SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



165 



so it seems probable that the fashion of cutting 

 the patterns into the skin grew out of an attempt 

 to make these warlike decorations of a more 

 permanent character. 



Sidney Parkinson, the artist who accompanied 

 Mr. Joseph (afterwards Sir Joseph) Banks and 

 Captain Cook, in 1769, has left the earliest known 

 drawings of moko designs. From these the art 

 seems to have progressed in the intricacy of pattern 



always so, for there is evidence in later times that 

 wealth and pride appear to have induced some to 

 practice moko. Where no marks were visible on 

 a man, it might be taken as certain that he was of 

 little or no social consequence, or a slave. 



Moko was practised on other parts of the body 

 as well as on the faces of Maoris. The thighs and 

 buttocks had especial designs, which seemed to 

 have remained long in fashion. In General 



MOKOUOKAI, OB Dm " Mr ia'. HKAD. 



[From lbs Collection of General Roblcy.) 



up to the time it began to decline v. 1 1 h th<: in. 

 created civilization of the Maoris Even in Captain 

 Cook's time we gather from his " Journal " that 

 the patterns were the badge of gradei of nobility 

 or progress to chief it nan been stated, 



was indicated by the upper lip, which in the case 

 of chiefs only was tattooed . while the prcv 

 moko in degrees indicated the I mence 



of various members of the tribe. This was not 



Kobley's collection are pieces of dried skin of 

 considerable size, taken from the thighs of men 

 who lived in our own times, which show similar 

 moko patterns to those drawn on Captain 

 Cook's first visit. These thigh patterns are 

 elaborate In the highest degree, and, like those of 

 the face, wonderfully accurate in drawing. The 

 thigh work extended, generally, from the knees to 

 the waist, so that when the warriors were stripped 



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