442 



AUSTRALASIA. 



warlike expedition to Warekauri. The unhappy Mori-ori, suddenly attacked, were 

 easily captured, and the conquerors immediately selected those to be eaten. The 

 victims had themselves to fetch the wood and to prepare the fire on which they 

 were roasted. The population of Chatham was thus reduced from fifteen hundred 

 at the time of the conquest to no more than thirty-six, practically slaves, despite 



Fig-. 189. -Tattooed Maoei Chief. 



the official decrees of emancipation. Their reserved holdings comprise little more 

 than 600 acres. 



The Maori are amongst the finest islanders of the Oceanic world. Some are 

 very tall, and the majority above the average European height, strong and well- 

 built, with very broad chest, but with trunk proportionately longer and lower 

 extremities shorter than amongst the whites. The features are as a rule suffi- 

 ciently regular, with slightly prominent cheekbone, high forehead, piercing and 

 haughty glance. Formerly the men were carefully depilated, in order to increase 



