THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE MAORI.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3328, 10 January 1898, Page 2

THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE MAORI.

ME PERCY SMITH'S TRIP TO THE ISLANDS. Fy Telegraph. — Press Association. Auckland, January S. | Mr S. Percy Smith, Surveyor-General o£ y New Zealand, one of the best authorities a in the colony on Maori and Polynesian s subjects, returned this morning by the h steamer Ovalau from a holiday trip to the 8 South Sea Islands, in the course of which r he amassed a large amount of interesting £ information relative to the early history 3 and migrations of the Maori-race. 0 Mr Smith has just completed a six 1 months’ leave of absence, which was spent in - visiting the various groups of the Eastern a Pacific. He visited Tahiti, Karotonga, Samoa, J Honolulu and Tonga, and in each place he 1 was very much interested in observing the * manners and customs of the native people, s and, in Earotonga and the Society Islands t especially, in gleaning valuable contribut tions to the ancient history of the Maoris, r Mr Smith is convinced that the Maoris’ 3 former home is identical with Eaiatea, one ■ of the Society Islands, and that the > Maoris left there for New Zealand in I their historical canoe migration. At the Hawaiian Islands Mr Smith was * very well entertained, his name being well 3 known to many prominent Hawaiians, i some of whom are members of the Polyb nesian Society of New Zealand. In com- * pany with Professor Alexander Mr Smith j visited the various islands of the group J —Hawaii. Maui and Kauai—and saw the great volcanoes of Kilauea, Mauna Loa | and the Haleakala crater. He spent a s most pleasant six weeks in the Hawaiian Islands, and while at Honolulu 1.-cnued I on the Maori. Mr Smith spent five weeks i in Samoa, during which time he had an excellent opportunity of observing the primitive and interesting customs cf thebamoans away from European surroundings. While at Karotonga and Tahiti, be took an opportunity oi learning the language of the natives, which is pretty w<-U identical with that of the Maori. Mr Smith intends publishing the results of his researches in the Polynesian Journal, of which he and Mr E. Tregear are co-editors, and some interesting articles may be looked for. In addition to bis dota from these islands be lias al-o brought from Honolulu some very old in 1 interesting document relating to the history and traditions of the Marquesas natives, and these will be embodied in his writings. | Mr Smith leaves for Wellington oq Monday next by the Takapuna,