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Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 9, 30 September 1856, Page 1

It is now many years since Christian Missionaries first visited these Islands, and imparted the principles of Christianity to its inhabitants. Notwithstanding the zeal and efforts of these Missionaries to diffuse religious knowledge among the Natives, we very much regret to find that some of their old superstitions have been so deeply rooted that many of those professing Christianity are slill addicted to the heathenish practices of bygone days, such -as the Makutu and Tapu; and very lately we have heard that a iNaiive at Waiuku was put to death on the supposition that he had occasioned the drath of one or more of his tribe by the agency of Makutu ; another case of a similar kind has taken place at the Whangaroa. We are also frequently informed that the Natives of the Thames, and other parts in the vicinity of Auckland, have not relinquished their faith in the Tapu ; or if they have, that they still uphold this custom, and endeavour to exact payment from the Europeans, who do not believe in such a custom, for any transgression of its laws. We would advise our Native readers to abandon this custom, as Ilia great majority of them are now aware that it is not only a very inconv&tieut but also a very bad one; they should follow ibe example of Kamehameha the an-

cestor of the present king of ihe Sandwich Islands who abolished the tapu in his coun try in (he following manner: Kumehaineha finding ihat the tapu was laughed at and ridiculed by the foreigners who visited his country, finding also that it v;as a bad and useless custom, he concerted a plan with his priests by which it was to be entirely done away with. Kamehameha had a large feast which was numerously attended by all bis subjects ; quantities of food were provided. The sacred food could not, according to the custom of the tapu, be eaten, except toy Uiehigh priests,vvho,afier the performance •of a certain ceremony, partook of the first fruits of the season, before it could be common to the people. This sacred observance was disregarded by Kamehamcha.whoopened up and handed over the most sacred food to the females who were previously more strictly excluded from partaking of it than the men; the assembled priests looked with astonishment and surprise at this extraordinary proceeding, of giving kai lapu or sacred food* to women. On a given signal, the chiefs rushed out from the meeting, and destroyed all the heathen gods and deities in the village; leaving nothing in existence to remind tnem of the adoration they bestowed on those emblems of their previous religious faith, which thev -declared at this meeting sbould be abolished for ever. This has beeu done; and from that period may be dated the wonderful progress in civilisation and improvement of the fine race that inhabits the Sandwich Islands.