Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/161

 frolic and returned the next day on time. Shortly afterward John Sac came on board with his father and several other chiefs. We hardly knew John, as he was dressed like all the rest in native attire, — a mat, made of native  flax, large as a blanket, very fine, ingeniously made, and  beautifully embroidered. These mat-cloaks were tied around their necks, and hung gracefully about their persons. The entire company, forty in number, were beautifully tattooed all over their faces, which gave them a very fierce aspect. All wore ear-rings of jade or shark’s teeth; a green stone, held sacred by them, was tied  about their necks, and small, bright-colored feathers  were stuck in their hair. They were of nearly uniform size, about six feet in height, and were a manly-looking set  of men. John, his father, and several of the others pleaded earnestly with the commodore to purchase the  territory of Muckatoo, a part of New Zealand which had  once belonged to the old chief’s tribe, but had been  seized by the English. The commodore told them that he could not interfere in a feud. We made them some very nice presents, and they left the ship.

While here we collected many curiosities, among them several rare specimens of tattooed heads. These New Zealanders, like nearly all other islanders, are great beggars. A big chief, whose hut was near the landing, was a continual bore to the commodore. At length he gave him an old uniform coat and a cocked hat. With these as his entire costume he promenaded the beach all day  long, feeling very grand.

April 6. While we were heaving short this morning John Sac came on board dressed in his trousers and