130 CRUELTY AND REVENGE 
Revenge ! — yes: the very slightest injuries are 
never passed by unnoticed or unatoned for in 
New Zealand : the remembrance is kept up from 
generation to generation, as a plea for aggres- 
sion, should an opportunity be presented. It is 
revenge, fostered by cupidity and a spirit of pride, 
which leads them to preserve the trunkless heads 
of their enemies, as trophies of their victory. At 
some of their feasts, these heads are placed in 
rows, at the tops of the houses ; but, generally 
speaking, when visited by any of the Missionaries 
at these seasons, they are covered over with a 
tapued garment, to conceal them from our view. 
They are ghastly and dreadful objects — the fea- 
tures are most admirably kept — the hair and 
beard is uninjured — and nothing seems to be lost 
from the countenance but the eyes, which are 
closed up, and give a more death-like appearance 
to the whole. Taunting language is made use of 
to tlie heads, as though they could hear and under- 
stand. “ What,'’ I have heard them say to these 
senseless objects, you wanted to run away, did 
you ? but my meri overtook you : and after you 
w’ere cooked, you were made food for my mouth. 
And where is your father? he is cooked: — and 
where is your brother ? he is eaten : — and where 
is your w ife ? there she sits, a wife for me : — and 
where are your children ? there they are, with 
loads on their backs, carrying food, as my slaves.” 
The custom of preserving the heads of their ene- 
mies is of recent date, among the New Zealanders. 
They formerly used to preserve the heads of their 
