John Savage

“ But little is known of the religion of these people; the chief objects of their adoration are the sun and moon; with the stars they are well acquainted, and have names for a great many of them; the moon, how ever, is their favourite deity. They believe it to be the abode of a man, who, at some distant period, paid a visit to New Zealand, and who they believe is still very anxious for its welfare and that of its inhabitants. ”

“ Thus it will appear that the operations of a New Zealand kitchen are few, and exceedingly simple, but they accomplish the principal object of all cookery, the action of fire upon the food; and though they would not please the palate of an European, the natives here are perfectly well satisfied with them, and rise from their meal with as much chearfulness as an alderman, and with much more activity.
Intimately connected with the arts which the natives of New Zealand employ to procure subsistence, is that of making their canoes, as their fish is chiefly taken in them. ”

“ I have mentioned my reasons for sending Moyhanger home in so short a time after his arrival, and the affectionate manner in which he took leave of me, in the body of the work.
When he arrives in his own country he will be a very superior man in point of riches and useful knowledge. The use of carpenters' and coopers' tools he is tolerably well acquainted with, and I have no doubt if he remains in New Zealand, that he will remember his visit to Europe with peculiar satisfaction for the remainder of his life. ”

“ They have no shield, the war-mat answering all the purposes of one.
The purposes for which the instruments of war are formed in New Zealand, I believe seldom fail of being accomplished. In Europe the musket, even during a war between two nations, may in many instances only be used in firing harmlessly at a review, or exultingly in vollies or feux de joye; the sword may slumber peaceably in its scabbard, except when its dazzling brightness is displayed upon the same occasions ”

“ I told him that his lordship was a chief, and Moyhanger entered the mansion with becoming respect. The furniture and paintings pleased him highly, but with the affability of his lordship, and the Countess Fitzwilliam, he was quite delighted. Lord Milton and some noble relatives of Lord Fitzwilliam's were present, who all shared in Moyhanger's approbation. He was a great physiognomist, and approved or disliked at a first interview. The lines of his lordship's face pleased him more than those of any man, of whom I had yet heard his opinion. ”

“ The shores, as far as they are known, are so bold, that in beating into the bay, no danger is to be apprehended from standing very near in with them. A prudent navigator of course need not be told that the lead ought to be kept going.
It is advisable not to suffer any natives to come on board until the ship is brought to an anchor, as the novelty of their appearance is liable to take off the attention of the seamen from their duty, independently of their being much in the way during the working the ship. ”

“ Happily the boat saved every life: the women clung to the canoe with one hand, and in almost every instance supported a child with the other, their own safety appearing evidently to be a secondary consideration. Their situation for some time was extremely perilous, and that of the natives on board the ship truly pitiable, till they found that the boat arrived in time to rescue the women and children from a watery grave ”

“ The lowest profligate of Europe fancies himself a superior being, and treats the untaught native of a peaceful isle, as an animal almost unworthy his consideration; he communicates the diseases of civil life, and commits acts of treachery and outrage without the least remorse. Acts of this description are handed down to posterity, by tradition, among the natives, and they revenge the injuries done to their ancestors upon all Europeans that come within their power. ”

“ Classes among the Natives—Religion—Their Adoration of the Sun and Moon—A New Zealand Deity—Cleanliness—Place of Sepulture.
As this country is divided into small principalities, whose chieftains are almost constantly at war with each other, the wandering of the natives is prevented by its being rendered unsafe; a bond of society is therefore formed for the safety and protection of the members of each principality. This society is divided into classes, each distinguished by devices variously tattooed on their faces and persons. ”

“ The exorbitant price of European labour in new colonies, it is extremely probable would be obviated by the assistance of the natives: their intelligence is such as to render them capable of instruction, and I have no doubt but they would prove as essentially useful to a colony established in their country, as the natives of India prove to our Asiatic dominions. ”

“ Character of the Natives—How far they are Cannibals—Their affectionate Disposition—Upsetting of a Canoe—Moyhanger's Determination to visit Europe—Parting with his Kindred—Meeting of Friends—Mode of Salutation.
In New Zealand, as in all uncivilized countries, the passions are the principal guide to the actions of its inhabitants: but in this island I conceive those actions are very much restrained, either by the superintendance and authority of their chiefs, or by a natural proneness to affection ”

“ The means of supplying themselves with an article they covet above all others, might prove an irresistable temptation: I allude to iron, a metal of which they are so well acquainted with the value, that they will barter almost any thing they possess to obtain it. However, as I propose to speak of the character of these people hereafter, I shall, in this chapter, confine myself to giving some account of the shores immediately surrounding, and in the vicinity of this bay. ”

“ Their songs to the rising and setting sun, are peculiarly well adapted to express their feelings. On the rising of the sun the air is cheerful, the arms are spread out as a token of welcome, and the whole action denotes a great degree of unmixed joy ”

“ The fish-hook, whether native or European, they call mattow.
The bait made use of is usually a limpet, or a piece of raw fish; and from the great dexterity of the fishermen, and the vast quantity of fish, with which this harbour abounds, the natives of this part are most abundantly supplied with this excellent article of food.
When speaking of the dexterity of the fishermen, I should have mentioned that of the fisherwomen also; for the women here are as expert at all the useful arts as the men, sharing equally the fatigue and the danger with them upon all occasions, excepting war ”

“ Independently of the pattern formed in the weaving, by the difference of colour in the thread, their mats sometimes receive additional ornament from the needle.
The manufacture of their implements of war, their tools, and musical instruments, is carried on by the men; many of them are finished with a great degree of nicety, and on which, in some instances, much time and labor is bestowed in carving. ”

“ We had constantly a number of natives on board the ship; many remained two or three days without visiting the shore, and others visited it daily. One day, it blowing very strong, a canoe, in which were women and children only, attempting to approach the ship, upset; the lamentations of those on board the ship were expressed in a most affecting manner; but we were too much engaged in lowering down a boat to save the lives of the poor creatures, to attend to those who were expressing so much apprehension for their safety. ”

“ The music of the New Zealanders is superior to what might be expected. The tone of voice of the natives is, in a considerable degree, melodious; and their instruments such as afford a variety of pleasing simple notes, and serve to beguile the idle hours of the tedium that would other wise attend them. ”

“ There is every appearance of a great scope for mineralogical investigation, though there is no reason to suppose that the natives are acquainted with the existence of metal of any kind in New Zealand, as I could not discover in their tools or ornaments any metal, but such as evidently had been procured from Europeans. ”

“ Government—Chiefs of the Interior—Chiefs of the Coast—Power of the Chief—Consultation with Elders—Civil Power—Punishment in criminal Cases—Tiarrah.
I believe the form of government of this part of New Zealand, and perhaps of the whole island, to be aristocratical, and hereditary. On the coast it is administered by chieftains, who are of inferior consideration, and probably subservient to those who govern the interior. ”

“ On noticing any singularities, decripitude, lameness, or infirmity, in a passenger, he always remarked, Kioòda tungata, or Kioòda wyeena—Good for nothing man or woman. His eye was constantly seeking articles of iron, cloathing, or food. Of some of the streets he observed, Nue nue tungata, nue nue wurrie, ittee ittee eka, ittee ittee potatoe—Plenty of men, plenty of houses, but very little fish, and very few potatoes.
I never could make Moyhanger pronounce the word England, therefore I was content to allow him to make use of Europe in its stead, which he pronounced without difficulty. ”

“ Thus, after a conquest, the victors do not devour the whole of their prisoners, but are content with shewing their power to do so, by dividing the chief of the vanquished tribe among them: he is eaten, it is true, but I do not believe that food is the inducement. ”

“ It has frequently happened that a particular coast or island has been reported to be frequented by a great number of whales, and no sooner does this information transpire, than ships are instantly fitted out to go in search of them, both from Europe and America.—The consequence is, the fish are soon in great measure, either destroyed by the harpoon, or driven from their favorite spot by repeated disturbance. ”

“ The timber of which we have the most knowledge at present is the fir, which grows here to an amazing height, and of such dimensions, as to admit of being formed into a canoe capable of containing thirty persons, or in other words, five and six feet diameter. ”

“ The chiefs of the Bay of Islands not only walk, but walk barefoot; but those of the interior they describe as being carried in a sort of vehicle on the shoulders of men whenever they vouchsafe to go abroad. ”

“ The women suffer but little from this barbarous custom: a small spiral figure on each side the chin, a semicircular figure over each eye-brow, and two, or sometimes three lines, on each lip, are all they are required to submit to. Their lips are naturally thin, and well formed, but so preposterous are their ideas of beauty, that they endeavour to render them as thick as possible by this operation. ”

“ Though the power of the chieftains appears to depend upon success in arms, yet they do not undertake any warlike enterprize without a consultation of the elders, nor probably without endeavouring to find out how the destinies are disposed towards them.
When war is determined upon, the conflict must be dreadful. They have no idea of any thing short of conquest or death, and they engage in the battle with a firm reliance upon the former, though they are prepared for the latter by having no dread of it. ”

“ The ordinary clothing of both men and women is exactly similar, so that the only distinction is in their faces, and the heads of the females, which have usually a greater number of ornaments than those of the men.
It is really curious to observe a family of natives seated as I have mentioned. They give you the idea of a village, composed of a number of small huts, one of which is formed by each individual: their heads, at a distance, may easily be mistaken for chimneys. ”

“ There is usually a division in the canoe, formed of wattle, to prevent the dealings of the two families from interfering with each other. They are also provided with nets, hooks, and lines, as an almost inseparable part of their equipment.
Paddles are universally made use of, and from the great strength and activity of the natives, the canoe is impelled forward with uncommon velocity: a large stone supplies the place of an anchor. ”

“ In a country that has been described as being peopled by a race of cannibals, you are agreeably surprised by the appearance of the natives, who betray no symptom of savage ferocity, and by the patches of cultivated ground in the neighbourhood of the bay ”