Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

568 FEATUllES — TATTOW WAK-DANCE. DeC. eminently possesses. The expression of his features indicates energy, quickness of apprehension, without much reflection and a high degree of daring. Ferocity is a striking trait in the countenances of many among the older men, and it is increased considerably by the savage style in which their faces are disfi- gured, or, as they think, ornamented by lines cut in the skin with a blunt-edged iron tool, and stained black. These lines are certainly designed with as much taste, even elegance, as could possibly be exerted in such disfiguring devices. The expression which, it appears, is anxiously desired, is that of a demon-warrior. All their old ideas seem to have had reference to war. Well might the Spanish poet's description of the Arau- canians have been applied to the New Zealanders in their for- mer condition : " Venus y Amor aqui no alcanzan parte, Solo doniina el iracundo Marte!" The lines upon the face are not, however, arbitrary marks, invented or increased at the caprice of individuals, or the fancy of the operator who inflicts the torture ; they are heraldic orna- ments, distinctions far more intelligible to the natives of New Zealand than our own armorial bearings are to many of us, in these unchivalric days. Young men have but few : slaves, born in bondage, or taken young, have scarcely any marks ; but the older men, especially the more distinguished chiefs, are so covered with them that the natural expression of face is almost hidden under an ornamented mask. One object of the tattow- ing, is to prevent change of features after middle age. Some of the women, whom the missionaries endeavoured to persuade not to follow this practice, said, " Let us have a few lines on our lips, that they may not shrivel when we are old."" Every one has heard of, and many people have seen the war-dance. What exaggerated distortions of human fea- tures could be contrived more horrible than those they then display ? What approach to demons could human beings make nearer than that which is made by the Zealanders when infu- riating, maddening themselves for battle by their dance of death !