Dec. 1835. 



NEW ZEALAND. 



501 



but I have heard these worthy men say, that the only pro- 

 tection which they need, and on which they rely, is from the 

 native chiefs against Englishmen. 



We wandered about the village, and saw and conversed 

 with many of the people, both men, women, and children. 

 Looking at the New Zealander, one naturally compares him 

 with the Tahitian ; both belonging to the same family of 

 mankind. The comparison, however, tells heavily against 

 the New Zealander. He may, perhaps, be superior in 

 energy, but in every other respect, his character is of 

 a much lower order. One glance at their respective expres- 

 sions, brings conviction to the mind, that one is a savage, the 

 other a civilized man. It would be vain to seek in the whole 

 of New Zealand, a person with the face and mien of the old 

 Tahitian chief, Utamme. No doubt the extraordinary man- 

 ner in which tattooing is here practised, gives a disagreeable 

 expression to their countenances. The complicated but 

 symmetrical figures covering the whole face, puzzle and mis- 

 lead an unaccustomed eye : it is moreover probable, that the 

 deep incisions, by destroying the play of the superficial 

 muscles, give an air of rigid inflexibility. But besides this, 

 there is a twinkling in the eye, which cannot indicate any 

 thing but cunning and ferocity. Their figures are tall and 

 bulky ; but in elegance are not comparable with those of the 

 working classes in Tahiti. 



Both their persons and houses are filthily dirty and offen- 

 sive : the idea of washing either their bodies or their clothes 

 never seems to enter their heads. I saw a chief, ytIio was 

 wearing a shirt black and matted with filth ; and when asked 

 how it came to be so dirty, he replied, with surprise, Do 

 not you see it is an old one Some of the men have shirts ; 

 but the common dress is one or two large blankets, generally 

 black with dirt, which are thrown over their shoulders in a 

 very inconvenient and awkward fashion. A few of the prin- 

 cipal chiefs have decent suits of English clothes ; but these 

 are only worn on great occasions. 



Considering the number of foreigners residing in New 



