Story: Māori clothing and adornment – kākahu Māori

This 1837 lithograph is based on drawings made by artist Augustus Earle during his 1827–28 journey around the northern North Island. It shows two women aged about 25 and a young girl of about 13, one of the slaves of Amoko, the woman on the left. The hair of both women shows the influence of European styles such as the use of red ribbon. The young slave, whose name is shown as Hepee, has no hair adornments, indicating her lower status. The women are wearing necklaces and ribbons at their ears, probably signs of increasing trade with incoming American and European ships.