tions; but in this I was deceived. They were
merely the grotesque carvings of rude artists,
possessing a lively fancy, and were a proof of
their industry as well as genius. Every chief’s
house is adorned with an abundance of these
carved monsters. One of their favourite subjects
is a lizard taking hold of the top of a
man’s head; their tradition being, that that
was the origin of man. The lizard is sacred,
and never injured by them. Several of their
chiefs assured me they believed in the existence
of a great and invisible spirit, called
Atna, who keeps a constant charge and watch
over them ; and that they are constantly looking
out for tokens of his approbation or displeasure.
There is not a wind that blows
but they imagine it bears some message from
him. And there are not wanting crafty men
who pretend to a much more intimate knowledge
of. his sentiments than the generality,
and they easily work on the minds of the
credulous and the ignorant. These impostors
obtain great consideration, and their counsel
and advice is most anxiously sought after by
those about to undertake any important business;
but, like ancient astrologers and modern
gypsies, they speak only in ambiguous terms;
so that whatever may be the result, their prediction
may still correspond with it.
Like all rude and ignorant people, the New
Zealanders seem more to fear the wrath of
their God, than to love his attributes; and
constant sacrifices (too often human ones) are
offered up to appease his anger. They imagine
that the just and glorious Deity is ever ready to
destroy, and that His hand is always stretched
forth to execute vengeance.
These sacred, or, more correctly speaking,
these “ cunning ” men and women, who pretend
to see into futurity, and to hold an intercourse
with the Great Spirit, are here (in
one way, at least) turned to a good and useful
account. As they themselves are held sacred,
every thing they wish to have taken particular
care of, they can render sacred also. All the
chiefs find these people of the greatest use in
protecting their property, for they possess
the power of tabooing ; and when once this
ceremony is performed over any person or
thing, no one dares to touch either; and for