The Appearance of Women in the Dance marks the
Decay of its Religious Significance

(8) But as a rule in all these islands the women mingle with the men in the dance, or have monopolised it. The religious element has, therefore, completely disappeared. And a lascivious pantomime has taken the place of the bellicose gestures. The same degeneration had begun in New Zealand before the arrival of Europeans; but it had not gone far. The energy that the cross-breeding with the vigorous aboriginals and fighting with them too imparted, along with the keener and more bracing climate, checked the tendency to demoralisation that the Polynesians doubtless brought with page 206them from the islands. It is the presence of the pakeha, with his luxuries and muskets, and the removal of the invigoration of war that have let the lascivious dances overshadow the war-dances. The women have taken more and more part in them; and dancing has become a spectacular amusement rather than an exhibition of religious and warlike fervour. Some of the women's dances and gestures must go far back. The power of moving up and down the whole front of the body from bosom to waist, like the twinkling quiver of the hands and fingers, was not acquired in a few generations.