266 



BIMANA. 



and, also, was among the ancient Scythians and Britons. The hair, which 

 is long, black, and flowing, is worn tied up on the crown of the head, as 

 it is among the Javanese : their weapons are spears and a stone war- 

 club (of hard, polished, green talc), called mery, or mearee. Tabooing, 

 or rendering persons or things sacred, and not to be touched, is also one 

 of their practices. Their cannibalism is too well authenticated to be 

 denied ; still, they do not devour the bodies of friends, or 01" persons 

 who have died from disease, but of enemies, killed either in ba.tle or 

 afterward, and of slaves, slaughtered on purpose to afford a banquet. 

 The New Zealanders are brave, warlike, intelligent, and enterprising ; 

 but treachery, and an indomitable spirit of revenge, cannot be excepted 

 from among their moral composition. When excited, their rage amounts 

 to frenzy, and they display it in the most frightful gesticulations and con- 

 tortions of* countenance. They carry all their feelings, in fact, to an 

 extreme ; insomuch that, when they meet friends or relations, from 

 whom they have been for some time separated, they cut themselves, in 

 token of joy, with flints, or shells, on the arms, breasts, and faces. 



The following representations of the physiognomy of the natives of 



203 



A aativs of Tahiti 



