A Maori woman with moko and greenstone pendant. Watercolour by H.G. Robley.

1 painting : watercolour ; sheet 25.4 x 18.0 cm

The song when a young woman is being tattooed Lettering on verso continues: "Takoto ra, e hine / Pirori e / Kia kaia o ngutu / Pirori e / Mo to haerenga atu / Ki nga whare tapere / Ko hea tenei wahine kino / E haere mai nei" etc. - gives the motive for the operation. Translation: "Who is walking this way / Still it is revolving / Give thyself willingly to be tattooed / Briefly it is over / For thy going to the house of amusement / Also thou wilt be spoken of / Whither goes this woman with red chin / Hastening hither indeed in that state / Round it revolves / It is done - it is tattooed / Soon it is indeed / Give hither quietly thy chin to be imprinted / Nimbly the hand moves / For thy going to the houses / Of the single men / And these ill words be said / Whither goes this woman with her red chin / Who is coming this way" etc. Bears number: 2 on verso

Wellcome Collection 533499i