CoLEKSO. — On the Maori Baces of Neio Zealand. 381 



to beat, kick, and strike itianiniate objects, sometimes to tbeir own greater 

 hurt, and commonly to gnaw and bite, on extraction, a splinter or tborn wbicL. 

 liad pierced them, and wMcb was often carefully preserved to be burnt in 

 fire. An object of pity and suffering often excited feelings of disgust. Hate 

 and desire of revenge were fearfully exhibited at seeing or bearing anything 

 of their enemies. Superstitious dread Avas universally shown at going 

 anywhere in the dark, or at approaching where any one had died or was 

 buried, and most particularly at all kinds of lizards, living or dead, although 

 harmless, as such ever reminded them of a malignant demon or atua. Their 

 sense of loneliness or desertion was often expressed in mournful songs, while 

 that of wounded pride was borne with extreme difficulty. Ridicule, invariably 

 freely given, was most keenly felt ; so was shame, while the salutary convic- 

 tion of having wronged or injured any one, even when done under a mistake, 

 was generally followed with ample restitution. Sometimes their feelings 

 have been so intense at being rebuked before others, though perhaps very 

 slightly (as by a husband for negligence in cooking, or for want of care 

 towards a child at that one time, or for breaking a calabash or a pipe, or some 

 other small thing), that they have run away into the woods or attempted 

 suicide. But it was mainly at the death of the loved* one — husband, child, or 

 brother — that the feelings of anguish of the bereaved were utterly uncon- 

 trollable, and not seldom ending in self-murder, while others have gone down 

 pining and lamenting to the grave. Some fathers cut off their hair close on 

 one side of the head for the death of a child, and never allowed the hair on 

 the other side to be cut or touched; hence it grew very long, and became 

 completely matted together, while over it they would often sigh and weep. 

 A chief often changed his name at the death of a beloved son or daug'hter, 

 relative or friend, and took for a new name that of something last said or 

 even eaten by the departed, or something strongly reminding of the sad 

 event. Sometimes, too, tribes and sub-tribes altered their names, generally 

 in order to bear some loss or insult in mind. Most New Zealanders would 

 destroy or remove every article vfhich had pertained to or had been 

 touched by the departed loved one, sometimes burying them with him ; a 

 few, however, would keep some little thing, but always away out of sight, to 

 be now and then produced and wept over. A chief's greenstone battle-axe 

 and breast and ear ornaments, though frequently buried with him, were always 

 recovered for future use. Many forsook the place where the loved departed 

 had died, while others left their homes and wandered about unsettled for a 

 long time, seeking to forget their grief. 



36. Their m.ysterious and intricate institution of the tapu (taboo), with all 

 its many forms, rites, observances, and customs, was, on the whole, beneficial 

 to the New Zealanders. However irregular, capricious, and burdensome it 



