Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0207
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 207]
203.
Some account of New Zealand
them than it would be from one of a spear only half as long which was held by the end Battle axes made likewise of a very hard wood about 6 feet long the bottom of the handle pointed & the blade which is perfectly like the blade of an axe but broader made very sharp with these they chop at the heads of their antagonists when an opportunity offers
[Margin note] Weapons
Patoo patoos as they calld them a kind of small hand bludgeon of stone, bone or hard wood most admirably calculated for the cracking of sculls they are of different shapes some like an old fashiond chopping knife others of this [small sketch] or [small sketch] always however having sharp edges & a sufficient weight to make a second blow unnescessary if the first takes place in these they seemd to put their cheif dependance fastning them by a strong strap to their wrists least they should be wrenchd from them. the principal people seldom stirrd out without one of them sticking in his girdle generaly made of Bone (of Whales as they told us) or of coarse black Jasper very hard insomuch that we were almost led to conclude that in peace as well as war they wore them as a warlike ornament in the same manner as we Europæans wear swords. Darts about 8 feet long made of wood bearded &