Artwork Information

Angas's description:

"PLATE LIII.

MAORI OR NATIVE SWING.

A FAVOURITE amusement amongst the natives of the interior is the swing, consisting of a number of flax-cords fastened from the top of a pole, which is usually fixed into the ground on the sloping side of a bank: the natives, when swinging, take hold of the cords, and running down the bank, strike out into the air and swing back again to the bank; occasionally they run round in a circle, as in the gymnastic pole of Europe. This amusement is rarely to be seen on the coasts: the only places where I observed it was in the villages about Taupo.

WAR-DANCE.

BEFORE going to battle, and frequently on festive occasions, the war-dance is per-formed by the men of the tribe. During these savage ceremonies, the performers dance entirely naked, and as they become excited with their war-songs, they work themselves up to the highest pitch of rage. The time of the dance is beaten with their canoe paddles. The plate represents a party of warriors who have just landed, and are performing their war-dance before the great pah of Oinemutu, at the Roturua Lakes."