1835. 



WAR-CANOES — REFLECTIONS. 



571 



habitual posture of rest is squatting on his hams, or upon the 

 ground, with his knees up to his chin ; hence, also, his limbs 

 are rather inferior in their shape. But arouse his spirit, set 

 him in motion, excite him to action, and the crouching, indo- 

 lent being is suddenly changed into an active and animated 

 demoniac. The Zealander is extremely proud ; he will not 

 endure the slightest insult. A blow, even in jest, must be 

 returned ! 



Every one has seen or heard so much of their weapons and 

 canoes, that it is almost superfluous to speak of them ; yet, in 

 examining one of their larger canoes — seventy feet in length, from 

 three to four in Avidth, and about three in depth — I was 

 much interested by observing what trouble and pains had 

 been taken in building and trying to ornament this, to them, 

 first-rate vessel of war. Her lower body was formed out of the 

 trunk of a single tree — the New Zealand kauri, or cowrie — 

 the upper works by planks of the same wood ; the stem and 

 stern, raised and projecting, like those of the gallies of old, 

 were carved and hideously disfigured, rather than ornamented, 

 by red, distorted faces with protruding tongues and glaring 

 mother-of-pearl eyes. Much carving of an entirely different 

 and rather tasteful design* decorated the sides. Beneath the 

 ' thwarts,"* a wicker-work platform, extending from end to end, 

 served to confine the ballast to its proper position, and to 

 afford a place upon which the warriors could stand to use their 

 weapons. From forty to eighty men can embark in such 

 canoes. But their day is gone ! In a few years, scarcely a war- 

 canoe will be found in the northern district of New Zealand.-}* 



Judging only from description, the largest canoes ever seen 

 by the oldest of the present generation, must have been nearly 

 ninety feet in length ; formed out of one tree, with planks 

 attached to the sides, about six or seven feet wide, and nearly 

 as much in depth. Several old men agreed, at different times, 

 in this account ; but perhaps each of them was equally inclined 

 to magnify the past. 



* Arabesque, like the ornaments at Otaheite. 

 + North of latitude 38° S. - 



