THE ANCESTORS OF THE PAKEHA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, 31 July 1857, Page 4

THE ANCESTORS OF THE PAKEHA.

Friends, the Maori people, listen; the ancestors of the Pakeha were not equal in knowledge or wisdom to those who are now living in the present day. For many generations they continued in ignorance.

Look at a young tree. It is very small when it first makes its appearance above the ground; it has perhaps but one or two leaves. A year passes, and it puts forth a branch ; and, when it has been growing many years it has many branches. Afterwards, "fruit is seen upon the tree; and, when it has borne fruit many years, then sts fruit is abundant. Now the progress of our ancestors in knowledge and greatness was like the growth* of the tree. In past ages, before Christ appeared for our Salvation, there was a powerful nation in Europe: this was the people of Rome, whooi we call Romans. The name of the head or King of this people w r as Caesar. This Caesar crossed over the soa to our island, that is, to England. He had many ships and many soldiers. He did not come to teach our ancestors, to worship the true GOD; for he himself had no knowledge of God. His thought was only that England was a beautiful island, having a fertile soil; and he wished to acquire it as a possession for his country. The people of oar nation wore then called Eritons; the island was formerly called Britain i now England. Caesar then?: and his legions came to wage war with the Britons. Our men went to the sea coast to repel the Romans. We fought with them, and men fell on both sides. At last the invaders prevailed, we were beaten and they obtained a fooling in our country. A portion of our island then became theirs. Subsequently, we rose up and renewed the struggle,—but were not strong enough to expel the intruders. They went to fetch reinforcements. Then a large armywas sent. Another battle was fought, and we were defeated. Another portion of the island was now taken from us. We began to think we should be wholly destroyed, so we made peace. When peace was made many of the Romans came to our island and settled there, and one of tbeir number was appointed Governor. We were a very ignorant people at that time. The bouses of our ancestors were small and very wretched; the sides were built of sticks and the roofs thatched with grass or ruslies. They had no windows nor any opening to allow the smoke to escape. Their towns were built somewhat like your old pas: protected on the outside by a dyke to prevent the approach of the enemy. They did not know how to cultivate the soil; they had neither potatoes nor kumaras, Xhey had, however, cattle, goats and sheep,

which were allowed to run wild, and which the Britons hunted and killed for food. Seme of their cows and goats were caught and lamed by them ;and thomilk of theeows was used by them as food.. When food was searce they sought for wiftl fruits, roots and plants to satisfy their hunger, a* lire Maoris gather the convolvolqs root, the koroir the lawa berry and other products of? the At that time we- were not one people. There were- many tribes; each tribe having its- own chief. The- tribes were at war one with the other, injuring and haling one another. The tribes in the South were more civilised, those in the north were most ignorant. This was because vessels came to the Southern parts of-England to buy tin which our ancestors dug out of the earth. The ships did not come often. Tfte tribes living in the southern coast were acquainted with the art- of they spun the wool of their sheep and the hair of their goats and wove it into garments- for their clothing. They dyed these garments black. The tribes hi the north had for their garments only the skins of the animals they killed". Tire Britons marked their bodies with figures, the chiefs and warriors had figures painted on their bodies to resemble the suit, tire moon and various kinds of, animals. . They had boats, but thfcy were very smallV. They were made of small sticks woven together -and lined inside with skins of animals.. This boat was very light, one man could carry it on his buck. It was intended to carry only one person, who used one paddle, like the Maori, w-ho paddles biskopapa canoe; (To be Continued.)