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Maori and Polynesian: their origin, history and culture

War was the Primary Aim of Tattooing

War was the Primary Aim of Tattooing

(17) It is plain, then, that though it may have afterwards taken into it a sexual and amorous motif, the custom had its origin amongst so advanced and warlike a race in a more limited sphere, that of war and the yearning for fame. Some of the accounts given by natives indicate that it was a record of a warlike life; the moko was added to as the owner of it added to his achievements in battle. Yet it is not always the greatest warrior that shows the most elaborate face-pattern. There must, however, be considerable truth in the statements. For the moko was looked on as a heraldic blazon to be proud of, part of it being the privilege mark of the family or tribe, page 190most of it the sign of the individual glory acquired by feats of war; and the head after death was kept for long years by the family as a reminder of the warrior's deeds. Even during life the moko was used by the individual chief as a signature to land transfers.

(18) Undoubtedly its main intention, as far as the face was concerned, was warlike. It was intended to make the fighting-man look more formidable; and, as grimacing and tongue-thrusting formed one of the essentials of the art of war, as is evident from the war-dance, the moving spirals and scrolls would add greatly to the terrifying effect that was meant to be produced. But red ochre was the favourite colour for all for bellicose purposes. The face, as well as the body of the warrior, was often smeared or striped with red, occasionally alternated with bands of black. Blue and yellow were now and then used on the face, chiefly by girls, seldom or never by men. The question naturally arises why, when red was their favourite colour for all purposes of war, the warrior should have the permanent colourings of his face in black or dark blue. The answer is obvious, that the colouring was exotic like the art and was adopted with the art. We know that one at least of the aboriginal races, the Patupaiarehe, abhorred kokowai, or red, and the canoes of the district to which they belonged were painted black instead of the usual red. And this, with the passion of the Maoris for the fiery colour, goes a long way towards confirming the indications that the spiral or scroll tattooing was a pre-Polynesian art.