AN OLD BOOK ON NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 40

AN OLD BOOK ON NEW ZEALAND.

By Apabata Rbnata.

The book before me is entitled "Some Account of New Zealand, Particularly the Bay of Islands and Surrounding Country, with a Description of the Religion and Government. Language, Arts, Manufactures, Manners, and Customs of the Natives, &c. &c," written by John Savage, Esq., surgecn, and corresponding member of the Royal Jennerian Society. The book was printed by W. Wilson, of the Union Printing Office, St. John's square, London, for J. Murray, Fleet street, and A. Constable and Co., Edinburgh, in 1807, just abont 30 years after Captain Cook had been in New Zealand. The frontispiece is an engraving copied from Mr Savage's drawing of Tiarrah, a chief of the Bay of Islands. The tatooing of the face has been very carefully drawn or copied, and is quite a piece of arc. The dedication is to Earl FitzWilliam, who took a great interest in the native Mr Savage took to Europe, and who was the first New Zealand native who vißited England. He was called by Mr Savage " Moyhanger." In the preface it is mentioned that since Cook's day no one had described New Zealand, "an island as to extent and population far superior to most in the Pacific Ocean." From chapter I we learn that on September 18, 1805, the vessel in which Mr Savage sailed made the North Cape. A sketch is given of the entrance to the Bay of Islands and some headlands and rocks, to guide future navigation. "In a country that has been described as being peopled by a race of cannibals," says the writer, " you are agreeably surprised by the appearance of the natives, who betray no symptoms of savage ferocity, and by the patches of cul- | tivated gronnd in the neighbourhood of the bay, on each of which is seen a well- thatched hut, and a shed at a little distance." The second chapter commences with observations as to how to treat the natives, and follows with a description of the adjacent country. Mention is made of flax and timber as likely to be highly valuable in the future. The flax is mentioned as being of superior quality in its native state, its texture being beautifully silky. The fern is described as abundant, the natives holding the root in great estimation. Flowering shrubs were in great abundance, and also wild indigo. Mr Savage says : " There is every appearance of a great scope for mineralogical investigation."

The natives had no larger animal than the dog, which he gives the credit of being a native, and describes as usually blaok and white, with sharp, pricked-up ears, the hair rather loDg, and ia figure, re

Bembling a fox dog. Tbe native name for it was " coraddee."

The bay had plenty of good fisb, cockles, mussels, small shellfish, and beautiful shells for cabinets.

In Chapter 11 1 mention is made of the town of Tippoonah, described as the capital of the country in the vicinity. It had about 100 dwellings, part on the mainland and part on an island, where the chief d ivelt. This island was inaccessible, and all hands resorted to it in times of war. On it all the valuables of the tribe appear to have been kept. There was an edifice like a dovecot, in which Tippeehee imprisoned at one time a refractory daughter for some years because she loved one of inferior rank. Alas ! the course of true love even with savages never runs smooth. Tippeebee was the chief of the tribe.

The houses, or huts, are described, and also their cooking places, which were simply four stakes with sticks on top, and these crossed again in such a manner that a fiat thatch could be put on, allowing all the sides to remain open.

In Chapter IV the natives are described as very superior in personal appearance and intellectual endowments, the men exhibiting marks of great strength. Their colour was like a European gipsy, some of them being light complexioned and like an English brunette. Longevity was strongly marked among the old men.

The features of the women were regular and pleasing, and many of them were fairer than brunettes, with long black hair and dark penetrating eyes. They had wellformed figures, an interesting cast of countenance, and sweet-toned voices. Chapter V treats of the classes among the natives, their religion, and their superstition!?. There is a coloured engraving of a hei tiki, which MrSavagecallsaNewZealanddeity. He says little is known of the religion of this people. The chief objects of their adoration are the sun and moon, and with the stars they are well acquainted, and have names for a great many of them. One paragraph reads : — " When paying their adoration to the ri&iog sun, the arms are spread and the head bowed, with the appearance of much joy in their countenances, accompanied with a degree of elegance and reverential solemnity. The song used upon this occasion is cheerful, and not destitute of harmony ; while that made use of upon the going down of the sun is mournf al and accompanied by such actions as evidently denote sorrow for his departure."

When anyone was about to die he was isolated and attended to by slaves.

Chapter VI deals with their government, which Mr Savage says was aristocratical and hereditary. Their wars and mode of warfare and their criminal and civil codes are also dealt with, and remarks and conjectures are made in reference to them.

Chapter VII treat 3of their character, which was subordinate and affectionate among their own tribes. After a war they did not devour all their prisoners, but only some principal ones, to show their power to do likewise to all of them. Their manners are described as particularly kind and affectionate upon all occasions. When a canoe capsised, all hands on shore and on board the vessel Bhowed great concern, and the women in the overturned canoe seemed only to think of the danger of their children and babies, and looked on their own safety as of secondary consideration. All hands being saved, great joy was expressed. Moybanger, a native, of who mention is made above, formed a great attachment to Mr Savage, and proved tractable and of good and refined manners. When this native parted with his father, mother, and sisters, all his relatives took a most painful farewell. His father had him embraced for fully 20 minutes, during which time they remained face to face and mingled their parting tears. His mother and he acted in* the same way, and then a more hasty farewell was accorded to his sisters. The parting scene was so painful that durirjg it Mr Savage gave up the idea of taking the young man away ; but he was told he would offend all parties once the arrangement and ceremonies had been performed if he left him. In Chapter Till it is mentioned that polygamy is permitted. The children were always treated with, great affection and were healthy, with pleasing countenances, while their actions were totally unrestrained by clothing or bandage. Tatooing was done with a piece oE burnt Btick to mark the device, the skin being punctured with a piece of sharp bone. Their dres3 is described as being in both sexes alike, and made in variou3 ways, of flax dressed or dried. In full dress a hei tiki is always worn, and small ones were made for children. The military dress was a close woven mat, and their war implements were stone and wooden club 3.

Chapter IX deals with the arts and manufactures. Their plantations of potatoes seemed to have been tended with great care. Potatoes are the only vegetables mentioned by Mr Savage, which Eeems rather strange, seeing that Captain Cook and others mentioned kumaras, &c. Fishing and fishing nets are mentioned, the nets beirg made of flax and being larger than the usual seine nets of modern times used by the whites. Roasting and boiling food was the mode of cooking in vogue. Salt was never used to season food. Dogs were usually roasted and eaten, but it is mentioned that these animals were clean eaters in N6w Zealand, and on that account good for food. The manufacture of their canoes is described, and mention is made of how the double ones so often mentioned by Captain Cook are made — by lashicg two single ones together. Chapter X deals with their wars. Peace was seldom or never enjoyed. Their war implements were the club, or what, is now known as a mere-mere, and a wooden battle axe used both as an axe and pike. No shields were used, the war mat answering instead. The youths seem to have been regularly drilled and exercised in warlike pursuits. The war mat was made of flax fibre twisted into strong thread, and was stouter than any canvas. The weaving was done principally by the women, who suspended the warp and held the weft in the hand and passed it alternately between the warp, pressing it more or less, according to the purpose for which the mat was intended. Their dress mats were made of untwisted fibre. Their tools were green talo adzes, chisels, carving tools, and needles for working ornamental parts of their mat ß,

Chapter XI deals with language, vocabulary, and numerals. Their language is spoken of as being copious and not wanting in harmony. Mr Savage did not get at the right sounds employed by the Maoris, and I fancy he must have had a very defective ear. or Moyhanger must have spoken badly or had some impediment in his speech. He calls the sun " dar," whereas " ra " is correct, and " dinga dinga " the arm, whereas " ringa ringa " is correct. Many of the words in his vocabulary of the native language are correct in sound, although not correct according to modern spelling.

Chapter XII treats of music, vocal and instrumental, musical instruments, and dancing. The music was thought by Mr Savage superior to what might be expected. The Maoris' voices were naturally melodious. Every man was his own musioian, and if he was musically inclined he carried a small bone or wooden flute, on which he played pathetic, amatorial, or humorous music, as the case might be. The amorous songs depended a good deal on gesture for their force, and, to say the least of it, they were extravagant. Their humorous songs they enjoyed to such an extent that the performers had to desist often to allow the laughter of their audience to subside. Their songs to the moon were grave and melancholy, apparently expressive of awe and adoration. Their ~ flutes had four holes— three on one side and one on the other — and the music produced on these was simple and pleasing. These flutes were often tastefully carved and inlaid with shell. Another instrument was made of two pieces of wood tied together, and hollowed in such a manner as to make a cavity, largest in the middle. On this a monotonous sound was produced to accompany the flute. Their dancing was principally gestures, to assist in giving force to their music and songs.

In a chapter on general observations, the climate is spoken of as salubrious. A halfbred child is mentioned as being remarkable for its shyness — a quality not possessed by native children of full blood. In a " Conclusion " New Zealand is spoken of as highly interesting, having beautiful soil, good harbours, intelligent natives, and being a good place for colonisation.

The book concludes with an account of Moyhanger, who was a young man of good family and the son of a chief. When the land of his birth was out of view he allowed the big tears to roll down his manly face, then sang his eveniDg song, and retired to rest. For several days he looked towards the west, then became cheerful and merry, and made others merry with his ways. His evening songs were never missed, and he often amused himself and others by mimicing the sailors. At first sight of Cape Horn he showed signs of pleasure, but when he saw the snow-clad hills he expressed disappointment. St. Helena and its fertility pleased him greatly. When be got ashore nothing escaped bis notice. A team of oxen greatly excited him when he first saw them, and a man on horseback made him laugh heartily. The band pleased him, as he appears to have had a strong passion for music. The shipping on the Thames delighted him. He felt amazed at all he saw in London. Many people stared at him, and to these he offered his band and said, " How do you do, my boy 1 " — an expression which was taught to him by the sailors. He called a coach " a very good house; it walks very fast." He was introduced to Earl Bitz William and some noble lords. The earl pleased him greatly. Moyhanger appears to have enjoyed himself, and behaved well while in London. Noise or scolding he much disliked. The markets pleased him on account of the display of food. Mr Savage found a good opportunity to send him back to his own country after a short stay, and he left in a Sonth Sea whaler well supplied with tools and no end of valuable presents from Earl FitzWilliam, who seems to have been much interested in him.

The book from which I have given a few extracts is very intdresting from a historical point of view, and depicts the Maoris fairly well at a time when intercourse with whites had not destroyed their native habits, and when drink had not demoralised them. Indeed, in their native state they would not take to drink. Generally speaking, they never have been addicted to drink, but are excessive smokers to this day. I do not think copies of this little book are plentiful or easily got, and a reprint would certainly pay some enterprising printer and publisher. Anyhow, I hope the extracts will be interesting to readers of the Witness, In the case of some few, I know they will be read with as much pleasure as I have experienced in reading the book, which is saying all that can be said.