother herself cuts the 

 umbilical cord with a shell, often too close, and in 

 consequence umbilical ruptures are frequent ; they 

 however disappear with the growing age. Twins, 

 which are called mahanga, are not uncommon, but 

 no superstitious feeling is attached to their birth, 

 and it is regarded as a natural occurrence. Some- 

 times the child is sacrified (roromi, infanticide), but 



