[PREFACE]
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PREFACE.
IN presenting TE IKA A MAUI to the Public, it will be necessary to commence with saying, that this was formerly the only name which the Natives had for the Island, and that it is nearly identical with that which Cook first received; being literally THE FISH OF MAUI, the Maori creator, who first drew up this second Britain "from out the azure main."
The name of New Zealand has succeeded it; and it seems a pity that so noble an appendage of the British Crown, which has been gained, not by the power of our arms, but by the voluntary consent of its inhabitants, solely through the influence of the Gospel, should still retain so unmeaning a name, which was not even given by the first discoverer. The good taste of the present age has re-named the neighbouring Continent and its attendant Isle. Van
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PREFACE.
Diemen's Land and New Holland will soon be obsolete names, being supplanted by the more euphonious ones of Australia and Tasmania. Why should not New Zealand, also, be re-named?--why not call it Austral-Britain, Australbion, or something similar? The present name is about as appropriate as those given to the provinces into which the first Governor divided the country--Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connaught. They have been blotted out, so let this also. Thus much for the name.
Next, with regard to the Work itself. The Author's aim has been to rescue from that oblivion into which they were fast hastening, the Manners, Customs, Traditions, and Religion of a primitive race: already the remembrance of them is rapidly being forgotten; the rising generation being almost as unacquainted with them as our Settlers in general. The Traditions of the Creation are now first presented to the Public. The late Governor Sir G. GREY has published a valuable collection of general Traditions, but I am not aware that any one has previously collected any of those here given, and few, indeed, could have done so, unless intimately conversant with the language and people. The natural features of the Islands are also described, and the Author, being a resident before it became
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PREFACE.
an English Colony, was enabled to watch the various changes it has successively passed through. Its present position, and its eligibility as a home for intending Emigrants, are also described; but, in pointing out its advantages, he has not wilfully concealed any of its contraries. The Colony is now rapidly increasing in population and stability; it possesses a constitution, and though, perhaps, sufficient time has not yet elapsed to make all its benefits manifest, doubtless in a few years the economical management of the public revenue, and the disinterestedness of its officers, will win for them the esteem and admiration of their fellow-colonists, and succeeding ages will regard them as the patriot fathers of their country.
The Author would here acknowledge the obligation he is under in the Natural History department to Cunningham, Dr. Hooker, Dr. Grey, and his coadjutors in the British Museum. The Illustrations, he may state, are all from sketches taken by himself on the spot, and have at any rate the merit of being faithful drawings of the various objects they represent. And with the hope that Te Ika a Maui will not prove altogether uninteresting to the Public, the Author takes his leave.
[CONTENTS]
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Introduction............ 1
CHAPTER II.
Mythology............ 12
CHAPTER III.
Mythology (continued).......... 32
CHAPTER IV.
Tapu............. 55
CHAPTER V.
Whare-Kura. --Religious Worship. --Native Baptism. --War Ceremonies .. 65
CHAPTER VI.
Fishing Ceremonies. --Manner of Hunting the Rat. --Witchcraft. --Niu. --Cursing. --Kura--Red......... 83
CHAPTER VII.
Customs Relating to the Dead. --Reinga...... 97
CHAPTER VIII.
Tinirau. --Traditions of Matuku and Witi; of Kupe; of Kupe and Turi; of Nga Hui; of Tama Te Kapua; and of Lake Mapere.. --Original Canoes............ 107
CHAPTER IX.
Wakatauki, or Proverbs. --Fables........ 126
CHAPTER X.
Songs. --Mottoes........... 138
CHAPTER XL
Personal Ornaments. --Moko, or Tattoo. --Mokai. --Names.. 148
CHAPTER XII.
Dreams. --Marriage. --Polygamy. --Children. --Eating. --Hakari.. 160
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CHAPTER XIII.
Amusements. --Time........ 171
CHAPTER XIV.
Origin, as traced by Language.--Affinity of Words--Monosyllabic Roots............ 179
CHAPTER XV.
History............. 204
CHAPTER XVI.
The Geology of New Zealand. --A Visit to Roto-Mahana... 219
CHAPTER XVII.
Climate. --Healthiness. --Population. --Fire-arms. --Emigration.. 251
CHAPTER XVIII.
Native Chiefs. --Pre-emption......... 270
CHAPTER XIX.
Samuel Marsden........... 281
CHAPTER XX.
Church............. 300
CHAPTER XXI.
Hongi. --Tareha. --Te Heuheu........ 309
CHAPTER XXII.
Te Rauparaha and Rangihaeata........ 323
CHAPTER XXIII.
Hone Heke --Tapouka. --Mamaku --Manihera and Kereopa. --Andrew Powers. --Jackson's Story........ 342
CHAPTER XXIV.
Means of Support. --Land. --Houses. --Native Ovens. ---Pua, or Bread... 377
CHAPTER XXV.
Natural History--Mammalia; Birds; Fish; Shells; Insects.. 394
CHAPTER XXVI.
Botany.............430
CONCLUDING REMARKS.
Hints to intended Emigrants.........458
APPENDIX.
[LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS]
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LIST OF ENGRAVINGS AND VIGNETTES.
Map of the New Zealand Islands.
Town of Wanganui........To face Title
The Geysers of Orakokorako......To face 224
The Old Priest of Waikowau, West Coast...... 11
The Monument of Reretawangawanga, the Chief of Waikanae.. 11
Crying for the Dead.......... 12
A Mere Mere........... 31
The Tomb of Heuheu.......... 32
A Memorial Idol of a Chief slain in battle...... 54
A tapued Chief eating with a Fern-stalk...... 55
A Chief praying to his God, and a Memorial Idol 62
The Church at Otake, on the Manganui-a-te-ao..... 65
Basket, with Gods.......... 82
Waingaroa Harbour.......... 83
Carved Box............ 96
A View of the Reinga.......... 97
The Carving on a Tomb......... 106
The Pa of Te Arero, on the Manga-nui-a-te-ao..... 107
The Prow of a War Canoe......... 125
Manganui-a-te-ao, a Tributary of the Wanganui.... 126
He Tata, or Tiheru--A Water-scoop for a Canoe.... 137
A Fishing Hut........... 138
He Koauau, or Musical Pipe........ 147
A Tattooed Head........... 148
He Waka Paparanga rakau, or Geneological Board.... 159
Hikurangi, taking leave of Friends....... 160
A Papa, or Carved Dish......... 170
Preparing Canoe for Sea...... 171
The Burial-place at Puke Tapu Atene, on the Wanganui... 179
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ENGRAVINGS AND VIGNETTES.
He Pareare, a Sandal or Snow-shoe....... 203
Motu Taiko, a small Island in Lake Taupo...... 204
He Heru, or Comb.......... 218
Wairake, Boiling Springs near Taupo....... 219
A Sketch near Wangape, on the North-West Coast.... 239
A Limestone Cave at Pukemapau....... 243
He Meremere Pounamu
(presented to the Queen).... 244
Roto-Mahana, the Warm Lake........ 245
Cooking at a Boiling Spring........ 250
Night Encampment.......... 251
Forest Scenery........... 253
A Ko, or Native Spade......... 258
Auckland............ 259
The Boulder Bank Harbour, Nelson....... 265
Mount Taranaki, or Egmont, from Ware atea..... 269
The Kiri Kiri Station, Bay of Islands........ 270
He Papa, or Carved Box......... 280
The Mission-house and Pa at Wanganui, from the Cave in the Cliff. 281
A Taiaha, or Chief's Staff......... 299
A Native School........... 300
He Whare Puni, or Warm House....... 308
Wangaroa Harbour......... 309
Monument of Te Heuheu, at Pukawa, Taupo..... 319
He Kokoti, an Ancient Weapon of War...... 322
A Waterfall at Papa-roa, on the Wanganui...... 323
A Frame to deposit Corpses in until decomposed..... 341
Atene, or Oawitu, a Village on the Wanganui..... 342
A Memorial Idol........... 376
An Ornamental Food-store......... 377
A Rata Tree........... 393
Cave near the Mouth of the Mokau....... 394
The Araara............ 410
A Vegetating Locust.......... 421
Vegetating Caterpillars......... 425
Repe Repe--Callorynchus Australis....... 429
A New Plant, Fam. Balanophoneae (?)....... 430
Hine Moa, Basaltic Formation on the Kaingaroa Road, in the Interior .. 458
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COLORED PLATES.
PLATE I.
Hepialus rubro-viridans...... 1
Pari kori taua, Erebus, (new species,) upper and under side.. 2
Dianthecia pictula....... 3
Hepialus........ 4
Ditto (female)........ 5
Hepialus vireseens....... 6
Geometridous, (new species.)...... 7
Geometridous, (male ditto)...... 8
Cidaria sp:....... 9
Pterophorus sp:....... 10
Ptychopoda sp:....... 11
Nyctemera Doubledayi....... 12
Sphinx, convolvuli....... 13
PLATE II.
Vanessa Gonerilla........ 1
Vanessa Itea, (upper and under side.)..... 2
Polyommatus Edna, (male.)...... 3
Polyommatus Edna, (female.)...... 4
Cynthia Cardui....... 5
Cidaria sp:....... 6
Prionoplus reticularis....... 7
Nemocephalus barbicornis Brentus..... 8
A fresh-water crab, (natural size.)..... 9
Ancistropterus quadri spinosus...... 10
Scolopterus sp:....... 11
PLATE III.
Helix Busbyi, (Gray.)....... 1
Bulimus Shongi, Lesson....... 2
Physa....... 3
Melanopsis Zealandeae, (Gould.)..... 4
Phyllida........ 5
Anateira .... 6
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COLORED PLATES.
Latea neritoides....... 7
Glacivirida........ 8
Corniforma........ 9
Amnicola ciliata....... 12
PLATE IV.
Freycinetia Pirori Banksii...... 1
Flower of ditto, Tawera....... 2
PLATE V.
Passiflora tetrandra, (Kawia.)..... 1
Metrosideros buxifolia, (Aka)..... 2
Aseroe rubra, (Neinei.)...... 3
Podocarpus dacrydioides, (Kahikatea.).... 4
Piper Excelsum, (Kawa kawa.)..... 5
Heodictyon cibarium, (Kapura wetu, Patu watatiri.).. 6
Innominata........ 7
PLATE VI.
Nestor meredionalis, (Kaka, Korako).... 1
Apterix Australis, (Kiwi.)...... 2
Anthornis melanura (Kokorimako.), 3
Strigops habroptilus, (Kakapo.)..... 4
Creadion carunculata, (Tieki)...... 5
Ptilotis cincta, (Hiki, kotihe.)...... 6
PLATE VII.
Spatula rhynchotis, (Kuruengo.), 7
Ortygometra affinis, (Popotai.)..... 8
Ortygometra tabuensis, (Moko piriru.).,.. 9
Endynamis Taitensis, (Kohoperoa).... 10
Petroica toi toi, (Miro miro.)...... II
Platycercus Novae Zea: (Kakariki, Pouwaitere.)... 12
PLATE VIII.
Porphyrio melanotis, (Pakura, pukeko.).... 13
Himantopus Novae Zea: (Torea, Taupo).... 14
Herodias flavirostris, (Kotuku.)..... 15
Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus, (blue duck,) (Wio.)... 16
Hatteria Punctata, (Tuatara, Tuatete).... 17
Naultinus elegans, (Kakariki.)..... 18
