CCI2014050719

- ju-

the same time most of the moisture in the skin evaporates, hence the shrinkage. The face is then polished with a hot stone and the whole head is smoked which results in a hard and dark brcwn skin.

The approach of the Maoris in New Zealand to the mummified heads of the death is entirely different. Important here is the kind of tattoo (the Maoris cali it Moko) on the head. Tattooing is by no means confined to the face only, and, in generał, with the Maoris it is a medium which indicates the rank of the one wearing it; from the chieftain dcwnwards to the slave.

Before tattooing, the hair is either shaved or depilated. The actual tattooing requires repetitious piercing of the skin with needles madę of stone, hard wood, bird's bones or shark's teeth. In this way pigments of charcoal or charred resin (Kauripinie or Karonico veronica) are inserted under the skin. The tattoo resulting thus is invariably bluish black. The process of tattooing takes a long time and is very painful. Nevertheless the tattoomaster is held in high esteem. The mummification of heads is thought to be of great importance as it guarantees that the death remain in the tribe.

In order to becane mummified the heads of the death undergo the following treatment. The soft parts (tongue, eyes, brain) are meticulously removed from a head and the remainder is repeately exposed to steam. After each steam treatment the head is wiped off with cacao blossoms. The form of the nose is preserved by inserting a stick between the skin and the nose bonę and the head and eye holes are stuffed with flax. The head is then wrapped in green leaves and put into a hot earthen oven. Accordingly it is tanned. After that the eyelids are stitched, closed, as is the skin rim at the neck, after drawing it over a wooden ring.

BI8LI0GRAPHY

1.    Kersten, Paul:Die Heftlade, Zeitschrift fuer die Foerderung des Jakob Krausse-Bundes, 1. Jahrg. 1922, 4 Heft Euphovian Verlag, Berlin, Seite 53: Bucheinbaende in Menschenleder.

2.    Korzella, Leo, Dr.: Artikel ueber die Austellung der Intemationalen Lederschau, Berlin.

3.    Meyers Konversationslexikon: 12. Bnd., S. 136, 5 Aufl., Leipzig und Wien, Bibliographisches Institut 1896.

4.    Putzer-Michelberger, Carola: Herkunft und Untersuchungs-moeglichkeiten von Ibavo-Schrumpfkoepfen. Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat, Bonn 1984.

5.    Museum fiir Volkerkunde, Frankfurt: Katalog, Roter Faden zur Ausstellung 1977 "Schrumpfkopf-Macher".

6.    Major-General Robley: Moko or Maori Tattooing, Chapman and Hall, London 1896.

7.    Del Mar, Frances: A Year Among the Maoris, Ernest Benn, London 1924.