NEW ZEALAND. 427 



able ; but they in a short time determined they would unite on the 

 hill-top, which was accordingly ordered, although I was told they were 

 too hungry to dance well. Here they arranged themselves in solid 

 column, and began stamping, shouting, jumping, and shaking their 

 guns, clubs, and paddles in the air, with violent gesticulations, to a sort 

 of savage time. A more grotesque group cannot well be imagined : 

 dressed, half-dressed, or entirely naked. After much preliminary 

 action, they all set off, with a frantic shout, at full speed, in a war- 

 charge, which not only put to flight all the animals that were feeding 

 in the neighbourhood, but startled the spectators. After running about 

 two hundred and fifty yards, they fired their guns and halted, with 

 another shout. They then returned in the same manner, and stopped 

 before us, a truly savage multitude, wrought up to apparent frenzy, 

 and exhibiting all the modes practised of maiming and killing their 

 enemies, until they became exhausted, and lay down on the ground 

 like tired dogs, panting for breath. One of the chiefs then took an 

 old broken dragoon-sword, and began running to and fro before us, 

 flourishing it, and at the same time delivering a speech at the top of 

 his voice. The speech, as interpreted to me, ran thus : " You are 

 welcome, you are our friends, and we are glad to see you;" frequently 

 repeated. After three or four had shown off in this way, they 

 determined they must have something to eat, saying that I had pro- 

 mised them rice and sugar, and they ought to have it. Mr. Clendon, 

 however, persuaded them to give one of their feast-dances. The 

 performers consisted of about fifteen old, and as many young persons, 

 whom they arranged in close order. The young girls laid aside a 

 part of their dress to exhibit their forms to more advantage, and they 

 commenced a kind of recitative, accompanied by all manner of ges- 

 ticulations, with a sort of guttural husk for a chorus. It was not 

 necessary to understand their language to comprehend their meaning, 

 and it is unnecessary to add, that their tastes did not appear very 

 refined, but were similar to what we have constantly observed among 

 the heathen nations of Polynesia. Their impatience now became 

 ungovernable, and hearing that the rice and sugar were being served 

 out, they retreated precipitately down the hill, where they all set to 

 most heartily, with their wives and children, to devour the food. 

 This to me was the most entertaining part of the exhibition. They 

 did not appear selfish towards each other ; the children were taken 

 care of, and all seemed to enjoy themselves. I received many thanks 

 in passing among them, and their countenances betokened content- 

 ment. Although they were clothed for the occasion in their best, 



