CoLENSO. — On the Maori Baces of New Zealand. 357 



and dressed up into a knot on the top of their heads ; the women wore it 

 cut short. 



(5.) At the marriage, or coming together as man and wife of the young 

 couple, there was really no ceremony ; indeed they had no proper name for 

 it in their own language. It was known as noJio tahi, or moe taJii, or 

 wJiaJcamoe — i.e., dwelling together, or sleeping together, or causing to do so. 

 If they had been betrothed by their parents, it was merely a matter of 

 time, — always supposing no rupture, or anything serious having occurred, 

 which, however, was rarely the case. The mats being woven, and the pro- 

 visions ready for the feast, and the parents, brothers, uncles, and tribe being 

 of opinion that the long looked-for dwelling together should take place, 

 (which they were often too ready to do) , and the young couple also willing, 

 the betrothed bride was brought, generally by her brothers and uncles, to 

 the house of the bridegroom's parents, clothed in new mats, where she was 

 received with acclamation, and given over to her husband ; by whom and by 

 his people gifts were always made to the parents of the girl. If, however, 

 there had been no betrothal, a marriage between young people was always a 

 very difficult thing to effect, and one which took some time, as every one, of 

 both the tribes, had something to say, and must be satisfied ere it could take 

 place ; particularly the uncles and aunts, the sisters, and female cousins of 

 the young man, and the brothers and male cousins of the girl. Hence, the 

 young couple, disgusted, often ran away to the woods, and there remained 

 some time together in solitude, pretty sure of being soon sought after, and 

 their living together acquiesced in. Contrary to what obtains (openly at 

 least) among us, with them the unbetrothed young woman commenced the 

 courtship ; not unfrequently, however, even after all the relations had 

 agreed, other suitors appeared at the last moment, and a passionate and 

 severe struggle took place, sometimes ending in the forcible abduction of 

 the girl (especially if the newly-arrived suitor was a person of high rank), 

 after being nearly killed through the pulling and hauling she received. 



(6.) Polygamy being encouraged, and divorce allowed, all chiefs had 

 several wives ; which increased their power and influence considerably. 

 Polygamy was not the cause of disagreement or jealousy among the wives, 

 who lived together in great harmony. Xor did it cause a disproportion of 

 marriageable women, as many males were being continually killed in their 

 frequent battles. The sudden bringing home of a new wife, which some- 

 times happened (perhaps a slave, or from a distance), as a matter of course 

 made quite a sensation among the old wives, but it was only temporary. 

 Often the old wives themselves encouraged their husband to take another, 

 and aided efficiently in his doing so. Their injudicious early betrothals, 

 (marriages of policy, not love) , which must take place ; their great desire of 



