THE OLD NEW ZEALAND MAORI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2444, 10 March 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE OLD NEW ZEALAND MAORI.

[NY MAJOR WILSON. I

"The Old New Zealand Maori," is the subject on which we desire to offer some observations, and we sincerely trust they may prove both interesting and instructive. Our task is, however, no light one, if it is to be treated thoroughly ; and we [ear in the time alloted for its elucidation, we shall on that account appear to some disadvantage ; and to seemingly perform our task, (if such it can be called), in a rather discursive and perfunctory manner. We shall have to traverse ground of such an extent —(if we may be allowed to say so), that we fear your patience may tire ere we can properly conclude ; but our object is, that you may carry away with you a correct and comprehensive impression of the tonic oitembh, as it were, of this interesting people; who are by common consent, accounted, both physically and intellectually, the finest among savages.

In proceeding to give an account of tho Maori, wo shall quote treely from that wonderfully graphic work by Judge Manning, " Old New Zealand." Judge Manning was, of all men, the best calculated to give a clear and correct conception of native matters, having been the expert, p'tr excellence, in all connected with the old Maori habits and customs. In so doing, no apology to you is required, as you will gladly listen to his graphic delineations of Maori character and usages. To enter into a history of the Maori, and to trace, if we could, whence he came, would be both tedious and undesirable. We may, however, shortly state onr belief that he ia of undoubted Malay origin. Albeit, some contend that he is of " the lost tribes of the house of Israel."

Anyone who considers the question must bo struck with the similarity in appearance of the Maori nnd of the Japanese, and the inhabitants of many of the islands in the Eastern Archipelago. It ie no answer to say, us has been asserted, their languages so much differ that they cannot, be of tho same race ; for we notice among the black population of the New Hebrides and Solomons that although evidently of tho same origin, even contiguous tribes speaks a totally different dialect, if not language. But we find that very many indeed of the words of Malay and Maori are identical; of course, these people did not arrive there at one jump, but they touched and lived on island after island like so many stepping stones, Rirotonga being about the last, until they reached tho on? in which they are now found. All their traditions, too, point iti this one direction. They came in double canoes, such as are used in the islands to which we refer, and their legends confirm all we state. Even the celebrated stone-bird—tho Korotangi— now in our possession, which camo over in the first migration, bears the impression of Eastern handiwork—Japanese, according to Von MiuiHt—and is a collateral ovidence of our contention.

The old New Zealander —not an aged one—is a grand specimen of man. Tall, not too fleshy, standing as straight as a rush as we have it, or, as they say, like the manuka tree. In colour he is of a rich brown, often suffused with a blush of carmine, with eyes as black as night, frankly looking one full in the face. In physique, many of them are very Ajaxes in their proportions. Mentally, their powers will bear favourable comparison with the European. Mathematical intricacies are readily mastered by those youths who have had the opportunity of study ; and to minds so constructed anything is easy of accomplishment. Few of the true natives have had the advantage of education, to enable them to grapple with scientific problems, but the halfcastes show a mental quality which by the side of the European youth asserts itself as unmistakably as doe 3 their prowess on the playground.

The New Zealandera are divided into what they call iwi, or nations, and these are sub-divided into hapus or tribal families. The name of the iwi is prefixed by the wordNgati, asNgatiraukawa—the sous of Raukawa—Nga orNgati standing in their language much as the Mac in Scotland, or the O in Ireland. Formerly, before the advent of the missionary and consequent peace, they lived in fortified villages called " pas," and had to proceed to the surrounding country to cultivate, and to the streams and the sea coast to fish. They were adepts at fishing and catching eels, which, latter, abound in all the swamps and creeks arising therefrom. They were equally expert in the snaring of birds ; notably the kakaor brown parrot; and the kereru, or large wood pigeon. The old maori black rat, too, was considered a great delicacy ; though they abhor the imported, our brown or grey norwiiy rat —which has exterminated the Native one. Their dislike to the imported was not in consequence of its raid* against the aboriginal rodent, but of their, shall we say, disgust of th* new. They did not, for instance, object to a roast joint of the European genus homo, though they preferred the standard " real native," a3 we in England say of the oyster.

In their domestic arrangements they appeared to be somewhat communistic, a number of families living and sleeping in the same houso, which is one long large room, rather low, built of pole» and thoroughly well thatched. They have in this room a pathway, if it can be so called, down the centre of the room, formed by laying poles on tho ground, and fastened into it with pegs. The inmates sleep on either side, with their feet towards this pathway, and their heads to the walls. In this pathway or passage, which is from 4 to 5 feet in width, there is a hole in the ground, circumscribed by four squared stones, in which a charcoal fire burns all night. The reason they are not suffocated by tho fumes is, we presume, that it is not true charcoal, though having the appearance, it having been burnt in the open, and the hot embers taken inside. To a European these houses are very stifling, and when they stay ?t a settlement, usually elect to sleep in a tent or a place apart. All tho cooking is either done outside or in a house built for the purpose ; as they and tho food would bo contaminated by some tapu infringement, if prepared where they sat or slept. The food is principally steamed in a hangi, or Maori oven, as it is called, being a hole dun in tho ground. When cooking proceeds, stones are placed in the bottom and round tho sides of this hole, a fire is then made therein, and when they become hot, yet not rod hot, as some suppose, water is then freely sprinkled, or rather, lavee, over them,a mat is then laid on the steaming stones, also wetted, the food on this mat, water again laved, and the whale covered wifh earth and patted pretty close. A whole pig - can be cooked in this manner. Potatoes take about thirty-five minutes, and come out quite dry. Fish, or eels cooked thus are deliciously succulent, having lost nouo of their natural juices.

In the centre of these villages, id a large clear space, called a rnarae,—a clear space —for play or public meetings, and here it is that all momentous issues aro decidod. Here, too, at night, do young and old congregate, to huka, sing, dance and rolute stories—a porenial theatre, where tho playgoers Buffer no satiety.

It can well be understood that any people living as these, would be partial to outdoor and athletic sports, and so we find. The young Maori begins life by learning to swim ; they can do so fairly almost before they can walk, and by the time they are 15 or 16 they are proficients and might graduate as professors in natation. We were much amused onco at Rotorua by a slender young person ducking most unmercifully an officer in the 12th regiment, a perfect giant in oomparison, and a good swimmer, but ho made a sorry exhibition in this trial of skill. This particular pastiino in tho water, of rumaki, or ducking an opponent ia ono they much relish, and curiously enough the women aro Biiperior to the men, aa they also aro at deep soa diving , for crayfish or tho octopus,

The young are vßry fond of playing with the pataka or whipping-top at which they are very skilful, keeping the top spinning for an astonishing time. It was a surprise to Optnin Cook to seothe boys thus engaged as in England. As with oar youth, too, these aro skilful in the flying of kites which they call D'.ikau. They aro made of reeds and matting, and look like a sparrow hawk in its flight, though we have seen some ae steady as if placed against a wall without any apparent movement. We were much amused once at an old chief of Maungatautari, called Knranria. He was going, he said to Cororaandel to prosecuto a land claim at the cour ,, . there. In surprise, at his possessing land at such distance, we said, "What, have you land there." "Yes," he said, "one of my ancesters Tnpuna, was flying a pakau—kite—when the string broke and it was blown there." Wrestling is what tho native most excels in, Europeans are no match for them in this sport. The Maori wrestler with a name is superior to the professional of most countries. When Professor Millar talked of going to Waikato, there were three Maoris set apart to try conclusions with him, notably the famous Te Ngakau.

(To lie continued.)