Moko; or Maori Tattooing
Chapter II — Moko Men
Chapter II
Moko Men
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 13.—Tracing from a thigh-skin in the possession of the Author. (Reduced to two-thirds of life size.) This unique specimen was discovered in a London saddlers shop by Major General Robley in 1894.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
Fig. 15.—From life by the Author, showing good nose-marking.
Te Kuha, also known as Te Mea (i.e. Mair) see p.91 Died at Rotorua
June 1901, during the Royal Visit.
Fig. 16.—Thigh-tattooing.
(From Dumont D'Urville's “Voyages.”)
Maning, a famous writer on old Maori life before the remembrance of it had quite passed away, thus describes a war party: “As I have said, the men were all stripped for action, but I also notice that the appearance of nakedness is completely taken away by the tattooing, the colour of the skin, and the arms and equipments…. The men, in fact, look much better than when page 24 dressed in their Maori clothing. Every man almost without exception is covered with tattooing from the knees to the waist; the face is also covered with dark spiral lines.”
Mr. Edward Tregear remarks that the tattooing of a slave's face was only a vile practice introduced for the horrible purpose of selling the dried head.
Fig. 17.—Body-tattooing.
From original rawing for Captain Cook's “Voyages” in the British Museum. Additional Manuscripts Room.)
In 1814 the first three native magistrates were appointed, and being chiefs were also “men of mark.”
Mr. Wakefield expressly states that this was so with regard to the tangata tapu, or sacred personages; and Mr. Savage (1807) records that the pantaloons are in general very highly embroidered, page 26 of which they are not a little vain; and that the tohungas, or priests, had only a small patch of moko over the right eye.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 19.—Warrior fallen in the fern. showing rape on buttocks (from a drawing by the Author, 1864.) Rawiri Tuaia, killed at Gate Pa.29.4.1864..
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
Fig. 21.—A Chief' tattooing: a full face of the portrait given as frontispiece.
Tomi[unclear: k]a Te Mutu.
The deep tortuous lines of moko add fierceness to features strongly marked and give hardness and rigour to those muscles which are acted upon by the softer passions.
page 29In former days a pair of mussel shells were employed, but since the acquaintance with Europeans large tweezers have taken their place, and were generally hanging from the garment or neck; and whenever the gentleman could find no other employment he indefatigably occupied himself with them.
Fig. 23.—An aged Chief wearing hair over moko.
Patuone.
In 1864–66 when staying in the delightful New Zealand country, I took several sketches of natives showing moko on the face covered with hair, for though the practice of moko was then fairly vigorous, yet the growth of beard and moustache was common among the natives, with the exception of the older men. The older men being well tattooed never used to wear hair on the face.
page 31
Figs. 25, 26.—Two Heads.
An[unclear: e]hana of [gap — reason: illegible]ad[unclear: e].
The war dance, of which I give an illustration, as showing tattooing on face and body, involved constant thrusting out page 32 of the tongue, and so much distortion of the features that the blue lines of the moko formed a quivering network. The time or cadence of the dance was marked by striking the palm of the left hand against the thigh.
Fig. 27.—Moko in the War-dance.
Ho[unclear: ete] Paetirori, an old
Arawa warrior.