1835. W. Yate, `Some Account of New Zealand,' p. 84:
"This system of consecration—for that is the most frequent meaning of the term `tapu'—has prevailed through all the islands of the South Seas, but nowhere to a greater extent than in New Zealand."
1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 194:
"They wrapped the mutilated corpse in his red blanket, and bore it, lashed to a tree, to the village, where the usual tangi took place after it had been deposited in the wahi tapu, or sacred ground.'"
1859. A. S. Thomson, M.D., `Story of New Zealand,' p. 100:
"The primary meaning of the Maori word <i>tapu</i> is `sacred'; <i>tabut</i> is a Malay word, and is rendered `the Ark of the Covenant of God'; <i>taboot</i> is a Hindoo word signifying `a bier,' `a coffin,' or `the Ark of the Covenant'; <i>ta</i> is the Sanscrit word `to mark,' and <i>pu</i> `to purify.'"
[There is no authority in this polyglot mixture.]
1879. Clement Bunbury, `Fraser's Magazine,' June, `A Visit to the New Zealand Geysers,' p. 767:
"I had not much time to examine them closely, having a proper fear of the unknown penalties incurred by the violation of anything `tapu' or sacred."
1893. `Otago Witness,' Dec. 21, p. 10, col. 1: