THE ABORIGINES OF NEW ZEALAND:

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 4, Issue 83, 26 February 1852, Page 3

THE ABORIGINES OF NEW ZEALAND:

Two Lectures delivered by the Rev. Thos. BuddIe,UNKNOWN Minister, at the Auckland Mechanics' institute, on the evenings of the 25th March, and 12th May, 1851. liuoni.E, lVeslcyan Minister, at the sluck'aiid Mechanics' Institute, on the evenings of the '2slh March, and \2th May, 1851. DiflvruU trilies liaie their own iradilio'i on the nrissin of the At Waiknio tiny say tlint Mahanga, the lallicr of the NVitimahaig.i. inhnlii'iiig Wainijaroa, n«- t!.> lir-i lo cat men in llit-ir district. lie livail ia the I. tilth fji-ncration, descended r ioni lloinoa, ' the emigrant from llinvaiil.i. Iloluum n.id n son Cdlltd Tuma-ki-te-n,nr«n!{«i. Tin- Inter lia'l a son c died Tithetia : and Tithe:ia had a nm called Mahanga. Tulictia ><C"t mil in sea to fish with hisbrothc'-hi-law, Tahinqii. When they had nearly tilled theca'oe, Tulictia desired Tailing" to « ct u l> ,I|B ilonu »>ctl •<* an anchor. \n\lTultinaa heinjj fiivii.tts of the popn'ariiy of Tuhelia, who Has a very geiicinl Ihvourile and could have kai any where, had plo'trtl his dei.th, nnd pretending to draw up the stone, s.iid he could mil. *' Cut tin' io|i'." sjii<l Tuhelia . " I have no mukoi " (shell;, s lid Tuliimja. " Dive lor it," .sud Tulictia. " I can't 1.0 l I breath luiii; enni«h. ' said the o'her. <'u this Tuhelia wiMiMtito ilie sea hinnell', and Tahinya instantly cut the cahle, and pulled away. When" Tahirgil cnne up the ciinue was i»riu\ lie called, and Tahinga it-piied hy throwing his clothe* nud fish into lh" "sea, saving, " This is all the c ■nne you ivill ! ave.' Winn In r. a< l.ea the s-w, TuItetiu'i wife asked v.herehis fiini'l «,ti l!e>aid lie went a one ; l.utit liayliuak l;. \t tiioriiing she saw lut kus antl rite out ol iht. s: a in Ilie toim ■■)' .i laiiiulia, and «a- t'ei «s-ur. d he had bien Miinvmd b\ Tal'v :r l- 'I ahinga li.id n miii railed Kokako,' wh nvetl at VVaikaio 1 He ds. And «hen Mahanga grew up, hiving " enquired who was h : s f'.lh'r. mid what lit cumof him, Hid lie:n._' told 'hut kill.d hiai h.- made war on 'luhinga's s in, and k Hid ami a e hint Irom revenge lor the u'e.ith of father. Any <leiii'!s en this suhjeet would he ton r io.ti-g; If'. I may kitii...- Ilia' :;ic.it ins It was i.fui'-l, :. d iir. at i dl niiits pr.eiised on tl.e b ilits 1.1 ti.cir enemies liny vMiuh! olten t"iture il c victim, he>l the ovi-u, throw linn alive o i tie hot sioii"*, and tear his hVsh wi'h ilie c.iiiiiiiiiil kiofe, Tualini. The skull was us. das a lirinkiiw eup ; the leiih linnto their cats; tin ir lunes made into folk-; anil fiiir-f into iieidh'-, with whi- Il lose./ skin 4ii<'l-°. Tin se ni.-.ts v.eie v.iiuiil ilw inoie J. r hi ii-g sewnl \\i:h il.c h..:.es of iheir enemies. '1 he eullar huue made a liaim- fur a f". iitl suae; ai.il ■-'lies f'>r ilie h ts of dteny 1 .ir.its \-e-xc niaiic ill " ; ihe i. ;. hones. Topi ma's i'tir.-e le'ns i<; sonn- el il.eis..' ettslonis Ti.is is a'.nk portion of their history, hut it i.otild not he nas-ed over without iimiic A liii'.htir tlay. thiiak God, I.as di.Mied; and iiv .' they aic ashamed of ihosc tilings tli'-t v.t;.'done in darkness To name the enst' 111 is suftici' nt to laisc the I lush of shame, and c the New Ze.tlander lo lurii away in disgust tit the inliuiiMiiiiy ol his lotnu r i\< eds. The hut authentic a< c»unt of cam ihalism was the ea»e at Taurai-ga, ill \3-Vi or l8»a, hy Tnraia. 1 trust the List in the history ol the ci tintry. Taraia will mvi-r he envied the tiistini lion of having compUled ihe list of those who indulged in the horrid cu-tuin. 1 erhaps it n.mld he just lo s;iy ihnt tinNew Ze.itan.lei- has not been alone in this lactice. Il has prevaileil amo. g many other ilious. (lutnboldl, in hi-' \<oiu <n dull. America, gives an account ol the i liodattion of the custom among the Mexican!. tSoolh-

OV'a N- tiC(!S of li.l! S3II1: Country CDlltllll tinmost r Viiltin;; <l< tails—mucli worse than New Z.'i!:it!cv.- loi.i !,ed. Cnrtez, in some of ins lie-patch-; dining the Sn,in:sli "ai in A-n-iiv., ■;••.■..!:■« of ike pivval'tice of the eusi.i:i! ; nml !».-■ n.il Pi a/., »:••■ if iiis S'd iei.*, co:iiii :iip il. 'l'll' n o-r i-xtnordiu'iy lust .nee k own t" i xi'-t. is that prcli••:•.! by the H iltas an oxi.n-ivc m.il populous nation of SuinaUa. '!|ii-M- peep'.-, !|idii;,li cnusid'ribtv mlvain." d in i iviiiziiici", r.cei.rdmg to .Sir Stamford l-nlllcs, 0.l human (1.-sli ly law. " It is the iiinve,-.-. il ami siiiniliivr Liw of tlm Hiltas, lli.il J Mill liy eating shall be inflicted l~ , f T ad I! I lory ; 2nd, far midnight roll fry ; '■' til. in iviir-' ot imr.orl-iru c ; Ith for iiitcrmarlying in ill", ■m-k-tii!" 1 ; ith, h.r ticach'inus nil.tks mi a . ■ ie, viii.ijc, nr p'r.-on. 11l all tin- above ■• ■ -' s it in Uiv.li.l far the vicini to In- caleu —il i! to a st mc an.l cut n'|i alive, ai:il d-vniiii .1 by pice-, in a\. These acci mi's inike "s r. 11-jc: v.-'t!i mi hated s.u-iiiv nn tin: |.iaclii-.' ..I t'-e New Zee ! uiclcrs, >\hn had much lesi ciuli-.i it'on, yrt nvcr j.iii-jii.d ill.- ciiitoni Iroai love if it, but lo e,r.m;v revenge. I'lll.Sl llVlN'li THE Hk.WIS (IP TME SI.AIS. Anniln r custom conm ctcd -.<iih ».u was previnj> ihe heads of tin; .slam. These were stuck on pnle« as ir p' it-.-. Alosl unions have their o wi wav (if celebrating n victory. Il lias been cns'.iiniary among all lo have, snm? n-.O'ii'nial--, and llie stale of sm iety among sa""cs n«t admittine; if cxi..'iisivc public in- iniim-irs to pieserve tin: renown of military exploits, tile li irbirhn vic'or generally celebra'es It's' triumph <m the h<>. is of »l.ii:i «-uemie-, in disl'guii ag which lie Jirst excicises ingenuity, then .cnuverts it to n permanent tiojihy o*! his prowess. David cmri.'d tin- head of Ou'ba'h to J.rnsa'eui, and 'nil' it in triumph at the feel of Snnl. Hero lotus says, the ancient Srvlliians wore wi.nt to cam tt:e he ids if a'l tlie slain as a present lo the king. The G ills hung tin in round the i ecks >d' their hnrs.s, and L'liiliiluii'il liieiu, k. cpin.; Lirt-'C e.dli'C.i. li*, which they showed with mm u exulta ion to liuir Iricnilri. ICnglnid il.- I', lo a Very late period, used to expose l!:- Iliads of triilois a lei« of hirl'iro'S lini 3, when it wi-s u.t considered iiic.iii a.:d brutal lo carry icuugc lnyin.d d.aih. Tl.c .Ne.v Ze.ita-iler had n iiutlnd of prc-M-rvi-.n; the head:-, ili.il bit ihe I air. anil teeth and Initio ;\> plain am! i erfeet as whin alive; nml vhe.i diy they wiild k. ep forever. A l-'ifinli wrier cou.-iders li.is ait a pr .of of some original ro.iuic ion b. tween t!ie New Xe.'l rider an I the ancient v.-or'd, ns the proc- ,s as eli'et'live as that liy which tile I'-gyp-li.UK pnp.itcd their lllitniinies. Tin .• ticipienlly used iniiuliiii; language to these heads—" What jou win't-it to run a 'ay (lid yon? My vuri oveitook ynu ; i-nd after von were caoUi d you became food for my month ! Wneu: is your father? He is I'conL'-l ! And your br.it'i.r i lb: is eat.-n ! Winn- i< jnur w.l'e '( Tli-m sbe sits a wife i.r me ! Ami ynitr cfiidn-n ? Tneie they aie vii'li loa.ls on tb ir backs, carrving loud as my shiver.!' Tims their hatred Lnln ved li.i ir em imc? lieyend the giave. T,\TOlllN(!. Tliecim'.i'in of ma'king ihe skin called Tiiloo, in i\ew '/.. .rand, M'>!<>, i-: oiii-' ot the most wide y dilfus it |.r-e'i-es of s'lvaije Jife. It is I'o'ind "i'b vaimis im>'ilieii'io'.s throuuhou; the I'll 'ilie, lp/iii New '/• • il-.t-.ui to the .Sandwich Is! nils, ai.d also ..mrnjj the a iniijiiu.il tribes of Alii n ami America. It appears to have be?n in use aniniiiri; eaueieiits. Hence'.he .MosiaoproliiUltim, Lev. xix., US—" Vo shall not iiir.k; any cnlliiii.', in your ll.sli for ilie dead, nor l.riat any marks upon you." These were. (lon illi-ss eas'.o.ii- ot mring tiih.'s, eoiiii- c-t.-.l .litii i .i.Litmus ir.ns.'iip. .Men | rinted marks upon iln-ir fl.'-h in ho.,oar of uu: objvcis I'M", - u-.'rs:iip;.c I. llei-.uli t ii m-iili.-ns ;! as anions tiieTlii..i:i.ias, ■•-.ho < 00-ider-id l!i t •'!•■ h' iiir.i'c.'i with p.nn lures w is u i-i-n o! n lib' li.rtii." Oilier- i-peak of it as tin- practice of tin Scytliians and Assyrians. Ail the cjjtcs ol tin- Hindoos bear oil tlo.ir fn ell a .'■■< or e!>oe.-h -ie wiial arj cal'ed te'laliau uiarl.'s, w lucii iiistiu:', ii h thin, belli in a civil mid rclr;i':ns aspect, Iroai call ntticiA.nnug Ihe Greeks these marks were e.11.(1 " .(//(/•;./«.'' To these .St. Paul le'ers when be sa>s " I bear in my h dy the mnks (slii/incut) ofilic Lord .Insus." t'.'eeir remark.s ii as prevailing among the Hiiton-', and I'liny >ays they iii'roduced (he juice ol ihe plantain into piincluris in .de in Ihe skin, so as to form a perm'.lent d'elineiiion of va ions objects. Like most other customs among (Me I'ol/i.esinus, tmooini/ it supposed to li,.ve h id its origin Willi the gods. Air. Ivibs gives n Irailiii.m about it in the lirsi volume of his 11"arches, p. '202. Toe Ni w Zealandcr generally refors the iiivc.it.on to " Miitnorn ;" hence many ol theii si tigs sptak of the " uhi M-miora" (ihe c.'ii'e 1 of i\lutuj'<i). Altitaurn was the itweulor ol the tin, and Onctwgu the litsl ma 1 t nooed. It may h av.- originated in a sense of d < a n-y in the tropical l-lands, when! lul.'e nr no clutliiee; was used. T'lie Marrpic»nis rj re sail to

I,p/n.'.wrrf fmt '•..-.■.('lof.nl The New Ze.i-I^-.ihts-nv :!.nt when liu-ir ancestors came /roin llinr.mki their le»s -tnlv were Inlonfd. It i« ir t a mavk of o'.iefl iuship among llic Ni-w Zeaho ilers. M.-nv chiefs are without a single line, unil ninny a slave lias sabmilto to llic grc.tf <t pain to hi his plcbinn fac nii-de a- h'aiuilnl as '.li- iac*« conlil nuke Nor i«th.ii ii.nk tlero-cd, r the tribe imli-raldh-il All Ynunl' "pnn lie Inslc o' tlv ;• ist <i £ i"-' • -rliou of I lie parly and Idaho t l- pav i>t ip-rni<>r. The only reasons il>cy'r*i n lur >l •■ cu-t-minic—lst. ll incriMscstheir lipmilv—m-.k s tliem mlmireil by ill'' liidi'T, who are- not flip, osed to fall i" love villi a plain fa-e; an- I«'\, it secures the preservation of lluir heads when dead, a* an iinlatoocd lac- was no' considered worth p-esei-vmg. The o|i< ration was pr formed by a certain c'as* ol Tohungas (pri. si«), who make it a prons«ion, aid un from village to vitiate for the pM-p> "i: Tin jo -■>< caines great pain. The MiTSon l : cs down wiili Ins feet against sooi thine lor pr-s-un ; ('..• !iuc<uretraced with charei al.'and •.Ii" in. isioi.s made with a small chisel -mi k -<ii'>.' ni'llet, the pninl being dipped in ■ .'Diirni!. matter, cither ol (lax root burnt to eln.'c.•■»!, ieduce<l to powd-r, and n:ix.-:d with wati -, 01 the s:)i>t of kaliikalca colkilid in llieir lu.u.cs (Ju-at inflnmuiion ensues, so lliKt liul 'i !'<• can be d- tie at once. The f..c« U not generally covered for ytays, lilt once done ll is not possible to erns- it Th» y have a i.auic Co-- every pari. While the pir.coss is g.iiiig cm ll women «<ng. piiucipallv with a viiw of in>|. nr.g the snli'icr with ]).il!ent-e and liivevling his lluugblf. Tlololjowiiig is one of tin- i-'iig*: —■ " Wo nru sininp p.ltinc tn^cilicr. Wo nro vicwiiij- tb" ppnis on eyebrows And on the ik <o oi'TiiiHiaivha. The? nro croole.l as u lu:ini's lug. Tnioo hiin irith til.- point of Mataora. Me not impatipnt to go to the sjirl 'J hat pnthers you sweet Rreeiu In baskets of Kowlinra. Let cvr-rv line he -r.i:e.l. On the man Hint lias llic urn, . Let the figures b.< l.nnilsoine ; On the man that has no «(«, Make it crook-.d. it open. Let our songs hi!] the. ;.:iin. And in.pire theo imili f-ilituile. O flifci Tangaroa. O (bki, &c."

I fini sorry I am not able lo sat that it has parsed nway. Mi-uy olthe young men of the prc.-cnt geiif.ation still desiri- it, ami sulmut to tliu pain'rather I'.a.i >bc ai.d di« with what llr v mil a pie: ian face. But in proportion as CMitKtianiiv ,'ia.hcs their Ilea ts and civilization spreads, like ev.iy other pagan custom it nui<t /i' ri«h. Social and Domestic Condition or the New Zeai-andbhs. The social mill domestic state of the New /enKniiJer presents many interesting rceiics, and furnishes benevolent minds with urgent motives to a''opl the hist means (or Ins. im- | rovement and tUvalou. Government—On the subject of their government 1 have oi.lv time to teni.uk, that n iLiver was like -hat of the Snntlwieh Islands Tahiti, and thr Fri.-ml'y M«. monaicMal, bill divided um0.14 indepi-ndeni chief'. « a" tins th- icMilt lor 'b. fisi eu.igr.i.ts .li.i'.ing and loca'in-' in ilillcrpiit Rod clis'tnrl .ustric's? Chie'tii'• Mn i» t-i always hereditary. It not unf;.<|rently happens llint one wm has distinguish'.! him-clf in b;.t:h, or niautn-stHl unusual >auacitv in rou.cil, obtained _influence whit h rank a'one rnn'il ut.t give him. The power ol the chiefs is veiv limitfc.l, consisting principals in rfecidinir, dir«cti«(r. and controMinsj poliiical subjects. 'Mn-y have no means of proie'tinu' property, or punishrna crime, beyond tlu"-e arising from lip ru-toni of tupu. '1 her«- were no equal laws forming a Icnct. aiountt llvir.j-o'sessi"i!«, nr lilifili'S, or bv.s; no prn-.c'ivo iiisiitmious j ronterp.tnllv every m,.n wrs .. tnbli-r. or « victim «( iobl'cr\, iind univrr-a! viol-nee uid depre .atioii pievn'ibd. This s-ate of lliina? some lvritcis call a reign of absolute liberty: ii is tli.- abMiliitc Ul..r;y of the sm.ni: ,o lyranmz.-o.trth.: w- -r.:. Wbai a h.-on is conforri'il "P" 11 s »eb a pcop'e 1/1 the istiiilisb ment of H'itis!' i»w! S/arcni.—Mi p-i--ners «.r war v-ere eonsicrtil »l-iv«-«, and ell n.tir children ll c property of the" Cl.u Is. T.: if ponton was one ol .•cratlaiinn ami i..*v.U as tl.:v wen- te I t„"v ( „k I sup; - ih-: iviints of ii. I. m.i-ers Their condiiioo.hcwevti- li-.r r s.mbNmc t„ the sl.vtiv ol wil't i-rr fa-1 -l eivUizt-.l nati-i s It w..s not retbteen to system. No grinding labour w..s e.\acic.l. Ti.cv were >.ot rr-iited willi cru by. •'••it ..ny mi-dem.-inour, anv i„-„:t olb-.ed '>• »l-t- l«. '"S .h..-i w-iiild bo vis'-te-l wit:- Mi-tint il .th ; and tie d.,.tli of 11 -il-'ve wou.d ■:,<• he <•-. ,d- reu woith a-.wmdy's notee. "Oh! lie ->as a Itiurck, i-ekti it mane.s ">'»" "mild be ail the notice ii re' cived Si .ves ccnerally have b:-en li'n-rated and returntd to t! e..- liome.'. Marriage was usually contracted hetw-eu individuas of the same tribe. A man was rarelv permtle.l to take a wife from an -Mner and 'sira-ge tribe. They were generally

betrothed in eaily life, mil the en!i.<|V'nicnt on tlii- part of the limulc ronviil-reil saercd and binding. Any I'avnur.ildc to the attention olanolhtr suitor wis considered a violation of native custom, dniinndiiifr S'ltMauiion. A chief wlio wished to take to wife one nhoiu Iter fiieuds iltsigm-d for another would demand her, and attempt to take her l>y foice. U (lie nflcction weie mutual, the female would elope and take up her nb:de with the man of her clioic. Her friends would go in u body to recover her. The favourite suitoi would endeavour to detain her, nssisetd by h-r friends. A strngali- would ensue, and the sli oncost party btar away tlin object of contention. The poor "woman wa3 oflen n great siiftVicr, and paiil dearly for her attachment to the man her friends disapproved. Engagements ofihiskimlnflen originated with the f.-male, who would, contrary to European custom, make her overtures to lite man of her eh. iee, and risk often th.! anger of her tribe, her comfort, »ml even life itself, for the sake of him she loved. They olten expressed their f.eiin(;s in poetry—no uncommon mode ol exprrtsin;: tender attachments. The lollowiug is a specimen : so.vo uv a aim. who imd as .utoimhest to iittr iiEft i.nvre, l'lon- tides mill till the rivers. Willi iny paddle ia my hand, 1 nm waiting for your help. Illow winds from" the uorlli, And float iue along ; I am totally ileal' To the anger of Kohaka. Willi such emotion williin, I low can I listen! Lest my lieloveil ihink 1 have fors.ikvn him for others, I .vuiilJ not longer slay. Nor shall lovo be is appointed, lie has left me the siijii. When (lanie ascends on high, And curling smoke is seen \Mong evergreens that shade The arches of Tahere, Hasten to me there— I sit wailing for thee.