New Zealand War Canoe.

Rare colonial engraving of a war canoe.

The first description of the Maori war canoe was by Ltn. James Cook in 1770;

‘The ingenuity of these people appears in nothing more than than in their canoes: they are long and narrow, and in shape much resemble a New England whale boat: the larger sort seem to be built chiefly for war, and will carry from forty to eighty, or an hundred armed men. We measured one which lay at Tolaga: she was sixty-eight feet and an half long, five feet broad, and three half feet deep; the bottom was sharp, with strait sides like a wedge, and consisted of three lengths, hollowed out about two inches, or an inch and half thick, and well fastened together with strong plaiting: each side consisted of one entire plank, sixty-three feet long, ten or twelve inches broad, and about an inch and quarter thick and these were fitted and lashed to the bottom part with great dexterity and strength.’ Hawkesworth I, p.462-464, March 1770.

‘The ingenuity of these people appears in nothing more than than in their canoes: they are long and narrow, and in shape much resemble a New England whale boat: the larger sort seem to be built chiefly for war, and will carry from forty to eighty, or an hundred armed men. We measured one which lay at Tolaga: she was sixty-eight feet and an half long, five feet broad, and three half feet deep; the bottom was sharp, with strait sides like a wedge, and consisted of three lengths, hollowed out about two inches, or an inch and half thick, and well fastened together with strong plaiting: each side consisted of one entire plank, sixty-three feet long, ten or twelve inches broad, and about an inch and quarter thick and these were fitted and lashed to the bottom part with great dexterity and strength.’ Hawkesworth I, p.462-464, March 1770.

From the original edition of The Illustrated Sydney News.

References:
Gibbs & Shallard. Illustrated Sydney News. ISSN 2203-5397.

Collections:
State Library New South Wales: F8/39-40
State Library Victoria: PCINF SLVIC=1853-1872
National Library Australia: Bib ID 440095