CoLENSO. — On the Maori Races of JSfew Zealand. 359 



apart for the purpose, and there put up in the broad forked branches of 

 some dark tree ; in all such cases to remain until the flesh should have 

 decayed. 



(8.) The exhumation, or hahunga — i.e., eleaning'of the bones — sometimes 

 took place within a year after death. For this work great preparations were 

 made in the way of prepai'ing provisions, and not unfrequently the ceremony 

 was put off until a sui£ciency should have been provided. Of course all 

 engaged in cleaning the bones were very tapii, and. rightly so. N^ot one of 

 the smallest was ever left behkid ; they were cleaned, anointed, and 

 decorated, the head especially, with feathers and ornaments. After being 

 exhibited, seen, wept, and wailed over, they were carried by a single man 

 and near relative to their last resting place ; the exact spot of deposit, for 

 wise political reasons, being only known to a select few. Sometimes the 

 bones were thrown itito some old volcanic rent or chasm ; sometimes thrown 

 into very deep water-holes ; and sometimes neatly and regularly placed in 

 a deep, dark cave ; always, if possible, wherever those of his ancestors 

 happened to be ; their principal object being to prevent their falling into 

 the hands of their enemies, who would dreadfully desecrate and ill-use 

 them, with many bitter jeers and curses. The skull might be made to 

 serve as a dish for food, or be placed on a stake to be daily mocked, or 

 even taken out to sea on fishing excursions, to be taunted and derided afresh 

 there with new indignities. The bones of the body would also be used for 

 fish-hooks, flutes, needles, skewers, dining-forks, &c. All such ill-usage 

 was always dreaded and detested. Some tribes, especially the Ngatiporou 

 (East Cape), extracted the teeth, and, having strung them, wore them as a 

 necklace. 



19. Of rank and class, the New Zealanders had keen and clear, if not 

 subtle, distinctions. First, there were the great ones of bond and free : — 



(1.) Of the free, there were — (a.) The ariki, or head of the tribe, being 

 the first born (male or female) by the eldest branch; the lineal heir or 

 heiress. (5.) The principal man (tino tangata) or head of the sub-tribe, (c.) His 

 brothers and sisters, and half-brothers and sisters by other mothers, (f/.) His 

 uncles and aunts, cousins, &c. The tribe or sub-tribe having sprung 

 from one progenitor, the greatness of any one of it depended partly on his 

 nearness to that progenitor, and partly on the rank, power, and influence of 

 his own immediate parent or ancestor (male or female), who had married 

 into the tribe. Thus, paradoxical as it may appear, the children were often 

 of higher rank than either of their parents ; this often caused what would be 

 by us termed gross insubordination. The children of a principal chief by 

 wives of unequal rank would not all be of one rank ; as their rank always 

 depended on that of their mothers as well as on that of their fathers. The 



