THE PREDECESSOR OF THE MAORI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 4, 25 July 1861, Page 3

THE PREDECESSOR OF THE MAORI.

The real aborigine of these islands is not the Maori; but a Nigretlo, more nearly allied to the African than the Asiatic in color, feature, and hair ; much inferior to the Maori in stature and intellect, and occupying a far lower station in the scale of civilization, and most probably identical with the native of Australia or Tasmania.

Irotn Maori traditions it appears highly probable that, when their canoes arrived from Hawaiki, this ancient race was thinly scattered over the entire group of the Kew Zealand isles ; that being inferior to the now comers, they were subdued and either reduced to slavery or destroyed ; and from the evident admixture of race seen in the Maori, they may still he traced in the woolly hair, short stature, and chocolate color, which is not uufrequently met with, especially amongst the ISTgatikalma, and to which the derisive name of Folcorekahi'., “ black kumnra,” is applied. Some portion of this aboriginal race may have long survived in the northern island, and maintained its independence amongst the mountain ranges, where they are still remembered as the ■macro, or wild man of the mountain; they are supposed even yd. to survive on the Tararua range, but their existance is imaginary. It is in the middle island that the remnants of this race are to be looked for, amidst (ho natural fastnesses of the Maori Alps, where they were known as the Jfgatimamoe. In former years, such was the dread which this degraded race had of the fierce Maori, that immediately they beheld them np-

proaeh they fled ; they were, however; occasionally captured and made slavey for which purpose they were much prized. The •N'gnthnamoe do not appear to'have cultivated the ground, or to hare had any means of support beyond (lint of hunting and fishing, and (he indigenous fruits and roots of the forest. Since the introduction of Christianity it is not improbable that much of their dread of the Maori has disappeared, and that the two races mar now be found more or less intermingled. Iho AA are Ivaun, or Chatham Island aborigines, still survive, and live among the Maories who conquered them ; they are, however, few in mini- ’ her, and perhaps scarcely exceed a lumdred. they are called Mari art, but are more generally known as the KirlwaTcupupu, bare sides ; ov ParaIciwara, black iellows. Fonnerly they went naked and their houses, if they might be called such’ were only made by a few poles set up together over a circular pit two or three feet deep” with toe-toe or sods on the outside, thus forming a cone-sliaped hut; in these miserable places they sat huddled together, with their children set Hatting between their legs for warmth ; still it is remarkable that tliis miserable people could make canoes in a most ingenious way of rim it, a larm kind ol broad-leaved sea-weed, which they converted into air-tubes by linking a small orifice through the outer skin, and then inflating it, when one skin separated from the other, this being done, the hole soon closed, and they were placed in the sun to dry, and ever afterwards they retained their form; a light framework of flax "stalks was then made with a double keel, and these air-tubes were lashed on parallel rows, and the interstices filled with moss, so the whole was watertight, and so buoyant as to be unable to sink, thus “forminga regular lifeboat, (these air-tubes, thus dried, were likewise used as jars to contain water or oil’ and also their reserves of potted birds for winter use. Tiie young albatross and mutton bird, which which are taken in great numbers, mainly contributed to their support. It appears evident, therefore, that these islands have received their inhabitants from three "different sources, and that they arrived at three different times. 1. The black a degraded race, incapable of improving itself without foreign aid, ignorant of arts, and unable to cultivate the soil. 2. Ihe brown, a much superior race, considerably advanced in many useful arts, bringing with it the remains of a higher state of civilization, and several kinds of food,-—the dog, the kumara, taro, hue, and karaka, by the cultivation of which they derived a portion of their support. 3. The iclute, which last of all arrives, and with it all the civilization known to man, coining not as enemies but friends, importing various kinds of animals, fruits, and grain, also the knowledge of all useful arts, pud above all that of the true Hod, and of his fear and worship. ’ 'The first comers probably arrived in a rude, half-hollowed trunk of a tree", in which they drifted from .Australia. The next came in a‘double canoe from Hawaii, seeking a fresh home. The last iu ships filled with all the comforts necessary for such a voyage. Thus marking their several stales of advancement. May wc not trace in these three diverse races and deseendents of the three sons of Noah, and the fulfilment of his prophecy P Has not Ham been the servant of Shorn, and" is not Japliet living ft, the tents of Slum? And ought it not to be our prayer, that as once the three great forefathers of these races (loafed together iu the same ark, (hat now their descendants, living in (he same isles iu the southern ocean, mav dwell together in peace and harmony, ami thus form the commencement- of a race destined at a future day to play a conspicuous part in this hemisphere. It is agreeable to learn that the Kev. Mr Stack lias directed the public attention to the amelioration of these first settlers in I\"ew Zealand, who certainly have an equal claim on our sympathy with the Maori who followed them.