MALAY RACE. 



New Zealanders, dancing. 



" The New Zealanders have always borne a warlike character ; and I was, therefore, much surprised at tne 

 inefficiency of their weapons. Besides the stone mace, their principal one is a straight, sword-like club, 

 which is wielded with both hands. This is a remarkable change from the weapons of the Tropical Poly- 

 nesians ; for the javelin appears to be unknown, likewise the bow, and according to Mr. Hale, the sling. 

 Their wars, indeed, do not appear to have ever been very bloody ; and, notwithstanding the eagerness 

 manifested in seeking possession of muskets, these had been used for the most part, at extravagant dis- 

 tances. The Bay of Islands, two years previously, had been the seat of war. Persons from distant 

 clans were attracted to the spot, and the parties on their arrival would dividcto the right and left, brothers, 

 an*d other members of the same family, often taking opposite sides. On the restoration of peace, Pomare's 

 tribe having killed many of the Kororarika people, gave their opponents a tract of land by way of 

 compensation. 



" The soil was said to be held by the chiefs, although the consent of each member of the tribe was neces- 

 sary to a sale. It appears that in the alleged sales to Europeans, the natives have not understood that 

 they were alienating their lands absolutely ; nor, if I am rightly informed, would the European view of 

 such transactions be admitted among other Polynesians. 



" Tattooing is incised, and is a much more painful operation than in the rest of Polynesia. The quantity 

 of marking about the face seemed to be very much in proportion to the rank ^ the individual ; each chief, 

 however, having some variation in the pattern. It was said that in signing a document the chiefs trace 

 this pattern on the paper, such a signature being readily recognised by all the natives who have ever seen 

 the individual.- This was the nearest approach to writing that I found among the Polynesians, and the 

 practice appeared to be quite unknown elsewhere." — Dr. Pickering. 



The New Zealand manufactures show skill at least equalling that of their Tropical brethren 

 (15) 



