380 [JEssays. 



same time they abstained from giving him individually anything, or welcom- 

 ing him particularly. They always saluted on meeting in the way, and if 

 the one party was carrying anything edible, they dropped their loads, un- 

 laced their baskets, and freely gave the other a portion ; if both were, they 

 gave to each other. They sometimes sat down to receive and to give mes- 

 sages, and to receive salutations, as a sign of inferiority. On their visitors 

 leaving, they were loaded with food, and freely supplied with all little ac- 

 commodations of baskets, straps, &c., with many attentions ; the chief usually 

 went with them a short distance to point out the way, and sometimes 

 accompanied them to the next village. Tf he did so, although related to the 

 people of the village, he entered and remained with the visitors, and was 

 treated as one of them. In war, women who were related to both sides, the 

 besiegers and besieged, were allowed to pass and repass continually, and 

 often were the cause of much mischief. Sometimes, when a besieging party 

 knew of their enemies wanting food, or stones, or spears, they sent them 

 a supply, laying them down in heaps near their defences, and then retiring, 

 but such chivalrous (?) conduct was rare. 



35. Like some of the nations of the old world, they believed the seat of 

 their sentiments and feelings to be in the stomach and bowels (ngahau). 



(1.) Many of their sentiments respecting plain practical matters of every- 

 day life were eminently sagacious and just, yet here there was a great difference 

 in those concerning things with which they were conversant and those which 

 were new ; also between objective and subjective matters. Again, other of 

 their sentiments, including most of those concerning sickness, death, the 

 cause of common natural phenomena, and of everything pertaining to the 

 ^opw, sorcery, and the state hereafter, were excessively puerile. They loudly 

 expressed their approbation and disapprobation, and were often not a little 

 biassed in giving judgment by considerations of relationship and of tribe. 

 Having espoused a cause or party they generally pertinaciously adhered, 

 and though shown their error would rarely allow themselves to be in the 

 wrong. They judged of others by their looks, especially by their eyes and 

 cheeks and by their manner and tone of voice ; and if they thought them to 

 be angry, &c., they often very plainly told them of it, or politely asked them 

 if they were not so. 



(2.) Their feelings were very strong, often easily excited, and rarely ever 

 concealed. In showing them the New Zealander was very changeable — now 

 in a towering passion or bitterly weeping at a single slight word or a look ; 

 anon quite stoical, and not to be stirred. At times their feelings were soon 

 controlled, and at others with extreme difficulty suppressed. Consequently 

 ith them it was ever an easy matter " to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to 



■T with those who weep." Their keen uncontrolled feelings often led them 



