NOW LUCKILY DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 191, 13 August 1940, Page 5

NOW LUCKILY DEAD.

AN EARLY SPORTSMAN HUNTED MAORI FOR HEAD. Shootin', huntin' and fishin' have always been favourite sports with Englishmen, but sportsmen, in the first half of last century were apparently prepared to turn their attention to other things besides lions and man-eating tigers. Head-huntin' is a sport which could have been added to the accomplishments of at least one gentleman who emigrated to Australia in the early days. From a letter which has been published in an English journal, a Mr. Willis (now luckily dead) shot a Maori with the same quiet assurance as he would have loaded his pipe. However, tattoo marks intrigued, the gallant sportsman and he wished to present a friend of his, a Mr. Aglionby, M.P., a head for ornamental purposes. This same Mr. Aglionby was a zealous advocate for the reform of the Corn Laws and, as far as family tradition goes, a humane and kindly person. The letter in which Mr. Willis tells of his success is dated Sydney, May 20, 1839, and is as follows:— "My dear Aglionby, < . "I have great pleasure in informing you that, after considerable trouble and difficulty, I have at last succeeded in procuring you a capital specimen of a New Zealander's head. As soon as it is well cured and properly dried, I shall send it to you by the first ship that leaves this colony. I think that you will agree with me in considering it as a beautiful and curious ornament for the handsomest room in your house. "I fell in with the possessor of the head by the merest chance while proceeding from Sydney to South Cove, going through the plains, with a party of natives, and, after a long chase, we succeeded in bringing him down by a rifle shot, which fortunately did not injure

any of the ornamental tattoos on his face, which I doubt not you will admire as much as I do. "If you would like his skin, I have it drying and will send it to you the first opportunity. Some of the tattoos on it are exceedingly beautiful, particularly on certain parts, but one figure has suffered a little by the ball having passed through it. "Let me know as.soon as you can the receipt of the head and tell me at the same time if you would like the head of a female, as I shall hare great pleasure in supplying you." The presence of the unfortunate Maori in Australia may be accounted for by the fact that a number were taken across the Tasman in the early days. In 1831, the Governor of New South Wales prohibited the importation of heads into his territory.