That the New Zealanders are cannibals, can now no longer be doubted.  The account given of this in my former voyage, being partly founded on circumstances, was, as I afterwards understood, discredited by many persons.  Few consider what a savage man is in his natural state, and even after he is, in some degree, civilized.  The New Zealanders are certainly in some state of civilization; their behaviour to us was manly and mild, shewing, on all occasions, a readiness to oblige.  They have some arts among them which they execute with great judgment and unwearied patience; they are far less addicted to thieving than the other islanders of the South Sea; and I believe those in the same tribe, or such as are at peace one with another, are strictly honest among themselves.  This custom of eating their enemies slain in battle (for I firmly believe they eat the flesh of no others) has undoubtedly been handed down to them from the earliest times; and we know it is not an easy matter to wean a nation from their ancient customs, let them be ever so inhuman and savage; especially if that nation has no manner of connexion or commerce with strangers.  For it is by this that the greatest part of the human race has been civilized; an advantage which the New Zealanders, from their situation, never had.  An intercourse with foreigners would reform their manners, and polish their savage minds.  Or, were they more united under a settled form of government, they would have fewer enemies, consequently this custom would be less in use, and might in time be in a manner forgotten.  At present, they have but little idea of treating others as themselves would wish to be treated, but treat them as they expect to be treated.  If I remember right, one of the arguments they made use of to Tupia, who frequently expostulated with them against this custom, was, that there could be no harm in killing and eating the man who would do the same by them if it was in his power.  “For,” said they, “can there be any harm in eating our enemies, whom we have killed in battle?  Would not those very enemies have done the same to us?” I have often seen them listen to Tupia with great attention; but I never found his arguments have any weight with them, or that with all his rhetoric, he could persuade any one of them that this custom was wrong.  And when Oedidee, and several of our people, shewed their abhorrence of it, they only laughed at them.

Among many reasons which I have heard assigned for the prevalence of this horrid custom, the want of animal food has been one; but how far this is deducible either from facts or circumstances, I shall leave those to find out who advanced it.  In every part of New Zealand where I have been, fish was in such plenty, that the natives generally caught as much as served both themselves and us.  They have also plenty of dogs; nor is there any want of wild fowl, which they know very well how to kill.  So that neither this, nor the want of food of any kind, can, in my opinion, be the reason.  But, whatever it may be, I think it was but too evident, that they have a great liking for this kind of food.[9]