Story: Cultural go-betweens
The fully tattooed Barnet Burns wears a very unlikely version of a Māori chief's costume. Burns gave lectures and performances in Europe for more than 20 years on his experiences as a Pākehā–Māori. He was an English sailor who became a flax trader on the East Coast in the 1830s, married a chief's daughter and fought alongside her tribe. His negotiations between his Māori hosts and his British compatriots made him a significant cultural go-between in the early days of European settlement.
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National Library of Australia
Reference: pic-an-10345322-v
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