The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-08-29
TATTOOING IN NEW ZEALAND.

The best and fullest account of this sub
ject was given by Mr.. Earle, who resided
nine years in New Zealand, shortly before
the first settlers ventured there from Eng
land. In his work, published in 1929, an
engraving is given, representing a New
Zealand chief lying in an easy position on
Il kind of blanket, and an artistic tattooer
operating upon him. He says: "The art
of tattooing has been brought to such per-
lection here that whenever we have seen a
New Zealander with skin thus ornamented,
we have admired him. 1t is looked upon
as answering the same purposes as clothes.
When chief throws off his mats, he seems
as proud of displaying the beautiful orpa-
ments figured on his skin as a first-rate
exquisite is in exhibiting himself in his
last fashionable attire. 1t is an essential
part of warlike preparation. The whole
of the district Of ko-ro- ra-di- IA was pre-
pairing for the approaching war. Their
cannon, muskets, powder and ball increased
daily; and a very ingenious artist, named
Aranghie, arrived to carry on this import
ant branch of his art, which was soon
placed in requisiton; for all the mighty
men in the neighborhood were one by one
under his operating hands. AS this pro-
fessor was a near neghbor of mine, l fire.
quently paid him visit in his studio, and
lie returned the compliment whenever he
had time to spare. He was considered by
his countrymen perfect master of the art
of tattooing, and men of the highest rank
and Importance were in the habit of travel
ing long journeys in order to put their
skins under his skillful hands. Indeed, SO
have seen many of his drawings exhibited
even after death. A neighbor of mine
very lately killed chief who had been
tattooed by Aranghie, and, approaching
the artists work so highly, he skinned the
chieftain's thighs and covered his cartouch-
box with it l was astonished to see with
what boldness and precision Aranghie drew
his designs upon the skin, and what beauti-
full ornaments he produced; no rule and
compass could be more correct than the
lines and circles he formed. So unrivaled
is he in his profession, that highly fin
ished face of chief from the hands of
this artist is as greatly priced in New Tea
land as head from the hands of Sir Thos.
Lawrence is among US. This Professor was
merely a cooky, or slave; but by skill and
industry he raised himself to an equality
with the greatest men of his country; and
as every chief who employed him always
made him some handsome present, he soon
became a man of wealth, and was con
stantly surrounded by important person
ages" We thus learn from Mr.. Earle that
tattooing is vertically branch of the fine
arts, in the estimation of those who are
most concerned in the matter; and even
the Englishman himself was reused to
enthusiasm in the matter. The Church
Missionary Society have in their museum a
bust of chieftain, carved by himself, in
very hard wood, with rude iron tools of
his own making, and the tattoo marks on
his face are faithfully copied. Unusually
complex devices are said to require weeks,
OF even HlOHlllS, Ill lHelT eAeCutlOH, seeing
that some portions of the skin must be
healed before others are proceeded with.
From various authorities we learn that
among these savage tribes tattoeing is the
mark of gentility, and is as much priced as
| is the exhibition of coats of arms by many
families in England. A traveller, Mr..
Marsden, ventured to tell ono of the New
Zealand chiefs that it would be pity to
tattoo his nephew Rocow, as he was a fne-
looking youth, with a dignified, open, and
/ placid countenance, which ought not to be
distigured. What was the reply? "The
chief laughed in my face, and said his
nephew must be tattooed, as it would give
him a noble, masculine, and warlike ap-
pearance; that he would not he fitted to be
his successor with smooth face; and that
the New Zealanders would look on him
merely as woman if he was not tattooed. Z"
] Chambers Journal.