Figure 21
The kapeu or tautau (Figure 21) was a long eardrop of oval section, straight for the greater part of its length, but having a slight curve at its lower end. The difficulty of cutting this ornament was much increased by its peculiar shape, which is believed to be suggested by that of a face-strigil. An unusually long and very valuable specimen, called by the ancient name of Tikirau, was given to the Hon. Victor Alexander Herbert Huia Onslow, the second son of the fifth Earl of Onslow, on the occasion of his presentation to the Ngatihuia tribe at Otaki, 12th September, 1891, Huia’s father being at that time Governor of New Zealand.
Some years ago a very ancient greenstone ear-drop came into the possession of the Author. This ornament, which is of considerable value on account of its age and beautiful workmanship, was sent to him from New Zealand by an aged chief against whom he had fought in the Maori wars. The touching letter that accompanied the gift, with its pathetic mingling of the musical native language and prosaic matter-of-fact English phrasing, shewed that with the lapse of years the old antagonism had completely passed away, and the gallant and honourable foe of the old days had become a loyal citizen of the Empire. We make no apology for printing this interesting communication in full.
