ve, therefore, in some degree, a justification for
this custom in the somewhat similar acts of civilized communities. At
any rate, in preserving, as they do, the heads of their enemies, they
only follow a practice which has been common to many other barbarous
tribes.

Although Pomaree, it would appear, made a merchandise of these heads
when he had the opportunity, his countrymen, in general, are far from
treating them with so much disrespect. It was with great reluctance that
some of them were prevailed upon to sell one to Mr. Banks, when he was
with Cook in Queen Charlotte Sound, in 1770; and nothing could induce
them to part with a second. They are, in fact, preserved as spoils or
trophies during the continuance of the war; and their restoration to the
party from whom they have been taken is so indispensable a preliminary
to the conclusion of a peace, that it is said no chief would dispose of
them, unless it were his determination never to come to terms with his
opponents; so that we may suppose this was what Pomaree had resolved
upon.

The brain is eaten, like the rest of the body; and the eyes are also
frequently devoured by the conqueror, especially the left eye, which, it
is believed, ascends to heaven and becomes a star. Shungie is stated,
upon one occasion, to have eaten the left eye of a great chief whom he
had killed in battle, under the idea of thus increasing the glory and
brightness of his own left eye, when it should be transferred to the
firmament; for it is understood that when any one eats of the person he
has killed, the dead man becomes a part of himself.

[Illustration: _Christchurch Museum._

Stone implements used by Maoris for cutting hair.]

Nicholas tells another amusing story of Pomaree's style of doing
"business," which we shall also give in his own words. "This wily
chief," says he, "had cast a longing eye upon a chisel belonging to one
of the missionaries, and to obtain it he had brought some fish on board,
which he presented to the owner of the chisel with so much apparent
generosity and friendliness, that the other could not help considering
it a gratuitous favour, and, receiving it as such, told him he felt very
grateful for his kindness.

"But Pomaree had no idea of any such disinterested liberality, and as
soon as the fish were eaten, he immediately demanded the chisel in
return; which, however, was not granted, as it was a present much too
valuable to be given away for so triflin