Earle, Augustus, 1793-1838 :War speech. London, R. Martin & Co.[1838].

A Maori chief standing in a beached canoe, addressing a crowd of warriors, mostly seated, with a few standing. Two other long canoes are on the beach, one with a sail is in the water, and others are pulled up close to a pa or kainga in the left background. A dog sniffs the ground in the foreground. Most men are armed with guns, although one on the far right holds a taiaha. A gourd and flax kit are centrally placed amongst one group of men. Earle's text reads: "A party of warriors had collected at the Bay of Islands for the purpose of making a hostile visit to a tribe on the banks of the Thames. They were detained by contrary winds; and for several days were constantly engaged in listening to speeches from their chiefs, who addressed them from a canoe hauled on shore ... one [canoe], which I measured, was 70 feet long, and carried one hundred fighting men."

Originally from Earle's "Sketches illustrative of the native inhabitants and islands of New Zealand" London, Robert Martin & Co, under the auspices of the New Zealand Association. 1838. Plate 9.

Contents page gives the title: "War speech, previous to a naval expedition".

Other Titles - War speech, previous to a naval expedition

Quantity: 1 colour art print(s).

Physical Description: Lithograph, hand-coloured, 242 x 377 mm

Provenance: Purchased at Dunbar Sloane auction 1-2 December 1999. Lot 218.