CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12936, 29 November 1909, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

♦ Maori Tohungas. TO THI EDITOR. Sii", — The tohunga is a man who is too lazy to work, and practices on the ignorance of the people. In nine cases out of ten they are ignorant in regard to medicine, but get a hold ol the Maoris by pretending to be inspired. Rua and a few others have adopted sanitary measures, which have improved their people in some measure, but the followers of the so-call-ed wise men are steeped in ignorance, and obey the command of these men without question, and "fall in." The present Gov. ernment state that they are anxious to preserve the native race, but they appointed a man to the Legislative Council who was a patron of the tohungas. The f average European has no idea of the ! amount of mischief done to the Maoris by ' these unprincipled imposters. By takin«their advice the people are led away from commonsense, and lose their substance. If i one or two of their patients survive, it is heralded forth, but the great number that ■ succumb are not mentioned. It is full time i that steps were taken to put a stop to this degrading superstition. — I am, etc., I OBSERVER. |