A half-length photographic portrait of an unnamed Maori Chief looking into the camera. Beneath the short-trimmed beard are tattoo patterns on his cheeks. He is wearing a patterned jacket(?) with white buttons.

The photograph is captioned 'Maori Chief (Cannibal)'. This term may refer to the practice of 'Kai Tangata' when defeated high ranking prisoners were eaten in the belief that it increased a chief's 'mana' [authority].

Frederick North was Assistant Paymaster on board HMS Barrosa (1860), a wooden screw corvette, while it was part of the Royal Navy Flying (Detached) Squadron that sailed from England in June 1869. The squadron visited New Zealand, arriving at Lyttleton on 16 January 1870, although Barrosa arrived at Wellington on 25 January from Melbourne. The Squadron left New Zealand around 10 February 1870.