THE ABORIGINES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 4, Issue 82, 12 February 1852, Page 3

THE ABORIGINES OF NEW ZEALAND.

Two Lectures delivered by the Rev. Tuos. Buddle, Wesleyan Minister, at the Auckland Mechanics Institute, on the evenings of the 25th March, and 12th May, 1851. In attacking n pa they would someiimcs form a long wall of flax leaves and raupo, fastened with vines, largo enough 10 cover two or three hundred men ; a party moving it forward, nnd tlm warriors advancing behind it protected from the missile;, of the pa, and enabled to make a breach without much los«. Sometimes they would dig a subterranean pathway leading into the very pa. Such patience and perseverance did they display in seeking revenge, and to obtain satisfaction for real or imaginary oflVnces. Before the introduction of fire-arms, the method of fight'rg, ufter the onset was, each man choosing his individual ai-tdgouist; and the field presented the specticle of a multitude of single combats, just as in the primitive wars, and indeed anions the Geek* and Trojans, at the siege of Troy. Though the Greeks used both chariots and missile;, yet iheir bull Its and skirmishes usually resolved themselves into a nuinbr ot duels. It was exactly the tame among the American Indians.

'J'lie New Zealauder had no weapons by which waifnre could b» carried on at a distance for any length of time. It soon Iccame necessary to cuter into close combat. A mode more adapted to the lumpers and feelings with which they came into the field, than any which would have krpt them at a distance from eaih other. The introduction of fire-arms greatly tended to 'change the original character of war. Jt may not have diminished the destructiveness, hut it necessarily nbjted the rancorous Iceling wilh which it was originally c.iriiedon; it converted it from a contest of fierce and diabolical pission, into an exercise of science. The dreadful waste of human life involved in war by any method is lamentable, hut the displacement of brute force and those other animal impulses by which it was mainly dirccicd, even by the musket, was something gained. It is impossibV that war could he sn tl«linß : ng to llioe engaged in it, when chiefly a contest of skill, as when wholly a contest ol pass'on. The first introdtic'ion of fire-arms among the New Zealunders was most destructive. Ilongi had great Advantage over other tribes that could only meet him with native weapons; hence the snd havoc lie made among the Waikato trilcj at Mntakitaki. When they

were equally armed, ilieir wars becomo much less bloody. They are all afraid of guns, and keep at a respectful distance, carrying on the war by straggling shots from behind trees, and fern, and doing but little execution. But best of all, is the spread of Christianity, —the introduction of those " weapons which arn not carnal, hut mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds." Oanniiui.ism of hie New Zealandehs. The practice of Cannibalism among the New Zcalaudcrs was connected with their wars. They have obtained an unenviable distinction for this revolting custom. The subject lias, however, been greatly exaggerated They have been represented as man-eater., from sheer love of human flesh, and the most affecting pictures have been drawn of tli 0 cannibal feast. It has been described as the greatest delicacy with which visitors of rank could bo regaled. I am fully satisfied that such accounts nro beyond the truth. Tho New Zealandcr never ate human flesh because lie preferred it as an article of food ; nor dij be kill his Blaves to make a feast fur visitors, hut invariably to gratify revenue. Prisoners . I war alono were the victims, and revenge the principal feeling. Perhaps it was connected with the idea, tlint to cat the flesh of the warrior would imbue them with his valour and bravery. So far as I hnve been able to learn, revenge has been the principal cause of Cannibalism among the Polynesians generally. Sometime* famine may have driven them to it j hut even

in Feejee, at present so notorious for its arit/iropophagism, I am told that to gratify revengeful feeling is the principal cause. This horrible custom very probably I)ad its origin in their mythology, which led them to suppose that the spirits of the dead were eaten by the demons, —thnt the spiritual part of their offering was eaten by the god to whom it was pesented. In some islands, Ellis says " Mau-catcr, was an epithet of the principal deity," and that "it was probably in connection with this, that the king, who often represented the deity, appeared to eat the human eye." Tradition among the Now Zcalunders, says that it originated with the demi-gods. j " Itongo," god of the kumera, " Tone," god of tree 3 and birds, " Tangarou," god of the sea and fish, " Ilaumea," god of fern-toot, and " Tu," god of war, were all brothers. Tu ate them all. This was the commencement among the gods. Among men it was begun at Ifawaiiki, by Manaia, who killed and ate an adulterer, in detestation of his crime. Jarves says, " it was not uncommon for the Sandwich Islanders to indulge in the horrible custom after the close of battle in early times ; and in latter days it was confined to certain robber chieftains who infested mountain paths and recesses of forests, from which they sallied forth, slaying, plundering, and gorging like vultures on the flesh of their victims." The New Zenlander has an idea there are some such beings on the mountains, whom they call Paraut; and thnugh you nover meet with one who has seen tliem, yet they are in great dread of them when travelling alone.