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

1835. WAR-CANOES — REFLECTIONS. 571 habitual posture of rest is squatting on his hams, or upon the ground, with his knees up to his chin ; hence, also, his Umbs are rather inferior in their shape. But arouse his spirit, set him in motion, excite him to action, and the crouching, indo- lent being is suddenly changed into an active and animated demoniac. The Zealander is extremely proud ; he will not endure the slightest insult. A blow, even in jest, must be returned ! Every one has seen or heard so much of their weapons and canoes, that it is almost superfluous to speak of them ; yet, in examining one of their larger canoes — seventy feet in length, from three to four in width, and about three in depth — I was much interested by observing what trouble and pains had been taken in building and trying to ornament this, to them, first-rate vessel of war. Her lower body was formed out of the trunk of a single tree — the New Zealand kauri, or cowrie the upper works by planks of the same wood ; the stem and stern, raised and projecting, like those of the gallies of old, were carved and hideously disfigured, rather than ornamented, by red, distorted faces with protruding tongues and glaring mother-of-pearl eyes. Much carving of an entirely different and rather tasteful design* decorated the sides. Beneath the ' thwarts,' a wicker-work platform, extending from end to end, served to confine the ballast to its proper position, and to afford a place upon which the warriors could stand to use their weapons. From forty to eighty men can embark in such canoes. But their day is gone ! In a few years, scarcely a war- canoe will be found in the northern district of New Zealand. -f- Judging only from description, the largest canoes ever seen by the oldest of the pi-esent generation, must have been nearly ninety feet in length ; formed out of one tree, with planks attached to the sides, about six or seven feet wide, and nearly as much in depth. Several old men agreed, at different times, in this account ; but perhaps each of them was equally inclined to magnify the past. * Arabesque, like the ornaments at Otaheite. + North of latitude 38° S.