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[Page 217]

213.
Some account of New Zealand

In the Southern parts their societies seemd to have many things in common  particularly their fine cloaths & netts the former of which they had but few  we never saw any body employd in making  it might be that what they had were the spoils of war  they were kept in a small Hut erected for that purpose in the middle of the town  the latter seemd to be the Joint work of the whole society  Every house had in it peices of netting upon which they were at work  by the joining together these it is probable that they made the long Seins which we saw.

[Margin note] Women
The Women are less regarded here than at the South Sea Islands at least so Tupia thought who complaind of it as an insult upon the sex  they eat with the men however. How the sexes divide labour I do not know but I am inclind to beleive that the Men till the ground  fish in boats & take birds  the Women dig up Fern roots, collect shell Fish & lobsters near the beach & dress the Victuals & weave cloth  while the men make netts   thus at least these employments have been distributed when I had an opportunity of Observing them which was very seldom  for our approach generaly made a holiday where ever we went  men women & children flocking to

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