LECTURE II.

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

LECTURE 11.

In the forner Lecture our attention was principally ocupied in endeavouring to ascertain the origin of the New Zealand tribes; and in discovering their Religion and some of their Superstitions. We need not here recapitulate the topics, hut may proceed at once to describe some of their manners and customs. Customs in War. The Polynesians are generally a people addicted to war. Christianity lias effected a remarkable change. Where its influence ha 4 been hut partially received, and its peaceful anil benevolent precepts but partially submitted to, the passion for war is held in check ; and when it has burst forth, it has been marked by u subdued ferocity, and its results have been much less sanguinary than formerly : —where Christianity has established its rule and obtained entire apprnvul and submission, the war propensity is wo'l nigh extinguished. It lias given place to a love of the useful arts, has in*p : red proper regard for thv rights of property, and created earnest desires for domrstic improvement and social progress. Such have invariably been the happy results of the introduction of the Gospel. | Whenever it takes hold of a sword it converts it into a p'oughshare, and turns lite spear into a pruning hook ; it create* a love of the piMCc'ul arts, which supplants (lie love of war, und substituti s the implements of husbandry for the weapons of the battle field. Hut originally tlio New Zealandcr was a warrior—war in f.ict was the jiiiin'ipnl engigtiiient of his life. He loved sons better than daughters, that lie might have men to fight his billies and avenge his wri>ug<. The greatest wish lie had in toforenra to hi< sons was, that tliev might grow up brave warriors. When taken to the priest to receive a name and to be baptized, it was not to dedicate them to the Gol that made them and seek his blessing, but to seek from the demons tint delight in blond the spirit of inhuman waif,ire, to pray that they might he brave to bear the weapons of war. 11 Let ibis child lie strong to grasp the battle axe. " To grasp the spear, Strong in the strife. Foremost in the charge, First in the breach, Strong to grapple with his foe, To climb lofty mountains, To contend with the raging waves." '* May be ht> industrious in cultivating tbe grounil. In building Inrge bouses. In constructing canoes suited for war In netting nets," Such were the prayers ofTeied to the foils on behalf of their children—*o that the New Zeahinder was literally baptised for the battle field. As he grew lie was taken to the camp and trained in all the horrid practices of sav.iue warfare. They sometimes at us, and say, we le.ive our fighting lor men in red coats, and do not how tofWlit for ourselves; hut every lungata Maori is a man of war. The oc casious of war among them were numerous. The 'principal causes were land and women. They have a proverb to this eflect which they often quote " lie iva/iine he oncone, iuja mea i nrjaro ai tc tangata." ('"Women and land have been the great causes of the destruction of men.")