The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-10-19
Travels In New Znaiind.

There 10 No geographical subject which eX-
cites frssher interest than New Zealand aud
It's savage people. ard Mr. j. IL. krnRY-Niou-
oils. In his King country tScribner \ Wexford
uarrutes his oxporience In journey Of GOO
miles through those portions Of the three
islands which are still exclusively the property
Of the Maoris. II is n lively but rather a shall
low book illustrated with many woodcuts. and
adding "a good deal to our knowledge. One Of
the most striking Dussai.es Of the work IL the
following description wi u native dance:
"our night IN the King country celebrated by
hathD III he Kvot'- camp Sev,r had seen anything
wild or >, exciting When the muon was up we ~.ut
ton secluded spot surrpnnd.d Nv forest where huge
ir-~ lind be-u lit to assist the dofu light OF it queen
Of night The spectators sguuticd about semci!c!c
the rebel oie ing his po-tton III the uis, of
his -warth, followers. Al signal given about nry
entered tl,- and nearly many women. All
ghti, clnIsu nightly JUDGED, that the costume Of
rst parcn. hal not bcen greatly rnctoachcd upon
Al u signal irvn the leader the dancers f"rmud them
selves info RANKS and the hrst STEP made by Srik
hg the feet raii> upon the s.0unl ana ~ tho excite
meat produced by this novci"oHt gradually horeaseh
tho limbs trcmhed from the feet inward until every
MUSCLE in tho body appeared To shake aud twist II
from the thrilling effects of agaivanic current Then
hey turned their ladies' tn the right with swinging
jump k.ep,y THE elbows close To the ribs aud stretch
ing tho fory part of ,iic until THE iiands mud
fingers shoDk AMI irrihisd If strung together
Nv wires THEN the! swung Ill. body 3" the
crt Ia III. sane attitude, AMI then. facing
to the front. throw back thrr hradS, thrust
on, their tungu~a thr fullest cstcnt IN snscns
way, ard turh. NJ their eyes until nothing TIT; the
whites couii lie sesn aud which geuninz bencn'i Tie
bright glow OF thc iircs. Impaired la their distorted
commentaries singtiariy ghasIi, lock. Next wiry
tat,"d savage Jumped 10 tits front with ion yell.
tirSiins his tongue aud dIstortng his features unit!
The btu lines formed. au,NerDg net work over lis face
lie challenged til hest dancer In the throng ~ winch
appeared upon the scene, when the pair l''r
formed dane, which no ar pencil r"nul d"s 'ribe
Then rs returned Into tho ranks aud another Coupc
f,owrd t'irn iir,l. aud fourth. uu,h the whole
crowd. mnslug toGeiur, danced together III narNc.
lus diubulGhi 1hr dark streaming lur Of the
wu.nru fr!t over tl,'r wrturued shoulders. swept
round tn.Ir hsai- cirrl, Tia. dark
through the most extraordinary gyrntiuns with tu''
rapdily 81 ".eciri'.h husming tops, while ihe men.
tNtiis ticir weapons fnr,ousy in tue air Yelled III
loud chorus whru terminated in lnrg, deep. cxres
s.ii Hni gain these movements were EN-
acted wh riutrui,us tungu., hi distorted fncvs. aud
iiSrl staring time beirg marked by straiuy the
rh.sh w thu open let hnui, 10 produce soind
Which miHgl..'. with tI- ,"ui -h".!nig OF The inr"i'
dancer added rurinus c-c. r'te 'vi, mud tUts,'r
suciir.''
The author upp.nds @ynOpsis OF tho fora
which he ob-nrvcd IA the region no visited !;
yet strange To- shy. among the trees he emu
merates there is no mnntion whatever uf tie
kuuri DaHnd'a iUSIniisi which iS tho prtH.
cipal tree OF tho country.