PROFESSOR FRASES ON TE WHITI.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 438, 25 June 1879, Page 2

PROFESSOR FRASES ON TE WHITI.

The following is Professor Fraser's phrenological; description of Te Whiti,as read at a lecture fri New Plymouth : I found til's Parihaka prophet to' be a’ man of medium size,- about forty-five' years' of age,, of fine organisation, compact, dense fibre,- fine hands, nOat coriipact ears placed close to the' head,having nb 1 pendant portion',- nil- indicating fineness and activity rather than greatpersonal strength or prowess. He wears 1 his beard full; it has been very dark or' black, it is now well mixed' with grey. His eyes'are clear, bright, and intelligent; 1 his lips thin and closing firmly; his : nose rises \v*ell- front the face, the nostrils; opening well.- The cheeks are thin, and eyebrows prominent'. The features in* repose have rather a Spanish type —are" most decidedly European—so’ much- so' that I think there is something more" than mere Maori in his composition.He has a bright, amiable, pleasing look,gnek as I have never seen on any other' Maori face. The features are very mobile;' his forehead will wrinkle with little pro-; vocation, and his eyes' scl'ntihit'e and* flash'. The head is not above the average' size, and the facial angle is a good one,not being more than 28 degrees. The height of the head’ as cotnpared with its 1 width is great, and it is especially fiill in l the middle lobe between the forehead’ and the crown. He is not a sensual character* nor will he win much of his ; power by the influence of the social facul-' ties alout. He will not distinguish himself either in'strategy or business man-' agemerit. He is not a destructive."character—if the shedding of blood is to be' •dbiie by his orders it is not likely to be' done. He knows little Of personaldanger he fears no one, and wohlcl die’ the death of a hero or martyr, and rejoice" in- the prospect of it. He has tbO*much ! self-esteem to'care fob pomp and display. He has a strong will; ; the harder void drive the more he will jib. To commence" to force him’ will be to' rouse all-that' there is" of courage' andzealiahisnatul-e.-The organs-of memory are full, and tbe' eye indicates plenty of language.- He' can see clearly,-and gather up knowledge' easily. He has' not much- logical power" n 1 argument; he will' nptterstarid comparisons the best, arid naturally will by analogy. He can observe, remember,compare,- and draw deductions as well and as quickly as the majority of trained 1 Englishmen; His' strong point, and' the' one most likely to influence the class of minds he does infUiehcej is Si’s combina 1 - tion ot spirituality, veneration,-and hope.He .firmly believes - all that be r utters, as during the time he speaks, the strong faculties carry him away. If he was an' Englishman he wonfd be'laughed at for a fool or fanatic; heard by unreasoning minds he is believed, and bis utteranceslooked upon as supernatural. The portion of brain in which these org'ans are' located is not only large hot active: He' has read the more mystic portions of the' Old Testament, and his large eomparisorf has sought for parallels in the history of his own people. He has dream t himself a second Moses, and his people are to him the Children of Israel. A little more ot scientific teaching—a .bit of knocking about in pur larger cities wbhld perhaps ctfre him. He hSsptayed at Parihaka until he knows but little of the outside world. If his bWii people can be taught a lesson brtwo, they will ■ deem him mad, and treat him accordingly. He will glory in storms, arid will enjoy reading of cataclysms and revolutions. He also believes in special interpositions of Providence—will far rather belie vejin . snch than irt law. He will pray with; great fervour, and will believe -that all his Wild askings will be granted. He has thorough faith in himself, and would gladly protect those who believe in what he teaches. In his calm moments he will be a kindly, well-disposed man, bat ,

if his advisers watch ther opportunity (and here is _the : - principal-danger)'they may manage to lead him into acts quite as rash as liis Statements; as lie is-sHort of cautiousness, is a rash man, caring little for consequences when under the Influence of those ruling faculties. At the conclusion of the reading, the lecturer said he thought the Maoris should be taught the lesson that they Vrere not to break the laws of their 'country. He did not think a war with Te Whiti would be desirable, if the difficulty could be settled in another way. Here was a man who was liable to ‘commit rash acts, but because he had committed a rash act there reason lor the “ jingos” declaring they wished to shoot the Maoris like wild dijcjjk. The lecturer considered that the frflluc policy Vas the best. If the Government would allow the natives the land, and then purchase it back from them, he thought • .Vtiiat would he far better than rushing r iuto a blotldy struggle between the races. It would be much easier to bring back the land by buying it, than to bring back those who would die on the field of battle. The last war with the Maoris twelve millions, and this wav might cost another twelve millions. He thought it would he wiser to give one million in money and have peace. Even those who wanted the Maoris to be exterminated would find that the money would be far inore destructive than the bullets.