This horrid practice : the myth and reality of traditional Māori cannibalism

'Though stronger evidence of this horrid practice prevailing among the inhabitants of this coast will scarcely be required, we have still stronger to give.' - Captain James Cook This Horrid Practice uncovers an unexplored taboo of New Zealand history - the widespread practice of cannibalism in pre-European Maori society. Until now, many historians have tried to avoid it and many Maori have considered it a subject best kept quiet about in public. Paul Moon brings together an impressive array of sources from a variety of disciplines to produce this frequently contentious but always stimulating exploration of how and why Maori ate other human beings, and why the practice shuddered to a halt just a few decades after the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand. The book includes a comprehensive survey of cannibalism practices among traditional Maori, carefully assessing the evidence and concluding it was widespread. Other chapters look at how explorers and missionaries saw the practice; the role of missionaries and Christianity in its end; and, in the final chapter, why there has been so much denial on the subject and why some academics still deny that it ever happened. This Horrid Practice promises to be one of the leading works of New Zealand history published in 2008. It is a highly original work that every New Zealand history enthusiast will want to own and read. This Horrid Practice Uncovers An Unexplored Taboo Of New Zealand History - The Widespread Practice Of Cannibalism In Pre-european Maori Society. Until Now, Many Historians Have Tried To Avoid It And Many Maori Have Considered It A Subject Best Kept Quiet About In Public. Paul Moon Brings Together An Impressive Array Of Sources From A Variety Of Disciplines To Produce This Frequently Contentious But Always Stimulating Exploration Of How And Why Maori Ate Other Human Beings, And Why The Practice Shuddered To A Halt Just A Few Decades After The Arrival Of Europeans In New Zealand. The Book Includes A Comprehensive Survey Of Cannibalism Practices Among Traditional Maori, Carefully Assessing The Evidence And Concluding It Was Widespread. Other Chapters Look At How Explorers And Missionaries Saw The Practice; The Role Of Missionaries And Christianity In Its End; And, In The Final Chapter, Why There Has Been So Much Denial On The Subject And Why Some Academics Still Deny That It Ever Happened. Introduction -- Cannibalism As History -- Dividing Lines -- Section One. Popular Cannibalism -- Ch. 1. Footprints -- Ch. 2. 'a Modest Proposal' -- Ch. 3. 'i Restrained My Resentment' -- Ch. 4. 'frightful Tales' -- Ch. 5. 'fe Fi Fo Fum' -- Section Two. Portraits Of Maori Cannibalism -- Ch. 6. Standards Of Evidence -- Ch. 7. The Oral Legacy -- Ch. 8. The Stuff Of Legends -- Ch. 9. Cook's First Visit -- Ch. 10. A French Connection -- Ch. 11. 'a People Who Show So Much Friendship For Me' -- Ch. 12. Thoughtful Encounters -- Ch. 13. The Experiment -- Ch. 14. Cannibal Cove -- Ch. 15. The Boyd -- Ch. 16. Hidden Rites -- Ch. 17. The Curtain Closes -- Ch. 18. 'in The Hands Of Cannibals' -- Ch. 19. Revival -- Ch. 20. The Archaeological Imprint -- Ch. 21. Case Closed -- Section Three. An Anatomy Of Maori Cannibalism -- Ch. 22. The Cannibal And The Kumara -- Ch. 23. Death's 'permanent Aggression' -- Ch. 24. Ordering Cannibalism -- Ch. 25. Just An Appetite? -- Ch. 26. Rage Against The Body -- Ch. 27. In The Blood -- Ch. 28. Emotional Insensitivity Or Moral Transgression? -- Ch. 29. Ideological Cannibalism -- Ch. 30. The Autopsy -- Section Four. Abolition -- Ch. 31. Abolition Immediately -- Ch. 32. Unfinished Sublimation? -- Ch. 33. The Evolution Of Symbolic Cannibalism In Maori Society -- Ch. 34. Shame -- Ch. 35. The Hope Of Abolition -- Ch. 36. Official Participation -- Ch. 37. No New Performance -- Ch. 38. Success? -- Section Five. The Revisionist Apostasy -- Ch. 39. Who Are The Cannibals? -- Ch. 40. A Method In The Madness -- Ch. 41. Propaganda Cannibalism -- Ch. 42. The Cannibal Conspiracy -- Ch. 43. The Willingness To Disclose Cultural Traits -- Ch. 44. A South Pacific Allegory -- Ch. 45. Dual Standards Of Evidence -- Ch. 46. Personal, All Too Personal -- Conclusion. Paul Moon. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 273-295) And Index.