CHIEFS. 
353 
petually arising and scarcely ever terminated, his great 
delight was war, it was his noblest occupation, it stamped 
dignity on his brow ; one who did not fight was not 
esteemed, he lost his status, as being unable to distinguish 
himself or defend his people. Another great sign of a 
chief was oratory — a good orator was compared to the 
korimako, the sweetest singing bird of New Zealand ; to 
enable the young chief to become one, he was fed upon 
that bird, so that he might the better acquire its qualities, 
and the successful orator was termed a korimako ; when 
he harangued his people he walked up and down in the 
marae, a distance of about thirty feet, as he approached he 
spoke, using much gesticulation, slapping his sides, brand- 
ishing his weapon ; and assuming a grandiloquent tone of 
voice, walked slowly back in a very dignified manner ; 
then he quickened his pace and returned, and with the 
most violent gesticulation and movement of body hurled 
defiance at his enemies.* Maniatepoto, the head chief of 
Taupo, not being distinguished either by his courage or 
oratory, sank down into comparative insignificance, and Te 
Heuheu, an inferior chief, possessing all the qualities of a 
great one, became the head. 
In later times, the eating of human flesh became the ruling 
desire and the chief incentive to war ; this unnatural food 
was supposed to impart additional courage and ferocity to 
those who partook of it, and likewise to make their triumph 
over their enemies complete ; nor must the love of plunder- 
ing their foes, and despoiling them of their most valued 
property, their wives, highly-prized green stone meres and 
jpounamuj jade ornaments, beautifully- wrought mats, carved 
weapons, stores of food, and women, be overlooked. All 
these circumstances combined to make war a delight, render 
the chief great, and destroy all feelings of compunction, if 
they ever had any. 
Another reason may be assigned ; a chief must be a 
* During this sad war a Taranaki chief, whilst thus trying to excite the 
people to exterminate the Europeans and drive them into the sea, dropped 
down dead ; at another meeting a similar death occurred. 
A A 
