128 CANNIBALISM. [PART I. 



other. E'Ongi traversed nearly the whole northern 

 island in this manner. 



The canoes which they use in war are the largest, 

 and are ornamented at the head and stern. They 

 are made of one tree, the kauri, in the northern, 

 and the totara in the southern parts of the island. 

 I have seen them eighty feet long, and they are 

 able to carry a proportionate number of warriors. 

 They have gunwales on their sides, firmly attached 

 by flax ropes. Formerly a stone adze was the 

 only implement used in their construction ; the 

 natives, however, have now an iron adze. There are 

 other sorts of canoes ; one of them, very low and 

 without gunwales, is used in many parts of the 

 island, especially in the inland lakes of Taupo and 

 Rotu-rua, and is called tiwai. The sails are trian- 

 gular, and made of the light raupo-rushes. They 

 can sail very close to the wind, and are steered by a 

 paddle. 



A few observations regarding the cannibalism of 

 these islanders may not be out of place. This 

 frightful custom has not yet entirely ceased, al- 

 though it undoubtedly will do so in a very short 

 time. The implacable desire of revenge which is 

 characteristic of these people, and the belief that 

 the strength and courage of a devoured enemy are 

 transferred to him who eats him, are, without ques- 

 tion, the causes of this unnatural taste not the 

 pleasure of eating human flesh, which is certainly 

 secondary, and, besides, is not at all general. A chief 



