State Library of NSW
[Page 210]
206. Some account of New Zealand
you with our Patoo patoos: in this manner they continued to threaten us venturing by degrees nearer & nearer till they were close alongside at intervals talking very civily & answering any questions we askd them but quickly renewing their threats till they had by our non-resistance gaind courage enough to begin their war song & dance after which they either became so insolent that we found it nescessary to chastise them by firing small shot at them or else threw three or four stones on board & as if content with having offerd such an insult unreveng'd left us
[Margin note] War Song The War Song & dance consists of Various contortions of the limbs during which the tongue is frequently thrust out incredibly far & the orbits of the eyes enlargd so much that a circle of white is distinctly seen round the Iris in short nothing is omittd which can render a human shape frightful & deformd which I suppose they think to be terrible during this time they brandish their spears hack the air with their patoo patoos & shake their darts as if they meant every moment to begin the attack singing all the time in a wild but not disagreable manner & ending every strain with a loud & deep fetchd sigh in which they all join in concert the whole is accompanied by strokes struck
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