THE ABORIGINES OF NEW ZEALAND

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 3, Issue 77, 4 December 1851, Page 4

THE ABORIGINES OF NEW ZEALAND

Two Lectures delivered by the Rev. Thos. Buddle, Wesleyan Minister, at the Auckland Mechanics' Institute, on the evenings of the 25th March, and 12th May, 1851. Some English voyagers in the arctic reigon speak of splendid visions which they saw at one place. " The general aspect of the coast was that of on extensive nnd ancient city, with ruined castles, churches, hills surmounted by turrets, battlements, fpires, and pinnacles." | So magnificent that they termed it the '• enchanted coast." There can be no doubt but riiuilar phenomena called into existence those pas on the mountain tops. And os to tlic hostile visits paid by those beings, and the severe trampling they inflicted it is very likely to have happened after eating to repletion some unwholesome food, which produced nightmare and general sickness. A people without any knowledge of the laws of n alure, and exceedingly superstitious, might lie <xprctedto account for such occurrences in this way. From these mysterious bongs they say they li-nint the art of making fishing ncis. At I he north lliey had often observed in the mornings the prints of feet on the shore, as though a Urge company had passed along in ih« night ; and also heaps of fish scales, for which lliey could not account. A man named Matawh'-ro was to keep watch, and went to the spot one night for the purpose. About midnight a gieat host of those beings made ilieir appearance spread a large seine nnd enclosed a multitude of fish. He j mixed among llicni, doing as they did, nnd | i remained unobserved. Ho was very anxious to examine the seine to see how it was made. By and by lliey divided the fish, that each niijht carry his share and as he knew they would hi! off bel'oiu dnybreak, he tried to detain them. In stringing bis fish, he made no knot nor fa tcniug, and as fast as be ttrmig them on at one cod they slipped off at

the otlier. All were ready for flight but Matanhero. The fairies ca.no to his lielp but did not discover his duplicity. His fish could not be strung. At length day dawned, and away (lew the new friends of Mtitawhero, leaving lio'h seine and full. Ilis •bject was gained : lie examined the net and discovered the nrt of netting. They say the albinos sprung from those Palupitinrehe. I had intended to make some remarks on the customs and character of the New Zealauders, and given a few more specimens of tin Ir poetry, but lime is gone. Another opportunity may occur. I.et us he thnnkfiil to Providence that uur lot has been cast among the blessings of civilized lift-, and the privileges of a religion, the yoke of which is easy, and tho burden of which ii light. And let it he our constant eO'oit lo banish nil that remains of the old suf eistitions of the count'y, and to diffuse among the aborigines of our adopted land the blessings of an enlightened civiliza'ion, nnd the influence of a divine and happy religion.