LETTERS ON HISTORY.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 September 1855, Page 13

LETTERS ON HISTORY.

I. At the present the mind of the intelligent Maori is bent upon acquiring some general knowledge of mankind, and of those Countries which were unknown even by the name to their fathers, the "Maori Messenger" is a convenient organ for imparting instruction to them, mWe know that all men are desirous of information; and that curiosity is inherent to all. The man of uncultivated mind confines his inquiries to the affairs of his own neighbourhood; while those possessed of more extended views are desirous of information relative to subjects which interest mankind in general. The human understanding has been compared to a blank sheet of which may become of greater or less value, according to the characters inscribed upon it. It is therefore, an object of great importance to direct the mind to such subjects as may be conducive toi real improvement. Now the traditions of the New Zealanders speak of characters that never existed ; and tho' they may amuse the fancy, they connot inform the understanding. History, on the contrary, relates to the actions of men who hav« really existed, and affords. ..na an opportunity of acquainting ourselves with the manners and customs of former times. But tho' the annaTs"of every country are replete with tales of war, murder, and crime, they are not unworthy of attention; beshow how the human passions .operate in different circumstances- and situations of life, and the instability of all human schemes. It affords, however, the most solid instruction in contemplating the improvement of the human mind, and the progressive advancement of man from a savage life in the wilderness to a state of civilization and learning. By studying history we shall

see how men first invented the arts most necessary to comfort, and gradually advanced to those of embellishment, till the fig leaf apron became the embroidered cloak of the present day. In order that we may clearly understand history, it is essential that we should have some knowledge of geography and chronology. These are two great luminaries which throw a light upon what would otherwise be an unintelligible narrative. Several papers on the former of these interesting sciences have already appeared in this periodical, which have doubtless been read with much pleasure. It should, however, be remembered that geography always lies open to improvement and correction, while the transactions of history, being past and gone, sink every day more deeply into obscurity. In regard to the chronological part of historv it is not necessary that a person should load the memory wi;b a long list of dates. It is far more to the purpose to fix in the mind a just arrangement of on temporary characters and events: sol that he will be able at all times to place before his eyes a picture of the moral world, as clearly as if he were looktng upon a map of the terraqueous globe we inhabit. We know little of the primeval state of man from historical information, and must therefore have recourse to conjecture. From the experience °i our u own waats > we may reasonably suppose that tbey first turned their attention to erecting sheds to protect them from the weather: they would also till the ground, and cattle would be tamed for the service of man. Traditionary tale? of these things would be delivered' from father to son, and thus constitute the basis of history. The earliest written history which we possess is that contained in the records of the Jewish nation. Here we find the only rational account of the creation of the world, and the beginning of all things. The first work of creation was the constitution of light; the next was the separation of the waters. The third was the descent of the waters mto the valleys of the earth, whereby seas and land were formed ; and the earth being dry acquired vegetative power. The fourth period was that m which the sun moon and stars were formed. The fifth and sixth are distinguished by the creation of animal life ; and last of all, 31an, the master, piece of all was formed; but this was not until the earth had produced what was necessary for the subsistence of men and animals