“An Amazing Letter.

“I send you a copy of a letter I have found among some old papers belonging to my grandfather, who was a friend of the Mr. Aglionby to whom the letter was addressed less than a hundred years ago. Mr. Aglionby was M.P. for Cockermouth, and was a zealous advocate of the reform of the Corn Laws. As far as family tradition goes, he was a humane and kindly person; but it would seem that the unfortunate aborigines of New Zealand in the early days of the Chartered Company were looked upon as an interesting kind of game.

“H. Saxe Wyndham.”

“Sydney, New South Wales,

“20th May, 1839.

“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, and as soon at it is “well cured and properly dried I shall send it to you by the first ship that leaves this colony, and 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 tatoos 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 tatoos 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 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 have great pleasure in supplying you.

“Believe me, My dear Aglionby,

“Ever your sincerely,

“I. W. Willis.”

This trade in Maori heads became such a source of trouble and bloodshed that the Governor of New South Wales (Sir George Gipps) prohibited the importation of Maori heads into the colony.