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The Rev. Thomas Buddles Lecture on " The Aborigines of New Zealand."

The interest with which Mr. Bu dole's Lecture was heard by a crowded audience in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute, will, we have no doubt, be felt, if not in an equal, yet in a great, degree by many who did not enjoy that privilege — especially by those at a distance who have not any such opportunity of becoming personally acquainted with the Maori race as many of them have possessed. We therefore gladly avail ourselves of the permission of the Lecturer to transfer to the columns of the Neio Zcalander the principal poilions of an essay which most happily combines information, of a

valuable ami peculiar character, with a greater degree of amusement than is usually found in connection with, at least, some of the topics of -which it treats. After a few preliminary remarks, Mr. Bundle thus commented on — a matter well known to those who have compared for themselves what has been published, with what is really to be found in fact, respecting the aborigines of the country — the crude and untrustworthy character of much that has been given to the world on the subject.

Books on New Zealand. On referring to various publications on New Zealand, I find they contain but little that I could make available. And without appearing to assume the office of critic, or wishing to make any ftividuoim remark", I may sny I have been surprised to find how little real information they supply on the history of the aborigines, and how much they relate that would not bear investigation. Nor is this fact surprising, since the authors have generally been individual* whose knowledge of the native language has been very circumscribed, and whose residence among the Natives has been of short duration. One of the best, if not the very best, work in print on New Zealand is a small volume in the " Library of Enteitaining Knowledge," published by the " Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge." It is a compilation from various soureps, interwoven with the personal nairativc of John IlutheiToid, who lived among the New Zealanders several yeais, and seems to have became a perfect Maoii. It were gieatly to be wished that some competent person would take the trouble to collect informaiion on the origin and early history of these tribes, and place it in a form in which it could be preserved. The time for doing this will soon have gone by. The old men are fast dying off, md with them the legends and traditions, contained principally in native ivaiatas (songs), will pass away, and the next generation will know but little about them. The young men of the present generation know comparatively little of ancient histoiy, and do not understand many of the allusions made by old priests and chiefs in their speeches. I have asked for explanation when listening to a kaumatua, and received for reply, Kahoro ahau c mohio, ho tamarihi au nei. (I don't know, lam but a child ) Perhaps the best collection of native songs and legends that has been collected is in the possession of His Excellency the Governor. I hope we shall one day see them in print. I have been favoured with the use of that collection, and am indebted to it for some that I shall employ in the way of illustration. Mr. Buddle proceeded to observe upon the difficulties which necessarily attend the investigation of the early history of any people. These difficulties exist in all their force with regard to the New Zealanders. Before the establishment of Christian Missions, they had no written language. Great events were sometimes handed down by carving on a stick, each notch indicating some impoitant occurrence. (The Lecturer here exhibited a stick carved in this way.) The localities of great battles were marked; a hole was dug at the spot where some eminent chief fell, and the Natives, as you passed over the ground, would point out these marks, and detail the events of the battle. "We are dependent, then, for our information on tradition ; and that, a<s in the case of 'other barbarous nations, is so mixed up with fable, that frequently we cannot look for certainty, or indeed go beyond conjecture. Having prepared the way by these preliminary remarks, Mr. Buddle entered more directly on his first principal topic, —

The Origin of the New Zealand/jus. Here a multitude of interesting questions immediately meets us. Whence came they ? When did the firtt emigration take place ? What weie their numbers ? Hew were they conveyed hither 1 Were they borne along, involuutarily, by the brenth of storm, or did they emigrate ? These, and similar queries can only be answered by referring to their own tradition!. Native tradition snyb their forefather* came from Ilawaiki, a name which is identified by its orthography with Hawaii of the Sandwich Islands — making allowance for difference in dialect. The tradition is curious. Hoturoa was the man who originated the colony, lie resolved to leave Hawaiki, and go in search of an island on which to live. For what reason, whether in consequence of crowded population, or quarrel, or merely from love of adventure, is not stated. Th<s firit thing was to provide canoes. Trees were cut down, and they went to work. He had a brother-iu- I law called Rakataura, who was an idle fellow and would only sit by the workmen and help to consume the hai (food) . He contrived to keep himself covered with dust and a few chips sticking to his garment, that the cooks might think he was at work, and allow him to share the food. His lazy habits vexed Hoturoa, and he strangled Rakataura's son, and buried him among the chips. The father sought the lad in vtin, till the corpse begnn to putrify, and the offetuive smell discovered the hiding place. This led to a serious quarrel, and Hoturoa determined that Rakataura should not accompany them on their expedition. The canoes, four in number, were finished. Two were war caaoes, called Te Arawa and Matatua. The others were common ones, called Tainui and Kurawhaupo. They had some difficulty in dragging them to the water, and feared there had been some offence given to the gods, who would not suffer the canoes to move. They rectified this, and iang— - We hate cut off the root, and here we leave it ; We have cut off the branch, and here we leave it. The Sacred Oven shall certainly move it now, Our offering had not reached the Priests, Nor the godi, nor their diiciples. The canoes are launched, and they set sail in the night. When the day dawned, they found themselves at the place whence they started. At night they sailed agaiu, and again, with the break of day, found themselves driven back. Hoturoa lay down to 6leep, and had a vision. The spiiit of his father appeared to him, and told him he had not taken his bones with him, and for this reason they were driven back. He at once exhumed what remained of his father, and ngain embarked. Rakataura was a sort of mysterious being, who could live on land or water, and, finding they were gone, followed in the sea, keeping near the canoes, so that he could hear all that was going on. At lea the canoes teparated. The two war canoes coming along the eastern coast, and the others along the western. Hoturoa and his party determined to lund at Aotea • but Rakataura hastened on shore, and contrived to make a great noise resembling u multitude of voices, f o that, as the canoes neared the land Hoturoa said " That land is full of people, we must ro further." Again they put to sdi, und made several attempts to land,

but were Pored hy Rakntnura making a great noise, At length they got round to the east, and landed at Ilauiaki, when R.ikatmra instantly dried up the river, that they Bhould not leave. Here they remained about a month, nnd having consurr ed nearly all their kume« ras, went in quest of food, and while getting the pith of the palm tree, were blinded by dust from the leave*, and could not find their way back, Friends went in search of them, and the forest resounded with calls, Keihea koiitouf (Where are you?) The Kiwi (a bird) replied, crying Ffoie. At length all mustered, and llakatauia, seeing their distress, begnn to soften, and brought back the waters, They sailed round the North Cape and along this Western Coast till they came again to Aotea ; and one of them going on shore saw a bird. He returned, saying. To j>ai o te tangata o to wJienua, kahnre c nulia Jti raw tutakalutaka. (What beautiful creatures they are here ! They never sit on the earth, but fly about saying tulakatutnka !) They sailed to Kawhia, where they took up their abode. Wakaotirangi, the wife of II"tmou had saved a few Kumeras in the bottom of a kete, which they planted in soil they brought from their native land. The settlement they named Ilawaiki, which is the name of that place to this day. This tradition then, stripped of all that is fabulous, replica to most of our questions. They came from Ilawaiki. As to date, — we have no means of ascertaining that. As to numbers,— there were four canoes, with lloturoa at their head. A3 to whether it was chance or voluntary emigration,— it appears they purposely emigrated. The lending facts aits clearly defined, and the fabulous parts may be thrown aniile. That their oiigin was one with the Copper Colourc! Tribes scatteicd over a great poition of the Southern Pacific there can be no question. There is a community of form, feature, language, of manners nnd eus*torus, that identify the New Zealander with those tribes. That the Islands of the P^ciiic nre peopled by two diitinct races is clearly indicated by a marked difference in physical conformation, colour, and language. The one is considered to be a Negro or African race, the other Asiatic or Malayan. The one is distinguished by a large frame, black Bkin, and crisp hair ; these inhabit what is called Western Polynesia, including New Holland, New Guinea, New Biitain, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, and the Fpjpus. The other has a frame well moulded ; the hair fine and glossy ; the skin copper coloured ; and the cnuutcninre par.'nking strongly of the cast of the Malay. These occupy Eastern Polynesia, including the Sandwich, the Marquesan, the Paumoiu, the Tahitian and Society, the Austral, the Hervey, the Navigators, the FriendlyIslands, and New Zealand, with smaller Islands in their respective localities. Dr. Pritchard, in his very learned work on the *' Natural History of Man,'' seems to favour the ide<t that the Polynesians are but one r<ice, though they may not display the Bame physical appearance. The physical differences he would attiibute to the " spontaneous variations which display themselves in tiibcß of people who have inhabited from immemorial age 3 different climates and have existed in many ies]»ects under different physical conditions." It might appear piosumption in me to co'ntroverr the opinion of such a writer as Dr. Pritchard, but the evidences against the Doctor are 60 conclusive, I am compelled to believe that two races inhabit Polynesia. To say nothing about physical differences, their languages are totally different, having nothing in common. Mr. Ellis speak-* of one of the Islands fair to the westward, where both these tribes exist, yet remain distinct — the Negroes dwelling in the interior, and among the mouma'n fastnesses; those of fuir complexion form settlement-, along the shore. Is it not possible the lighter r<ioft may have drifted to the island, «u»d driven the aborigines back ? Ho thinks the Tongans .uea mixeii race. Some think there are two races in New Zealand, and conclude tbe darker coloured and negro featured weie an aboriginal race, and the others emigrants. But I doubt this. la it not probable, were buch the fact, that some tradition of it would exist? But we never hear that the first emigrants from HawaiUi found the land inhabited ; and, on the other hand, theie is no tradition among any, profesbing to be the original occupiers, to the effect that such a colony once reached them. If such had been the fact, is it not probable, too, that some traces of an origiual language would have remained ? Nor does it appear to me that the physical differences are greater than are seen in every country between different classes of people ;— -between the welUfed luxurious idler, on the one hand,aud the half.gtarvcd, ill-clad, labouring man on the other. We find many instances of stunted form, dark complexion, rather a negro cast of countenance, but no instance of what could be termed frizzled or woolly hair. With the copper-coloured Polynesians the New Zealander ia identified, not only by physical conformation, but by FJis Language. It is well ascertained that otiu common language prevails, comprising a multitude of. dialects, but. all reducible to one radical tongue ; and indeed so tamiliar, as to enable the Natives of distant Islands to undeistand each other to a considcmble extent, and Boon to converse with freedom. The great resemblance of language is fully described by one of our Missionaries. I may hete quote a few specimens.

They have aho the same G'oih. Each Island ia.iy have gods not known in the other Island;, but th^ principal gods seem common to a'l. "Mawa" seems uni verbally known. At Tonga l>e 18 kuowa Rj the got? that supports the eaith, and 13 tha caujti of earthquakes-, at the Navigators, c.a the cause of earth' quikes ;at Tahiti, the same ; \\vu, lie id v hc fjod thai fashed the island out of the bea. Another god, generally kivun as < Tiki, 1 ' caned '* Tii" among tlie Tahitiuus, r:liv, \»iui ' Opiira," weie the parents of tho human race, ,»<v\ vesiiicil vi the Po, or world of night. At llaratO", m Tiki w.i» the nair.e oi the first man who w.is suppon u. ,»Uer Jcdt/j, to have received dominion over the rc^.on oi departed spirits. And in New Zealand Tiki w<is tlie tieator of man. The word Tiki in Nukuhivan ana In m Hawaiiaisignify an image, and "lleiUUi" bi_ ( niiii:s tnu vigly ii^agf that the New Zealanders su 1 j.> i.il 10 their noil „ •' Tangaioa" is anothci n.une in io!^iio.-.iau mythology, generally known, lie w.ib tl \> n.«. Ip 1 pod of ih< T.ihitians; a being, accoulitv> to .Vi. iillis, who was uncreated, existed I'iom tlic li^'inuii <j, oi horn tliu ti.nu he emerged fiom the L'o, 01 world oi d.nl nc'v<. At Samoa his. name was "Tan ;..l.»a l.mgi" — lieivenly r.m;j.iloi. At the I'iiendly lslos'L\uij;alo.i 1 elides in tin s,ky , hoiuh loitli thundLi* aud hjhiu.ny; i>> g<>'l <>t the eupenters, and of all bieijpuMs. At il.iw.ni liis n.vmc «, " Tamioa ;'' aud here, " Tanfaio i." Among tl'e Ucw

Zcalanclers he is the god that reveals secrets, langatoapniwhate. He sits by the side of their houses, heais all their luicro (conversation), then carries it to whom it may concern. It is not improbable that he was the oiigmal god of the Polynesians ;— perhaps befoie they inhabited these islands at all. The existence of these names strongly indicates common oiigin. 'Ihe similaiity, too, of many of their customs, particularly tie universal prevalence of tapu, all support the fact of the common oiigin of these tribes. The tiext question that aiises is, Whence originated the whole ? to what great family of the human race do they owe their origin ? whence came they to people the islands of these seas? Some incline to the opinion that their origin was {Mexican ; others that it was Malayan. For the latter the evidences are most con elusive. In 'tracing the oiigin of the copper-coloured Polynesians, says Mr. Williams, I find no difficulty. At page 50 i of his Missionary Enterprises, we lead thus— "Their physical conformation, their general character, and their Malay countenance, furnish, I think, indubitable evidence of their Asiatic origin. But to theie proofs must be added the near affinity between the caste of India and the tabu of the South Sea Isles ;— the similarity of the opinions which prevailed respecting women, and the treatment they received in Polynesia and Bengal, more especially the common practice of forbidding them to eat certain kinds of food, or to partake of any in the presence of the men; — 'the inhuman conduct to the sick ;— the immolation of the wives at the funeral of their husbands ;— and a great number of games and usages. These I think are clear indications of the Asiatic origin of this people." The correspondence between the languages is especially adduced as most decisive evidence on the subject. Mi. WillUms says, •' the identity is very rermrkable in the speech of the New Zealandurs, Rarotongans, and others, who introduced the nasal sound and the hard consonants." The Malay numerals are used with scarcely any variation, and several words are precisely the same, or, with a little difference in orthography, have sprung from the same root. The existence of many Jewish customs furnishes collateral evidence of their Asiatic origin, which might lead to the conclusion, that either they are descendants of Abraham, or of some race that dwelt contiguous to the Hebrews, and mixed tvith and adopted many of their customs. I speak more particularly of the New Zealanders, with whose customs lam best acquainted. As among ' the Hebrews the mother was tapu for a season after childbirth, so it is among the New Zealanders. She was not allowed to feed herself or engage in any kind of work. Some sacred person was engaged to attend her ; and that peison fcad to be fed by another ; hit hands were not permitted to touch any kind of food ; and no common person was allowed to approach. The Eastern custom of betrothing too is prevalent here to this day. Daughters are frequently betrothed from their birth, and the persons to whom they are promised never forget the claim thus given them. Any breach on the part of the girl's friends has often created a war. The Mosaic law on the subject of a brother taking to wife a deceased brother's widow, is a regulation in force among the New Zealanders, the nearest kinsman can claim the widow as his right. Among the Hebrews— he who came nigh a corpse was considered unclean, and had certain ablutions to perform before he could come into the congregation, — so among the New Zealanders. He who touches a corpse is tapu;— cannot feed himself, nor do any kind of common work till the tapu is removed. I have sepn such an one sitting with his hands behind him being fed by another. The Jewish custom in reference to firtt -fruits finds also a similar rite among the New Zealanders. The kumera harvest was a sacred season, all were tapu, and the first kumeras taken from the ground were sacied to the gods, to whom they were offered with great solemnity. Mr. Ellis teUs us that a similar j practice prevailed among the Tahitians. The first fish caught, the first fruits of orchards and gardens, were always given to the gods, as it was supposed that death would be inflicted on the owner or the occupant of the land, if the god did not receive such acknowledgment. These corresponding customs are at least striking indications of Asiatic origin ; and Mr. Williams has clearly shewn how easy it would be to emigrate from the Malay coast to any of these Islands. Though their vessels might be frail, and their knowledge of navigation very imperfect, the islands are so numerous, and distances are so short, that they might pass from island to island without difficulty— people the nearest first, and gradually spread over the Archipelago. A reference to the map, or to Mr. Williams' " Enterprises," will show how easily canoes starting from the Malay coast or Sumatra could reach these islands. In his " Enterprises," p. 507, he says,— " Suppose that the progenitors of the present islanders had started from the Malay coast or Sumatra, what would have been their route? By sailing five degrees, or three hundred miles, they would reach Borneo ; then, by crossing the Straits of Macassar, which are only about two hundred miles wide, they would arrive at the Celebes. These are eight degrees from New Guinea, but the large islands of Bessey and Ceram intervene. The distance from New Guinea to the New Hebrides is twelve hundred miles; but the islands between them are so numerous, that the voyage may be made by shoit and easy stages. Five hundred miles from the New Hebrides are the Fiji's; and about three hundred miles farther on, the Friendly Islands. Another stage of five hundred miles brings you to the Navi gatois; but, between these two points, three other groups intervene. From the Navigators to the Hervey Islands, the distance is about seven hundred miles, and from thence to the Society gioup about four hundred moie. Thus, I think, eveiy difficulty vanishes; for the longest stage, in the voyage from Sumatra to Tahiti, would be from the Navigators to the Hervey group, seven hundred miles ; and the Raiotongans themselves say that their progenitor, Kanka, came fiotn thence. " The two opposite points have yet to be reached: — the Sandwich Islands and New Zealand. The former are about two thousand five hundred miles north of Tahiti ; but the voyage, if made by way of the Marquesas, would not be difficult, because the distance would thus be diminished from six to eight hundred miles, and the voyagers taken so much to the eastward, that they would be wafted with great velocity before the prevailing trade wind." Mr. Ellis seems to favor the notion that the Islanders came from America, and similarity of language and customs, indicates that the Malays, Polynesians, and North Americans were formerly the same people, and had one common origin. It is said that the carvings of the New Zealanders present a striking analogy to the architectural ornaments of the Mexicans; the kumera too, is indigenous there. lam inclined to think that the emigration was from die contrary direction, and that America was probably peopled fiom Asia by way of the Pacific— the whole of which is interspersed with numerous islands, making the passage easy fiom Northern Asia to America. " The Continent of Asia," says Jarves in his History of the Sandwich Islands, "fiom the numerous intervening islands affoids moie facilities for reaching Po-

lyncsia in this niannci than America, though stiagglers fiom tlie latter have doubtless fiom lime to time added to tho popu'ation, and thus created a mixture of customs which to some extent indicate an oiiqin fiom both. The probabilities aie greatly in iavour ot Asia." Baron Ilumboldt too, the celebrated tuivcllcr, favoms this idea. And line we must take leave of this pait of our subject ; the point we have endeavoured to establish is, that the New Zcalandcis havr had a common origin with the rest of the coppei-coloured tribe* of Polynesia, and that their origin is Asiatic. (To be continued.)

In 'a? CD en 60 H o _H Tola Ono Ika Mate V.ii l'ale _i 3 R -3 a i o 3 fe a Throe Six Fish Dead Water House Tolu Ono Ika Mate Wai V<Ug I Tolu Ono Ika Mate Wai Halo Tola Ono Hale V.v JQuc Vac F.ile I Sen Male Via JToi n ,Ono |[fed Wai Whaic

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Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 519, 5 April 1851, Page 3

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Tapeke kupu
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The Rev. Thomas Buddle's Lecture on "The Aborigines of New Zealand." New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 519, 5 April 1851, Page 3

The Rev. Thomas Buddle's Lecture on "The Aborigines of New Zealand." New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 519, 5 April 1851, Page 3

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