WHENCE THE MAORI?

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1928, Page 4

WHENCE THE MAORI?

RESEARCH IN THE PACIFIC. AA'ELLINGTON. Feb. 6. The origin of Hie Maori is a .subject fascinating to ethnologists, and more information is available to them as a result of the researches of the Bishop .Museum, Honolulu, a privately-endow-ed institution which includes a New Zealander, Dr Buck, on its staff. Another Xew Zealand ethnologist, All 11. D. Skinner, lecturer in that subject at Otago University, spent thre< and a half months at the Bishop Museum in the course of an eighteen months’ tour, from which he has just returned, and he gave your correspondent many interesting facts "whirl he has gleaned.

One point is that the latest researches support the Maori tradition that they came from Tahiti.

RESEMBLANCE OF WEAPONS. The exhibition collection of the Bishop Museum are on the whole disappointing, but Mr Skinner's opinion is that the research material is extremely valuable. While he was at this museum he prepared a handbook on its Easter Island collections, which are the largest in the world. “The material culture of tile Easter Islanders is remarkably close to that of our Maoris." he said, “and this is seen best of all in the weapons, the resemblance being astonishing. It looks as if a section of the Marois had colonised Easter Island. The class of weapon generally known as mere is here in all its variations, and also the long taiuha. A close relationship to our Maori weapons appears also in the Rapa and Austral Islands, and only a little less close in the Marquesas. “The variation in culture in all the marginal fringe of Polynesia is only what we might expect to see in different districts in Xew Zealand. lie are accumulating facts on this phase which demonstrates that the relationship is a great deal closer than was once believed. HOI A' ISLAND DESERTED. “Mr Emery, of the Bishon Museum, has lately prepared for publication his researches into the culture of Xeckar Island. 0110 miles north-west of Hawaii. Tt was occupied in ancient times for a relatively short period as a kind of liolv islands and then deserted. The Hawniians knew nothing of it when Captain Cook landed, and no information has been obtained irom Hawaiian sources. “It has always boon thought up to the present, that the Hawaiian group was first colonised hv navigators who moved north of the Equator through the Carolines, Marshalls and Gilberts. It is now seen from Xeckar Island evidence that the earliest cull lire of the Hawaiian Islands is derived from Tahiti. They had come north across 3COO miles of water. That was no casual drive. Tt was a great sweep I:v f„lk keoslv interested in maritime discovery.’’

“Then this conclusion hears closely on theories regarding the arrival ol the first Maoris in Xew Zealand?” suggested the interviewer.

“It is apparent.’’ agreed Mr Skinner. “that our earliest Maoris were no chance drift navigators either, and f think’ there can he no reasonable doubt also that the Polynesians reached ihe South American coast. If they navigated from Tahiti to Hawaii they could easily have taken the shorter course to South America, though the only results of that contact seem In b" (lie introduction of the kiimara. though that is imt conclusive." IMPLKMFNTS IN AUCKLAND. Further reinforcement of this conclusion was to he found in the Auckland Museum, where there are ensplayed some stone implements found at the Kennadees. “It had expected,” said Mr Skinner, “that t nose would he ol the Cook Island type. I ill they are not. They are Tahitian. Maori traditions have always been in--1 erprel ed as indicating that the Maoris came from Tahiti. and the archaeological evidence supports the i rail it ion." “CAPTAIN COOK’S BIT ASSAY ARE.” An amusing result of applying his wide experience in identilying ancient remains was mentioned by the New Zealad ethnologist. Several American museums have weapons similar to the Maori mere, four being of black basalt, while one on close examination pianed to lie ol brass:. The h!ter was in the Washington. D.C., ALisonm. It came from a grave at the mouth of the Columbia River. “Cook is known to have touched imnr that coast.” -explained Mr Skinner, “and t<i have hr,night out with him brass meres. The black basalt ij'crimens cannot, therefore be claimed as earlier than Cook's type, hut v. ere probably from the same ship.”