What This Tribe In New Zealand Used To Trade With Europeans Is
Pretty Disturbing.
The Maori people of New Zealand are some of the most interesting
indigenous people on the planet.ne of their more !reepy traditions
is !alled Mo"omo"ai.
In Maori !ulture# Mo"o are traditional fa!ial tattoos that
signify ran" within the tribe. These tattoosare also used to
!ommemorate ma$or e%ents in the life of a tribe member. &ere's
where it gets weird...
When a person with Mo"o died# their head would often be
preser%ed and be!ome "nown asMo"omo"ai.
Pinterest
The brain and eyes were remo%ed from the s"ull. (ll orifi!es
were then sealed with fla) fibre and gum.
8/10/2019 Mokomokai
2/6
Flickr
To pre%ent de!omposition of the head# it was then boiled or
steamed# before being smo"ed o%er anopen fire and dried in the
sun.
Pinterest
The heads would then be "ept by family members and brought out
only for sa!red religious!eremonies.
8/10/2019 Mokomokai
3/6
Pinterest
Mo"omo"ai also played a role in tribal warfare. The heads of
defeated !hiefs were preser%ed in thisway# and !onsidered important
trophies of war. They were also used to bro"er pea!e deals
betweendifferent tribes# who would return or e)!hange
Mo"omo"ai.
Flickr
With the arri%al of Europeans in New Zealand during the early
*+,,s# the tradition of Mo"omo"ai!hanged fore%er.
8/10/2019 Mokomokai
4/6
Pinterest
-rom *+, until *+/*# different Maori tribes were trading with
Europeans. ne of the most hea%ilytraded items were mus"ets. This
led to an arms ra!e among the Maori0 whoe%er had guns had
anad%antage o%er their neighbors. This period of time is "nown as
the Mus"et Wars.
8/10/2019 Mokomokai
5/6
Pinterest
During the Mus"et Wars# Mo"omo"ai heads be!ame %ery %aluable
!ommer!ial trade items. Many tribestraded their entire !olle!tion
of Mo"omo"ai for rifles. 1ome tribes raided their neighbors for
moreMo"omo"ai to trade# and others started tattooing the fa!es of
sla%es and prisoners to produ!e moreMo"omo"ai.
Pinterest
2y *+/*# the Mus"et Wars ended mostly be!ause of mar"et
saturation of rifles. (t the same time# the2ritish go%ernment
offi!ially banned the trade in Mo"omo"ai# and New Zealand be!ame a
2ritish!olony.
8/10/2019 Mokomokai
6/6
Wikipedia
Despite the ban on trade# some Europeans li"e 2ritish
Ma$or34eneral &oratio 4ordon 5obley 6pi!turedbelow7 were able
to a!8uire an impressi%e !olle!tion of Mo"omo"ai heads. These days#
Mo"omo"ai isno longer pra!ti!ed among the Maori. &owe%er# there
has been a marginally su!!essful effort to returnthe remaining the
heads to New Zealand.
Earthly Mission
Though it seems li"e a morbid pra!ti!e to us in ,*9# there is a
!ertain beauty and de%otion to one'san!estors that is admirable in
the pra!ti!e of Mo"omo"ai. If you're interested in seeing
theremaining Mo"omo"ai# you !an %iew them at the (meri!an Museum f
Natural &istory in New :or".
