Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-01-22

THE WoMEx OF New ZEALASD.-The New Zca-
land females generally about shade and a hall
lighter in complexion than the men; they are IN the
hab, Of coloring their lips with Ngarauh which Is The
article they tattoo WITH this gives the lips dark blue
appearance, and also tends 10 increase their we
winch is naturally large. They sometimes vandyke
the inside Of the lower p, as we'll as the up Of the
tongue, which gives them very singular and curious
look. The chin lsalso ornamenied, aud with some
of the chiefs wives the small part of the back IS tat
tooed in a most beautiful manner, whist the arins,
legs and breast of OF them full of long, thin
cuts, into which the Ngarauh Is introduced partly
with the idea of increasing their beauty, and partly
when their passions are excited from weeping over
their deceased friends. In their persons they gen.
orally dirty, but they are far from being INDECENT as
the whole of the work falls 10 this portion ofihe
alton to perform. The women generally do the whole
Of the planting and gathering IN the crops. The hrst
thing in the morning, the New ZEALAND female may
be seen fetching backload Of firewood 10 prepare
the mornings meal, after which the plantation
grounds engrosses her attention until mid day. when
she proceeds 10 the sea beach TO gater cookies, and
al night she brings m another backoad OF firewood
to cook supper; II she has child that is too young
TO walk the father takes of it, unless he going
n fishing TO war-in either case, OF course, the
mother has double duty TO attend to. IL is no I'M
common thing TO observe her carrying upwards OF
hundred weight on her back up steep bill for the
men will not degrade themselves by carrying pro-
visions, particularly on their backs Although Their
ideas Of msdesty very different from what civil
cation teaches US for 10 be, they far from beng
~
one who has visited other Islands in the South Seas,
be superior in very great degree TO most Of the
other islanders, particularly Of Oiahei,e Sandwich
Island or the NavIgaors. Their clothing much
adapted for concesng the whole of the person, and
outherefore frequently see them, a noble poet
has observed, with
Bosom arms aad ANGLES, glsncing bare"
but certainly never indecenly. Their principle poin,
OF beauty, in the opinion of themselves the same
the Hotientots, or our fashionable people Of the
present day, forming very neat ornaments for an all.
bum. They expert at mat making, and with very
little trouble in teaching become very excellent wash
erwemen and seamsiresscs. Their affection 10 their
young ones is great ans has bess,d them with
having but little pain, in child bearing they not
however, fruitful the acreage number Of their children
will exceed two. ans you viii generally observe
them to their ordinary occupations within twelve
hours after having given birth To child. They have
the appearance Of being aged when about twenty to
thirty aud after about thirty five they become truly
ugly putting very much in mind ct the witches OF
Macbeth their persons then become shrivelled and
decayed but, by the color Of their hair and other APP
pearances, they live to a remarkable old age 1t is
difficult to ascertain with any ceraisty their true ages
as they lose all knowledge that subject after about
the first year. The way arrive at the truth
is 10y conversing with them any subject that has
CURED long time previous, when they express the dis
lance OF time by pointing ost IN yosr notice some per-
sons who happened 10 be about the age that they
were when the cireums ance Of which they are con-
vcrsng on occurred. They very stubborn in their
nstsre; but on the whole, they cannot strictly be
called jealous race, half q dozen Of them fre-
queny live amicably together wives TO ore chef
msn. In the circumstances OF free men, who gene
rally have but ono wife, they sure to make great
stir when they discover that their husband has been
ssrray, nj the same time that they themselves are
equally IA great sinners as the men.
free intcrcourses permitted among the sexes, an.
I'll The female, either by her beauty or accomplish
mcnis In singing and dancing, has caught the fancy
Of some VINO takes her for his wife, when she IL
expected % remain true 10 her lord and master II is
very singular fact, tina, although this intercourse is
80 general with them, ntver saw an instance Of an
llegitirnatc child among them, barring the hal caste
these children, who of course are the offsprpg Of
Europeans, AMI pretty numerous, caaont strictly be
emory TO be performed, and where tho man and
wife We together in al respects according 10 the
tom Of the country. Infnnhcide very common, par
tculary among the women Of the Bay Of islands DIS
trct where they are frequently chapu (enccn,c) by
Europeans but as the birth and nocess airy at,endonce