Part 3 New Zealand Chapter 11 The Chief's Funeral

KAI-KOUMOU, as frequently happens among the Maories, joined the title of ariki to that of tribal chief. He was invested with the dignity of priest, and, as such, he had the power to throw over persons or things the superstitious protection of the “taboo.”The “taboo,” which is common to all the Polynesian races, has the pri