Smoked Heads | Salmagundi - Fall 2006

Smoked Heads - Christina Thompson

American Variations, indeed.  Christina Thompson, an American married to a Maori man, starts the essay by telling us about a photo of one General Robley.  Seems like a typical 19th century British soldier, except that in the background, hung on the wall behind him are nearly three dozen Maori heads.

This sets off a description of the heads, the process for making them, and a bit of history.  Mrs. Thompson explains what the heads used to mean before Captain Cook navigated his way to New Zealand.  She tells an interesting story of the role of the heads as sacred objects that preserved loved ones and enemies alike.  Only the horrible discovery of the power of the musket and the warlike Maoris desire to possess such power combined with the British desire for anthropological curios did the heads become something baser and more common.

What really interests the author is the reaction of others to her photograph.  Why are some horrified and others, like herself, emotionless?  She and her husband find a cooperative curator who shows them the real deal, but neither of them are emotionally affected by seeing these heads.  'They are smalled than I expected," is about the most emotion they can muster.

The essay works as an excellent peek into Maori culture and the "collision" it had with the British explorers and traders.  I would love to read more about some serious self-examination by Mrs. Thompson.  Why has she grown attached to this photograph?  What is her fascination with the heads?

Even without this, the essay is an interesting enjoyable read (I know, it sounds like faint praise, but I mean it) and I recommend it.