This 1864 image by Horatio Robley shows Ngāi Te Rangi women mourning over the spear – possibly a poorly drawn taiaha – of a warrior killed in battle. The spear had been returned by one of his comrades, probably because they could not carry his body back. The women have cut (haehae) their arms and their blood falls on the spear.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference:
A-080-015
Ink and watercolour by Horatio Gordon Robley
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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