# Some Account of New Zealand/Chapter 10

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Chap. X.
Next in point of consequence to the arts, subservient to the purposes of existence, is that of war, of which I shall say a few words.
It did not happen during my stay here that any warlike operations took place among the natives: this, I conceive, was not the case, from the neighbouring chiefs being at peace with each other, as I believe those “piping times” are rarely known here, but that there did not occur any convenient opportunity for meeting in the field: it therefore cannot be expected that I can describe the “pomp and circumstance” of ​a campaign; all that I can say of their art of war will consequently be confined to a description of the instruments they use in carrying it on. I was indebted for my in formation in this instance, as indeed in many others, to Moyhanger: he was capable of speaking upon the subject from having taken the field upon several occasions. He bore about him many marks of his military exploits, of which he was as proud as any European hero. His wounds had been received in engaging the tribe of a chief residing on the opposite side of the bay, named Oorootookee, to whom Moyhanger's tribe had vowed eternal enmity. Even upon purchasing the tools he took with him at a shop in the Strand, he was much struck with the convenient form of a common bill-hook; I purchased three for him, and brandishing one of them, in a sort of extacy he exclaimed, “Matta, matta, Oprootookee, I will kill Oorootookee;" and I am convinced that want of opportunity ​alone will prevent him from carrying his threat into execution.
The spear, the common instrument of destruction in use all over the pacific ocean, is also employed here, and is nearly thirty feet long: it is made of hard wood, and is sometimes pointed at each extremity, but not universally. The natives, by indefatigable practice, are particularly expert in throwing this weapon.
The battle-axe is also made of hard wood, and is about five feet in length: the head is nearly semicircular, and about eight inches in diameter; the edge of which is made moderately sharp: the extremity of the handle, it is all of one piece of wood, is pointed, and intended to be used as a pike occasionally.
When acting on the defensive, they are very dexterous in turning off a spear with the battle-axe.
The waddy I before spoke of is intended to be used at close quarters, as a sort of tomahawk. ​
They have no shield, the war-mat answering all the purposes of one.
The purposes for which the instruments of war are formed in New Zealand, I believe seldom fail of being accomplished. In Europe the musket, even during a war between two nations, may in many instances only be used in firing harmlessly at a review, or exultingly in vollies or feux de joye; the sword may slumber peaceably in its scabbard, except when its dazzling brightness is displayed upon the same occasions; but I believe the instruments of destruction of New Zealand are rarely formed without their subsequent performance of some death-doing deed, either in the service of the chief, or to execute the vengeance of its owner in cases of individual animosity.
There is an exercise peculiar to all their instruments of war, and their youths have much time and attention bestowed to render them expert in their various uses.
An essential part of their warlike operations is their grimace, gestures, and shout​ings; these are all intended to set the enemy at defiance, and are undoubtedly well calculated to inspire the beholder with terror; but as the natives are so much accustomed to these exhibitions, they in all probability are not easily terrified or intimidated by them.
The same mode of warfare is employed on the water as on the land; after the preparatory shouting, grimace, &c. have been carried on in the adverse canoes for some time, the paddles impel the warriors to the contest, which instantly commences with unbounded fury.
Of their manufactures the principal article is their mats, which I have before spoken of as the only clothing in use among them. Those worn as their ordinary covering are made of a strong bladed grass, woven into a coarse mat of flax, so as to leave the outside shaggy, and form a coating similar to thatch: it is two inches in thickness, and from the grass being so disposed as to turn off the wet, it must be almost impenetrable ​to the weather. These, I imagine, are made with little labor from their setting but a a small value upon them.
Their dress-mats are made of the untwisted flax, in which state it has much the appearance of flos silk of a light yellow colour.
The war-mat is made of the flax very tightly twisted into threads; the twisting of which is performed by rolling with the hand upon the knee: their line and larger cord is all made by the method sailors call laying, and they have it of great length.
The war-mat in substance is much stouter than any canvas, and, as I before mentioned, when held loose upon the arm, forms an excellent defence to the person of the wearer.
Their mode of weaving, which is chiefly performed by women, is by suspending the warp; the weft being held in the hand, as a ball, is passed between the threads of the warp alternately, and pressed more or less ​close according to the purpose for which the mat is intended.
Independently of the pattern formed in the weaving, by the difference of colour in the thread, their mats sometimes receive additional ornament from the needle.
The manufacture of their implements of war, their tools, and musical instruments, is carried on by the men; many of them are finished with a great degree of nicety, and on which, in some instances, much time and labor is bestowed in carving.
The implements of war have been spoken of, and of their musical instruments I shall speak hereafter; but in this place I shall say a few words respecting their common tools; these consist of adzes, chisels, small carving tools, and needles for working the ornamental parts of their mats.
The tools properly belonging to the natives, are all formed of the green talc before mentioned, and their names fender any particular description of them unne​cessary. They prefer iron for all their tools, when they can procure it; but as they are unacquainted with the method of hardening this metal, they have almost as much trouble in keeping an edge to the tool as in the work they are employed upon.