MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1941, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

MAORI FEATURES. (Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North, for the "Times-Age.”) The average height of the free born Maori male was sft. 6]in., slightly taller than people in temperate countries of Europe. The tallest Maori seen in 1850 was 6ft. 5Mn. In weight and girth of chest they were equal io Britishers. Ten stone was the average weight. They had longer arms and longer bodies. but shorter legs, than Englishmen. The lengthening was in the forearm and the shortening below the kne. Their leg bones averaged 11 inches shorter than ours. Their longer bodies were due io larger spinal bones and cartilage.

Seen in their half naked condition they were strikingly peculiar. The cal-1 ves were close tip behind the knee, and) the arch of the foot was flattened by | walking barefoot. The hands were. small and tapered. The hair was thick. I glossy, black and wavy. One tribe —I Nga uru kehu (the hawk plumes) —had reddish hair and aquiline nose. Many ■ heads became grey, but baldness was; unknown. The average Britisher would; like to know why. Like all people living naturally and < simply, their teeth were invariably; sound and white, another feature we < look upon with envy. Some have skins so fair that a blush I is easily seen; others so dark that the , tattoo marks are scarcely perceptible. The whites of the eyes are tinged with colour; the pupil large and dark, and the iris brown, never blue. The size and darkness of the eyes gives i them a serious appearance. Females are less handsome than men. > though young women are very charm-! ing. Voice and manner are soft andpleasing. i '