The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world; vol. 2 of 2: Being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristicsWood, J. G. (John George)
History
The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world; vol. 2 of 2: Being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristics
Wood, J. G. (John George)
Anthropology; Ethnology; Manners and customs
There is also before me a photographic portrait of Parátene,
authenticated by his autograph, in which he is represented as clad in
a different manner. He wears two mats or cloaks, the lower being of
the finest flax, and called by the natives kaitaka. A description of
this kind of cloak will be presently given. Over the kaitaka he wears a
very remarkable war cloak, which is made of dogs’ fur sewed upon a flax
mat. It reaches a little below the knees, and is made in perpendicular
stripes alternately dark and pale, and is furnished with a thick collar
or cape of the same material. This cape, by the way, bears a curious
resemblance to the ornament which is worn by the Abyssinian chiefs.
Unfortunately for the general effect of the picture, Parátene has
combed, divided, and brushed his hair in European fashion; and muffled
up as he is to the chin, it is too evident that he is wearing a
complete European suit under his mats. The cape has fallen off a little
on the right side, and we have the absurd anomaly of a face profusely
tattooed surmounted with hair that has just been brushed and combed, a
dog-skin war mat, from which protrudes a bare right arm, a jade earring
six inches long, and a black cravat and turn-down collar. In his right
hand he grasps his cherished merai; his staff of office, or E’hani,
rests against his shoulder; and by his side is his long battle-axe,
adorned with a tuft of feathers and dog-skin. This same Parátene is a
man of great mark among the Maories.
As is the case with natives of rank who have associated with Europeans,
he is known by several names. The following account of him is given by
Mr. G. F. Angas:
“Parátene (Broughton), whose native name was Te Maihoa, is a cousin of
Te Whero-whero, and one of the leading men of the Ngatimahuta branch of
the Waikato tribes. He generally resides in a village (or kainga) on
the northern bank of the picturesque little harbor of Waingaroa, on the
west coast of the Northern Island; and the correctness of his general
conduct, and the gravity of his demeanor, have obtained for him a
marked ascendancy over many of his equals in rank.
“Eccentricity is the principal feature in the character of this chief;
and the scrupulous attention which he invariably pays to those trifling
circumstances which constitute his notions of etiquette often renders
his conduct highly curious. He has gained, by unwearied application,
a smattering of arithmetic, and one of his most self-satisfactory
exploits is the correct solution of some such important problem as
the value of a pig of a certain weight, at a given price per pound,
making the usual deduction for the offal. His erudite quality and
the dignified gravity of his carriage have commanded the deferential
respect of his people, and encouraged them to consider him quite an
oracle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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