OoLENSO. — 0)1 the Maori Eaces of New Zealand. 341 



I, Physiological. 

 1. Individual. 



1. In colour the New Zealanders varied more than those of any other of 

 the Polynesian islanders. Yarious hues of olive, of yellow-brown, and of an 

 approach to the copper-colour were common. A few were of fair complexion; 

 while others were very dusky, particularly of the more northern tribes. Such 

 colours, however, were not invariably perpetuated by descent ; seeming rather 

 to follow the abnormal law of all domesticated animals. 



2. In height they were generally above the middle stature, especially the 

 chiefs ; owing, no doubt, to more food and better nurture, as well as to 

 blood. The women generally were smaller than the men. In figure both 

 sexes were well proportioned, muscular, and fleshy, with good-sized calves. 

 The men had often finely formed fingers and nails ; and many of the women 

 had beautifully small, delicate hands. Their knee joints were large, and their 

 feet flat and broad, but not long. 



3. Their physiognomy varied much. Grenerally the open countenance, 

 nose large and broad at the base but not very prominent, thickish lips, and 

 dark eyes prevailed. Sometimes the nose was aquiline, but more often flat ; 

 sometimes the whole face was a handsome oval, sometimes round ; mostly 

 wearing an expression of cheerfulness and good humour. Earely were the 

 eyes light, never blue. The eyebrows much as in Europeans, biit narrower, 

 and seldom meeting over the nose ; and the teeth beautifully regular and 

 white, except in the case of the inland Rotorua and Taupo tribes, with whom 

 the four front incisors were always discoloured. The head was generally 

 well shaped, oval, with a fine forehead and well-developed cerebral regions. 

 Sometimes the forehead assumed the Turanian type, giving almost a pyramidal 

 appearance ; and a few rare instances have been noticed of an approach to 

 the peculiar Mongolian eye and eyebrows. Very rarely has any indication 

 of the prognathous jaw been observed, while the orthognathous type is far 

 from uncommon. 



4. As their complexions varied, so did their hair. Grenerally it was 

 profuse, black, and waving, or slightly inclined to curl. Sometimes it was 

 red, of which colour there vv-ere also many shades ; and sometimes it was of 

 a very peculiar shade for human hair, being of two colours — a dark reddish 

 brown, having an inch or two of the tips somewhat flaxen, as if bleached. 

 Sometimes it was lank, and sometimes it was excessively curled ; and not 

 unfrequently it was to be met with having a wiry appearance, as if every 

 single hair was separately curled, and always in such cases rising high in a 

 pyramidal form. "With many, the beard, whiskers, moustache, &c., grew as 

 profusely as with Europeans, and of much the same quality and colour; 

 while a few only possessed a harsh, rigid moustache, and some (particularly 



