1835. Hair — population — features. 569 



The hair of a New Zealander is naturally luxuriant, though 

 rather coarse ; its rough, free curliness in an unadorned, almost 

 untouched state, heightens that expression of untameable fero- 

 city which is so repulsive in the older men, especially in those of 

 inferior degree. Many of the young women are good-looking ; 

 and they dress their hair with some pains, and not a little oil. 



Although cannibalism and infanticide have ceased in the 

 northern parts of New Zealand, the aboriginal race is decreasing. 

 The natives say frequently, ' The country is not for us ; it is 

 for the white men !' and they often remark upon their lessening 

 numbers. Change of habits, European diseases, spirits, and the 

 employment of many of their finest young men in whale-ships 

 (an occupation which unhappily tends to their injury), combine 

 to cause this diminution. Wearing more clothes (especially 

 thick blankets), exposes them to sudden colds, which often end 

 fatally. We were surprised at seeing almost every native wrap- 

 ped up in a thick blanket, perhaps even in two or three blan- 

 kets, while we were wearing thin clothing. 



The countenances of some of the men (independent of the 

 tattowing) are handsome, according to European ideas of line 

 beauty. Regular, well-defined, and high features are often seen ; 

 but they are exceptions, rather than the usual characteristics. 

 Generally speaking, the New Zealander has a retreating and 

 narrow forehead — rather wide, however, at the base ; a very 

 prominent brow ; deeply-sunk black eyes, small and ever rest- 

 less ; a small nose, rather hollow, in most cases, though occa- 

 sionally straight or even aquiline, with full nostrils ; the upper 

 lip is short, but that and the lower are thick ; the mouth rather 

 wide ; white and much blunted teeth ; with a chin neither large 

 nor small, but rather broad. Some have higher and better 

 heads, and a less marked expansion of brow, nostrils, and lips ; 

 others, again, are the reverse : usually, their eyes are placed 

 horizontally ; but some are inclined, like those of the Chinese, 

 though not remarkably ; indeed not so much so as those of a 

 Scotchman whom I met there. Among the women I noticed a 

 general depression of the bridge of the nose, and a flat frontal 

 region. 



