EVOLUTION OF THE MAORI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 156, 23 June 1908, Page 4

EVOLUTION OF THE MAORI.

ORIGIN, MIGRATIONS, AND FUTURE LECTURE BY DR. BUCK. Dr. To Rangi lliron (Dr. P. H. Buck), of the Health Department, lectured to a large audience at the Leys Institute, , Auckland, on Friday evening, on the subject of the evolution of the Maori I race. Mr. 'J'. \Y. Leys presided. The Maori, -aid Dr. Buck, dealing first

of all with the origin of the race, was a branch, the most important branch,) of the Polynesian race, and an investi- 1 gation into his origin involved the en- j tire history of the Polynesian race. The lecturer proceeded to deal with the application of Polynesian traditions to the j solution of the' Maori's origin, (putting ' authorities who had come to this conclusion from a study of the languages, phvsiquc and build, and traditions and genealogies, " handed down by word of mouth from father to son, and taught with much ceremony and secrecy to the tohungas, or priesthood, in the whare rumangas, or sacred houses, of learning." The Polynesian memory, added the doctor, was cultivated to such an extent that it formed one of the racial characteristics of the people. _ Going further back into remote antiquity, the Polynesians at one time formed part of a very ancient Gaugclic race. Later they had enine into contact with a

Semitic or-.lewish race there. Between .ion-lim B.C. Ihe Aryans, according to Smith, pushed the Polynesians into the immv-isled mm. "Now oval tradition,

though marvellous in the case of the Polynesians. - ' said the lecturer, -cannot tell us of the infancy of the race any more than any of us can recount out

own history from the moment we entered the world. But language, customs, and bodily conformation are records more enduring than tablets of brass." The language phase of the question was dealt with first in an interesting manner, showing the contact of the Polynesian with other races, and to confirm the theory advanced as to his origin. The science of anthropology, added Dr. Buck, found race differences most clearly in stature and proportions of (he limbs, conformation of the skull and brain within, diameter of the features, etc.. and menial and moral temperament. The Eastern Polynesians were the second tallest race in the world, and they could not, therefore, be derived front the Malay or negritto races, both of whom were short. Their skulls in shape were long-headed, like the northern division of the Caucasians. The brain was large, and in the first-class

as regards size, as in the Caucasian and Mongol divisions. The lecturer drew other similar comparisons, adding that the nose was somewhat flattened, probably from the habit of rubbing noses. 'The tall, well-made figures of the Polynesian-, with well-developed calves, ami oval, pleasing faces, reminded the early European explorers of their own people, - ' said Dr. Buck. "The Cattcasic theory is now accepted by most authorities, and. that being so, the Polynesians are Caucasians of the same division as yourselves, the Anglo-Saxons, who enjoy the honour ot being the highest-develop-ed branch «f that division. The Polynesians were the forerunners of the Aryan-speaking people. They broke the Ituunds of this ancient home, and, overcoining all obstacles in field, forest, and I flood, plunged through mountain passes to the ocean, to carry the type of the Caucasian over the islands of the sea coast and south, till no more islands lay empty before them, and they had no more lands to conquer, though they sought them -in the Antarctic Ocean. Whether my ancestors came through the north-west passes into India or down through the ancient Empire of hania,

il little matters. In one of these eountries they rami' into contact with an Kgvptiau'. Semitic, ami Aryan influence, ull'iif which factors niileil in tlie evolution of (In l Mauri. 11l Sumatra or Jtiva they came into contact with another | t,V|ie of Cauciisic inilucnce. They met with the Imlinesians. who had been more in contact with tin: Mongol*, ami in the subsequent mixture of the two Caucasian races they gave to (he Polynesian the cult of tlic greenstone and tattooing''

Dr. I'.uck passed on to refer in an interesting manner to the scacruft of I In- race, and to the lauding of the six canoes at Kawhia in l.'i.iO. Aceordiii;;to the ancient sou of Peon: My son, if thou art asked to recite lliv genealogy, S.iv •• I am but a child, a pruUlinc, ' child, of little memory: "TliN I knew. Tainui. IV Arawa. Tokoinarii, i'okiloi.ia, Mata jitu.i. K lira ha up..: j "These were the canoes of my ancestors. -hi which they crossed (he wide expanse of ocean thai lav stretched before them." | Reference was made to the colonki-

- tic.n of (lie two i-lands iiv the crews. I, mi,! li.iw they absorbed the original c migration, who were their own kith an.l f kin. ami developed a stronger and more s sturdy nice in the climate; while their c art readied the highest development nf u any division <.f tlie race. In spite of ane cestors' advice to them not to fight. 1' they were in a perpetual state of war- ;. fare. They followed up the old proverb, " Let no man die tamely submitting like e a fat. lazy terakahi, which comes np from tlie sea without a struggle, but let ,-. him die fighting like the famous lmirna I (shark), which struggles to (he last . gasp of life." The race in New Zealand proved themselves experts in militarism . as wa« evidenced even to the present , day. by their fortifications, for instance. '. At the end of the 18th century the , population of Polynesia was 1.200,000; , last census it had fallen to ]51,233. The 1 Maoris were ■>:,{).imn when Captain Cook , reached \ew Zealand, and otherwise the , ellects of civilisation were very appar- . enl. continued the lecturer. Before the ]iakeha came here the Maori lived ■on I the hilltop., choosing line, healthy sites. . His sanitation, a- Captain Cook said, I was belie,- than thai existing in inane ', European cities. When the white mail i (-aine In- went down to the swamps, and Hie. old system of sanitation could not , be carried out. Physically the Maori had deteriorated: lie was weak-chested, and consumption had him in his deadlv grip. His inoralitv had not improved'; it had become lower. In intellect a few of the race had improved, but not the nias-c-. They did lint possess Hie mental acumen, or the power of application and oratory ..f the olden days. And as I" In- work, there was indolence now. where there was no putting on" till tomorrow then. "What no hope |'„r." , a i,i r),._ 1! ,„. i; "i coiielu-ion. "is a better understanding between (he ,„•„ „,.,.-. iy t . ~,.,, '',"'" '"'"I of the same division of the Cauca-iaus. and have niudi j„ common, he Maori oilers a better foundation for oe\elopin-nt. .than anv other dark--kimied ,-ar-e with which the AngloSavin- have come into contact, and as l he old order of things passes away, as undoubtedly it is passing, a permanent relorm mu-l lake place," A number ~f young Maoris vm ,„.,,. senl. and joined in the incanlations lllii-lralSng the ledim.. at the conclusi"'i of whicii Dr. liuck was accorded ■' hearly vote of thanks. The audience was -,, (hat a number were nimble t" obtain mlmis-ion.—X,. w Zealand Herald.