1838 - Polack, J. S. New Zealand [Vol.II] [Capper reprint, 1974] - Chapter IX

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CHAPTER IX.

Of the tapu or sacred prohibition, the priests have the sole management.

If an accident of any description occurs to the person of a chief, the spot where it took place is sacred ground. This is generally manifested

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USAGES OF PROHIBITION.

by a small quantity of human hair being made fast to a tree or stick, and this sign is never violated, unless purposely to foment a quarrel.

A father is often forbidden against touching his child, though any other person may do so when he pleases. Thus any impudent urchin, provided he pleases the priest, may be as saucy as he likes to any other person who are tapued from touching him, or giving a wholesome castigation.

When either sex are busily engaged on any particular kind of work, they are forbidden to touch food, being fed like babies from the hands of another party; and when the voracity of a native appetite is taken into consideration, the job will be found no sinecure. If a slave is thus tapued, he has to swallow his allotted food as best he can, as it lies on the ground, taking especial care his fingers do not touch a morsel.

This conduct can give but little surprise, for we find in all ages and nations mankind studying, it would appear for the want of more profitable employment, how they shall best afflict themselves to render life burthensome, generally under the plea of sacred religion, arraying that bright form of faith and hope in

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PHRENOLOGICAL NOTICES.

the most repulsive garb--metamorphosing the sunshine of eternal happiness into dark clouds of dread and despair.

The system of Gall would find that the highly superstitious turn of the native mind spurs him to acts of folly. I possess the cast of a native's head, which warrants in some degree my analysis of their character. I will only observe that the protuberance denoting fear and superstition is full as high, as conscienciousness is the reverse.

The name of a chief is accounted as holy; yet these names are bestowed on favourite dogs, pigs, etc. The lucky animal who bears such an appellation is never killed, unless taken by an enemy, who has less compunction, nature otherwise being allowed to take her course on these right honourables. Tapued pigs are often taken on board ships for sale; but they are no sooner sold, than means are found to steal them back almost immediately.

I was on board a ship when one of these sanctified beasts was produced on the deck for sale, he was very large, and on being hauled up the ship's side appeared to feel much discommoded; the master enquired of me his probable value; I observed, but little to him, as the natives would prevent his being killed. I had often

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PROHIBITORY LAWS.

seen the brute before, he was an old acquaintance. The master bought him notwithstanding, previously directing his people to kill the animal directly it was purchased. They did so accordingly, on which the natives commenced a howling at this murder as they called it, (kohudu) which they would never have expressed at the death of a dozen slaves. The master was immediately titled a murderer, by which he is known to this day.

The tapu has often interfered with European traders; thus in making a fishing net, the river opposite is sacred, and no canoes are allowed to pass the river. Kiwikiwi, a chief of the Kaua-kaua, tapued that beautiful river in 1836, because he thought proper to vent his spite against a neighbouring chief, who lived farther up the stream, and thus cut off his communication with the shipping. The simple natives obeyed, but the Europeans would not, and the chief discharged several muskets loaded with ball at the various boats as they passed; luckily there are not many native riflemen even among the best shots; but, at a conference that followed, it was carried unanimously and the motion seconded, that, for the future, Europeans should not be shot at for such trifles.

Some of the priests understand the art of

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A VENTRILOQUIST.

ventriloquism, though from the filthy obscenity of the natives it is not always essayed to the most legitimate of purposes. On enquiring of a priest if he had seen the atua, he answered, " Oh yes ! he is now at home, " pointing to his forehead, " and I can produce him. " The classical reader will be reminded that Wisdom herself emanated from the forehead of Jove, but the resemblance can be no farther pursued, save the countenance of the speaker, which, in beauty, resembled that displayed on the aegis of the immortal goddess.

The priest then commenced some distant noises, that were efforts in the above art; but had this ancient necromancer seen Matthews "At home," or in New Zealand, he would have given up the ghost, for very shame and vexation. I made an attempt, but freely own my inability to equal the priest, who was applauded by the silly bystanders, in whom they devoutly believed their tutelary atua had taken up his town residence. I told them that in Europe, people apparently could make a dog express himself on polemics, as the priest had done, or a pig distinctly state his opinions on political economy, and the shocking redundancy of population (the latter is a fact). The natives, who doat on their children, exclaimed, it must be a poorka kikina rawa, or an exceeding bad

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PROPITIATING THE GODS.

pig. I mentioned the antiquity of the art in Asia and Europe, and was informed that their priests had made use of it from time immemorial; that their ancestors had first learnt it, imitating the notes of birds. Several persons present made similar attempts to the priest, and finished their efforts with their usual flatulent vulgarity. The old man admitted it was priestly deceit, (hangareka no na tohunga maori) but probably when I left them, he told the listening party that he was obliged to say something to convince the white man.

If a native imagines he has offended his atua in word or deed, he generally offers a payment to subdue his anger, such as throwing a favourite object into the water, or even burning his house to the ground, on which spot he never rebuilds another, or else setting fire to the house of a weaker neighbour, who dare not resent it, which is supposed to answer the same purpose just as well. This performance he expects must propitiate the anger of the atua; but if he is given to suppose it has not done so, that his labour has hitherto been bestowed in vain, he then generally commits a crime of a deeper die, such as killing a slave to satisfy this remorseless divinity (kaua-kona).

The natives have a rite among them very si-

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BAPTISM.

milar to the ceremony of baptism, which occurs when the child is about eight years old.

The infant is carried by an old established priest to the banks of a river, in which the child is dipped, the old gentleman praying to various gods that his charge may commit every action that is included within the bounds of rascality-- that he may be equally prone to villany as his ancestors--that he may devour his enemies and escape the same system of gastronomy--that his dance of the haka may alone frighten his enemies into convulsions and thus fall into his hands, as the kukupa (wild pigeon) cannot escape those of the subtile fowler.

A sumptuous feast is then given, in which the priest contrives to swallow a sufficiency in the shape of tithes, that might satisfy less sanctimonious idolators for a month. It is the interest of these "conscript fathers" to stir up animosities between the tribes, as then the weaker people generally send this functionary such presents as may tickle his cupidity, and cause him to avert the wrath of his tribe on some other 'scapegoats, whom the priests are at no loss to fix upon.

Dreams are regarded with much attention by the natives, and, sitting in circles, they communicate them to each other, giving interpretations

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SUPERSTITIONS.

as may best please them. The aged sages are eternally dozing or dreaming, especially in war time, when these oracular personages are in continual request.

A shake of the head, though there may be nothing in it, is looked upon with ominous suspicion. If the dreams are inauspicious, patience, a scarce commodity among these perverse children, is recommended, as in all likelihood the battle will turn against them, and their tribe be destroyed.

When a fleet of canoes is manned for undertaking a war expedition, on every beech the warriors arrive at, it is customary to take some sea weed or boughs of a laurel tree, and after immersing them in the ocean, make them fast to the branch of a tree or in a cemetery, if one is near, prayers being said to propitiate the Taniwoa, Tu, and the atuas of the winds, to annihilate their enemies and exalt themselves. No food is allowed to be cooked or eaten until this ceremony is performed; any slave attempting to act to the contrary, would probably be killed, and afford provision to break the fast of their devout masters. Another method of ariolation is practised, by throwing a muscle shell, or piece of sacred stick at the preserved heads of their enemies as they are placed in a row,

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BARBERS.

and as it may fall, the side being previously agreed on, will signify peace, or a contrary termination.

The office of barber is not attended with the salary attached to that profession in civilised countries, as a native tonsor is tapued for two and three days, so that the hair is allowed to grow very bushy before it is cut, and when the operation takes place, it is cropped with a muscle shell as close as possible, this being the primitive apology for a pair of scissars, and a razor.

The natives are wholly guided by superstitious fears.

A number of natives were employed one day carrying on their backs a quantity of bags of flour and biscuit from a boat into my store; a corner of one of the bags came unsewed and the biscuit fell out--this bag was carried by an inferior chief; a slave man standing by, picked the bread up, for which I offered him some; the chief carrier stopped me, "Give him something else for his trouble," said he, "but a slave must not eat of that which has been carried on my back; he would die."

A quantity of grubs and caterpillars having made free with a plantation belonging to Parore a chief of Kaipara, the priest of the village placed some

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ARIOLATIONS.

pieces of an old sacred canoe at each corner of the plantation. The caterpillars, after having satisfied themselves, left the place for a new migration; the priest got the credit of having dispersed them.

The first fish of the season of any kind, is never disposed of, but is eaten by the chiefs of the party as early as possible, as thanks to the atua for sending the supply; it must be remarked, whenever it is necessary to acknowledge the bounty of the Creator by feasting, these people express their devotional feelings, by filling themselves to repletion.

A priest was called in to the brother of one of my native servants, to administer to him for the illness with which he was afflicted. My services were repudiated: the old disciple of Galen, (or rather Belzebub), began by uttering some nonsense, which not understanding himself, it may reasonably be supposed no other person could fathom. His incantations were of no avail, for the lad died, (of atrophy); the old doctor fearful of losing his celebrity, and having a professional jealousy of another in the trade, laid the disease of the lad on his shoulders. The poor fellow, who was inferior in the craft, was obliged to fly to preserve his life from the infuriated friends of the deceased. The lying

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A SAGACIOUS PARENT.

old priest was satisfied with the result of his manoeuvre, demanded his fee, and received it; viz. some baskets of sweet potatoes.

I formerly met with a chief who was greatly afflicted by the death of a son; within a short time after, he again called upon me evidently very cheerful. I could not refrain asking him the cause of so sudden a discontinuance of his grief; he replied, --"that he had passed a bush, some few days previously, when his late son, who had inserted himself into the body of the little Tikau bird, whistled to him and bade him dry up his tears, as he felt perfectly satisfied with the quarters he then occupied. "Shall I grieve at his happiness?" the sagacious old man enquiringly demanded. "Not with my advice!" I replied.

The native believes that the souls of men quit the body, while the sleeper is dreaming.

At one period, as I was reflecting on a friend, whose remembrance was endeared to me, an elderly chief enquired of what I was thinking. "No to wahine towahi pea," of your wife abroad perhaps, but I know not if your soul (wairua) travels or not, but be certain your body does, though no person is aware of it. I have often been to Kai kahuroa, (in Cook's

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MAKUTU, OR BEWITCHING.

straits four hundred miles south) to see my son who resides there; but though I only leave at night, I am always back before sunrise. I inquired if his many wives never missed him from their bed. "O no! how should they tell, when they are fast asleep," inclining his head on his hand and imitating the dulcet sounds of snoring.

The ridiculous belief of makutu, or bewitching a person to death, is implicitly believed as a part of the native credenda.

I have often seen the bones of hapless people, who had been killed and devoured, having had the blame thrown on them of willingly causing the death of another, by evil wishing. Any person renders himself liable to be bewitched, by a lingering death, on eating the food of his enemy, smoking from his pipe, making use of his paddle, or covering himself within the garment of his supposed foe.

I was represented as having bewitched a slave boy whom I had purchased for a blanket, a musket, a bag of duck shot, and some well thumbed leaves of the "Penny Magazine," which was appropriated as wadding for the "diffusion" of shot, not of knowledge, it being the season for pigeon shooting.

Te Tawa, the master, after receiving the pay-

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SUPERSTITIONS,

ment, inveigled the lad from my service. On calling on this noted cannibal and demanding the boy, he gave me to understand his time was otherwise employed, than idly running after slave boys, and if I chose to buy such, the only method he could devise from effectually preventing their return to their native villages, (kainga maori) was to kill and roast them.

I thanked him for the suggestion so much in accordance with his own savory tastes; but again demanded the youth, and accused him of kidnapping him.. Tawa gave me a smile of contempt and defiance. I felt somewhat nettled, as the lad was very quiet and well behaved, but infirm in health. I unhappily said with some asperity, "If I do not get the boy before to-morrow, be certain you shall not have him;" this threat was repeated to the youth with exaggerations, who thought it was meant to bewitch him; he took to his bed, refused all sustenance, and within a fortnight died.

The gross superstition of the evil eye has gained as much credence in New Zealand, as among the peasantry of civilized Europe; and the Celtic secondary vision is stated to be among the privileges of prescience possessed by the priests. Old houses and fences are often strictly prohibited from being touched, and

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CEMETERIES.

it has been lately supposed that some of Cook's sailors having taken the fencing of a marai, or cemetery at Owhyhee, (Hawaii) was the cause of the conflict that terminated in the death of that illustrious man.

The wai tapu or cemeteries, are regarded by the people with particular veneration. In these places of burial, are deposited the remains of free people, raouis' or monuments, being erected for persons of note. These places and the

Raouis', or monumental effigies.

annual exhumation of bones, have been described.

These villages of the dead lose much of their sanctity in the opinions of those natives within

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EUROPEAN CURIOSITY.

the precincts of the Europeans. I have frequently witnessed the rage that has often excited these people to acts of mischief, on their reverential feelings towards these sacred places being trespassed upon.

In Hokianga, a ship master and one of his passengers, strayed near a sacred grove, and not perceiving any person in the adjoining village, put aside the palings that encircled a native sepulchre, in size and shape resembling a sentry box. They put aside the hingeless door, and saw within, two skeletons placed in a sitting posture, and behind the mortal remains some muskets and native mats were placed in a box for the use of the deceased in their passage to the reinga.

They had scarcely gratified their curiosity, when a slave girl, who was alone in the adjoining village, discovered them in this act of impiety; she raised a cry, on which the Europeans hastily retreated; but too late, for their conduct was communicated to the chief Toho, who was then absent on the island village of Motiti. The tidings quickly spread throughout the river, and nothing less than plundering the ship under the command of one of the intruders, should pay for such sacrilegious temerity; --this act being regarded as the most atrocious that could be devised against the honour of a tribe.

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PAYING FOR PEEPING.

Early the next morning the friends of the injured party were collected to rob the store of the Horeke trading settlement, which was nearest to the sacred district. And doubtless they would have accomplished their intentions, but another party of natives assembled of their own consent, to defend the European station. Proceedings commenced as usual with those people, by both parties dancing the Haka, which was followed by a scuffle, in which some severe blows were given and taken; the circle was then made, when the insulted chiefs commenced their orations; dancing up and down the ring demanding payment, whose bulk, (to use their expressions) heaped together, should correspond with the height of the hills behind them (some nine hundred feet,) many similar speeches followed replete with bravado; when an utu was at last agreed to be taken, consisting of a few blankets, muskets, and tobacco, which effectually quieted the doughty champions, and each party separated, after testifying their mutual friendship by another dance.

The sepulchre, however, was broken up, the bones were taken to the river, scraped and washed from the impurities they had undergone by being seen by any person except the priestly

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PRIMITIVE CUSTOMS.

chiefs, deposited in new mats, and finally replaced in another receptacle at some distance.

Their scrupulous feelings generally give way to a payment. I have already observed the trouble that was given me in 1833 through the cemetery being on the ground of my settlement of Parramatta. Three years after the purchase, these identical hypocrites, requested me to build on the sacred place, observing the land had passed away from them, and if any sin was attached to making use of the wai tapu, it would only fall on the European; these scrupulous devotees only required a little payment for their forbearance. I did not avail myself of the offer or even take advantage of it; determined not to hurt the superstitious feelings of the poorer classes, who were born on the land, and looked upon the place with peculiar veneration, aware that in a very few years civilization would rapidly erase all these primitive customs.

Often have I been amused by the natives imparting to me their thoughts, on first viewing an European, as any other colour than white for his complexion, would not have been a greater cause for astonishment.

One man stated his surprise on seeing a boat land with seamen, who had black legs and white

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EARLY FEARS.

bodies; others with bright red bodies, and white legs speckled with white spots, according to the dresses they had on, which was supposed to form part of the body; but their fear was at its height on seeing these rara avises walk about the beech, on which numbers of the natives ran up the hills, while others climbed the trees. A travelling caravan of animals emptied of its contents in a country fair, amidst a gaping throng, would not have excited greater alarm than these "na pakeha kes," (strange men).

The natives at the southward would also describe to me the notions their fathers entertained, on seeing a ship for the first time.

An indistinct tradition had been handed down of a houseful of atuas', arriving from the clouds; but with the exception of the dog having taken his passage in the aerial conveyance, and who was left behind to solace the people--nought else was preserved to refresh the recollection.

The astonishment of the people, at Turunga, on seeing Cook's ship was so great, that at first, they were benumbed with fear; but presently, recollecting themselves, they felt determined to find out if the gods, (as the new comers were thought to be,) were as pugnacious as themselves. It was agreed to attack the ship and see if they were invincible.

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SOMNIFEROUS ANIMALS.

Many of the natives, on beholding the first man on horseback, could not believe but the two beings formed one animal, and nothing could exceed their surprise than seeing this modern centaur divide himself in two, and walk away at his leisure, apparently with perfect ease to himself and satisfaction of the animal: a similar feeling we have perhaps felt in our earliest days in accompanying, (through five octavo volumes,) the Sultan Shahriar, (or some of his highness's friends,) to behold the young king of the Black Isles uncovering himself to prove his composition consisted of being half mortal and the extremities, a base of black marble. The additional two legs did not surprise the people much, who were accustomed to a similar formation in their dogs and pigs; they were not unused to feel the effects of their lateral members, while sleeping with those associates in bed, when some dream, like Clarence's, have, perhaps, disturbed the somniferous quiet of these quadrupeds.

It was long debated among a sagacious conclave of the native priesthood, what species of an atua a newly imported jackass belonged to. His Midas like ears were supposed as peculiarly fitted to attend to the supplications of his followers, and the loud reverberating tones of his harmonious voice appeared to upbraid the small

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PATHOLOGY.

still sounds of the native atuas, who are principally quartered in the bodies of the smallest birds.

The pathology of the New Zealanders, who are a pituitous race, does not swell to a large amount.

Water having hitherto been the principal beverage of this people, they have hitherto been exempt from the many diseases that torture the body of the European, from being addicted to spirituous liquors. The universal practice of rising early as the day breaks, and sleeping night or day when so disposed, renders the constitution of the native the healthiest in nature. One of the best proofs I can adduce, is, that from a gun-shot wound to a trifling hurt, the flesh heals remarkably quick.

In the incision of the moko, or tattoo, the body heals in half the time it would if performed on the European. The venerable elders, whose flowing beards, white as snow with age, cause the civilized man of feeling to regard them with respect not unmixed with kindly affection, are as lively and vivacious as their youthful grandchildren; and if wanting in the vigour displayed by their sons, they are almost as agile. These ancient sages partake of the feeling incidental to mankind at a certain age, viz., depreciating

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PERIOD OF GESTATION.

the present period and lauding the "good old times." They do not boast as we do of the "wisdom of our ancestors," as so small a modicum of that commodity has been received by these people, that a nutshell might very conveniently carry the digest.

Age does not subdue the spirit of these senators, as in periods of war, they are indomitable, (as far as speechifying extends); they cleave the air with their little spears, shaking with impotent passion. With the exception of a little comatose affection, they do not suffer much from senility. The art of smoking a narcotic, (tobacco especially,) is a national habit; the pipe being introduced between the lips of the infant before it numbers twelve months in age; nor does this weed ever meet with neglect, even to the last scene of all, sans teeth and every sense.

The pains of parturition give but little annoyance to the native females; fifteen minutes only are required at the period of gestation, for the month of the civilized world. The lady retires to a bush, without any ceremony, generally alone, and separates the umbilical cord. The mother immediately commences her own ablutions, and that of young master, and within a few hours attends as usual to her household

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DEFORMITIES.

affairs. The new acquaintance is presented to the delighted father, and as swaddling clothes are unknown in the country, the limbs of the infant soon become perfected, and unsightly blemishes are seldom observed. In Tartarian communities, it is stated, immediately after the birth of an infant, the father takes to the bed with his offspring, receiving the honours that certainly appertain to the lady only, instead of a sound horse whipping; but the New Zealand parent takes his full share of trouble in rearing his child, acting as dry nurse, (somewhat a misnomer) to the youngling. 1

Deformed persons are seldom seen in New Zealand. One little man, with a protuberance from a diseased spine, was an instance I perceived of the kind; also a dwarf, with his knees and feet quite inverted. These two unlucky fellows, together with the chief at Maungakahia, are all I ever perceived deformed among many thousand natives.

The diseases gathered from unlawful indulgences, are not attended with the danger similarly accompanied in other countries; the cure is effected by means similar to those employed for procuring premature birth, namely, by steaming, with the natives' method of preparing the oven.

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PATHOLOGY.

It is also made use of by the elderly females when unwell. The stones are gathered and made red hot with a powerful wood fire, then a quantity of green celery is placed over them, and above all a stout native mat, on which the female seats herself as comfortable as need be. It has something the effect of a Dutch warming pan. Children often die of cachexy, or want of nourishment. Extravasation is performed by the tangi; such scenes would delight a Sangrado, (the hot water excepted). The nepenthe of the present people is a little tea, sugar, and flour; these modern luxuries are supposed to cure every disease, from a broken neck to the tooth-ache. There are very few natives of a plethoric habit, and, with the exception of Tarria, a Bay chief of enormous muscular proportions, I do not remember to have seen a second person similarly inclined to obesity. Tarria is a monster in size, and the brutality of his tastes correspond. I have seen this man swallow the contents of a bucket, full of cook's dripping and slush, alongside a ship, and then request a second edition of the filthy mess. This ogre has nearly consumed a baby at a meal, without any after complaint of inconvenience and indigestion. A nasty cutaneous disease, called the Waiakiaki, is neither more nor less than the itch, engendered from the filthy

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EPIDEMIC PENALTIES.

habits of the people. Close acquaintance spreads this disease, which breaks out in little pustules of virulent matter. Sulphur, applied internally and externally, has relieved the native in two days from this pandemic after a protracted illness.

One instance only of leprosy, or scrofula, came before my notice. This latter disease I have seen very common among the native aborigines of Mozambique, on the African side of the Indian Ocean, and among the inhabitants of the islands of Torres Straits, (Murray's Islands,) that divides the coasts of New Guinea from New Holland. An amaurosis, or partial blindness of the eyes, exists especially among the villagers residing in the vicinity of the sandy coasts.

The painful hydrocele is of continual occurrence. I may only remark on this subject, that domestic irritations are thus avenged by the weaker sex, and cases have occurred in which immediate death has taken place from domestic fracas.

The above few diseases form the sole list of the epidemic penalties of New Zealand, and it will be remembered that most of these, to a cleanly people, would be wholly avoided. The influenza and measles were introduced from New South Wales in a colonial vessel; but little damage ensued; few persons suffered materially.

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CAUSES OF DECREASE.

The missionary families, during twenty-five years, were deprived of one single adult member only; in this case the female approached near to sixty years of age, and her illness had no connexion with the climate of the country. It has been stated, that many of the natives have disappeared from the land, in consequence of the introduction of Europeans. This will ever be the case in the commixture of two nations, whose diet totally differ; but if the two people are amalgamated in society, and equally partake of a corresponding nourishment, in the immediate generation that follows, the decrescency of the natives from this cause, must cease. In the country, we daily perceive children of various ages, the offspring of European fathers and native mothers; a handsomer race does not exist; healthier or more muscular; yet in many cases, of servants for example, the change of diet is too much for them, and they eventually decline beneath a new system; but very few deaths ensue solely from this cause.

In the Sandwich Islands, if a native woman is married to an European, she is not expected to have more than one offspring, as her death is expected before a second birth can take place, from, principally, the above debilitating cause. In New Zealand gestation is not attended with so heavy a penalty.

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MATERIA MEDICA.

The materia medica of the nation is very simple, but efficacious. Fern root is masticated for dysentery; it is invaluable for the purpose, with the aid of some of our medicaments. A decoction from the leaf of the kaikatoa is used for urinal complaints. Europeans have applied to it for relief from the most disgusting of diseases, and found it serviceable. The kauakaua or kava of the Pacific is found serviceable in similar complaints; various herbs and grasses are used for steaming purposes, and these few simples, together with bathing in salt water, and refreshing the body by sitting in nudity in the open air, form the sole domestic medicines of the country.

The Language of the New Zealanders is radically the same as that made use of by the Oceanic islanders, or descendants of the Malayan race, who inhabit an extensive space, comprising nearly a fourth of the globe; thus we find a corresponding dialect spoken by the people inhabiting the islands in the China Sea, and those of the Sandwich Islands, bordering the North-West coast of America, also in the Islands of New Guinea, New Ireland, New Britain, Louisiades, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, in short the isles of the Indian, African, South, and North Pacific oceans.

Jacob le Maire in 1616, was the first European,

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PHILOLOGY

who committed to writing a short vocabulary of the languages of the several lands he visited; and the admiration of the philologist of the present day, must be excited at the remarkably correct ear this navigator must have possessed, and the similarity of the dialects, that in general differ so much among Europeans, speaking the same language in different provinces. The people of the South Pacific Islands would furnish proof, if evidence were wanting, that the Malays have at all times been better navigators, than the natives of New Guinea; the latter race exist only on the islands contiguous to that island. The Malays have spread themselves in all parts of the south seas, in the eastern and more remote islands of India; and no other inhabitants have been yet discovered, whose language bears such decisive marks of Malay origin.

The language is exceedingly soft to the ear, even in the boisterous war speech; and so very ample, that the numberless small creeping plants that would pass unheeded by the uneducated European, are known to the New Zealanders by distinct appellations, and often the same or substance is distinguished by several different names.

Tupia, a Taheitian, conversed so as to be easily understood by the New Zealanders, and by the

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OF OCEANICA.

people of Savu an island in latitude 10 deg. 35' south lat. 137 deg. 30' west longitude. It is much perhaps to be regretted, that the youthful New Zealanders were not originally taught the English language by the missionaries, rather than their composing almost a new dialect for them, the orthography of which, even to an Englishman unacquainted with the continental idiom, is obscure. Several English words have been introduced into the native dialect, but in orthography and pronunciation are unlike either language.

The natives in every portion of the islands are anxious to speak the English language, and on hearing expressions from the lips of Europeans, they often repeat and treasure them up. I have several times been saluted by the people, on arriving at their settlements with "Hararu my poy, or How do you do, my boy," and if this expression was the utmost extent of the speaker's knowledge of the language, he would repeat it often, and a shake of the hand would displace the ancient ongi or salutation. I am inclined to think an improved tone would have been given to the propensities of the people, had the English language been substituted for the natives, as these people delight in tales and adventures, and a wonderful store of useful knowledge would have been opened to them. It has been frequently remarked, the pursuance of such a method of

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ADVANTAGES OF THE

education would have been more serviceable in civilizing the natives within twenty years, than the present system in a hundred years.

Many natives speak our language pretty well, from the intercourse derived from serving as seamen and servants to the Europeans. Doubtless in the course of two or three generations, the native language will become obsolete, in favour of the English.

In forming the language into a settled system, and in the arrangement of a grammar and dictionary, much embarrassment has been caused by the doubtful, not to say varying method, in which many words are pronounced; thus the exclamation of "Aroai te pakeha," is often pronounced in the same village Aroai, Aloai, and Adoai; this in some degree has caused the diversity of spelling made use of by voyagers in their accounts of the South Sea Islands. Herd in his chart, calls the Port of Hokianga, Jokeeangar, Mr. Marsden terms it Shukianga, and the Baron de Thierry in his proclamation 1837, Yokianga; the most faithful pronunciation is E'Okianga, as no aspiration is made use of by the natives; it is however best known as Hokianga.

The auricular organs of the English visitors, generally speaking, appears to have been rather obtuse; whereas the French have been very happy in their orthography of the language, except

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

what they have taken from the grammar of Professor Lee. Much attention to proper names of persons and place should be taken by navigators; as much of the interest respecting these islanders are lost, by being figured under various names, thus Pomare, has been imprinted Bomurry, Pomaree, Boo Marray, Poomurrey, Pommarree. Many of the young men educated in the schools of the missionaries are enabled to peruse the bible with some facility; and their ability in writing does much credit to them, and reflects praise upon their teachers. To enter into any further disquisition on the philology of the South Sea islands, would be foreign to the design of this work, but the curious reader will find annexed the numerals as pronounced by sixty various nations, that, previously to the voyages of European navigators who have through different causes introduced them to each other, were scarce aware of any other beings inhabiting the globe besides themselves. To add to the subject as a point of comparison, I have given the dialect made use of in Madagascar, New Guinea, New Hebrides, and New Ireland two hundred and twenty-two years since, and I have no doubt the difference is attributable more to the pronunciation of different European travellers, than any actual change of dialect.

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NUMERALS ADOPTED IN

Affinity in the pronunciation of the numerals of sixty different nations inhabiting islands in the North and South pacific, Indian, and African Oceans.

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* See the writings of Dr. Harrison, Marsden, Forrest, Drury, Flaccourt, Lemaire, Crawfurd, Singleton, Rocnon, Gaimard, Leyden, Raffles, Forster, D'Entrecasteaux, Bougainville, Duperrey, Arnold, Kotzebue, Artes, Wilson, Krusenstern, Labillardiere, &c.

Many of the native youths, under the instruction of the missionaries are very expert in the art of writing. I possess many letters by me, containing some pages, that place in a strong light, the intelligence and tact of the writers and their friends, in a knowledge of commercial affairs. The subjects are generally confined to the present appearance, and probable quantity, which the crops of various vegetables (potatoes, kumeras especially) will yield; the period of collecting them, the trade and clothing which the chiefs, together with the free and bonded class, will require, with an exhortation (off repeated) not to fail in providing the articles by the time of harvest, concluding with a request for an advance of certain goods; to be paid for, at the earliest opportunity in the produce of their farms.

Playing upon words, and quick repetitions of

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PLAY UPON WORDS.

the same, substituting (for example) the letter f at the commencement, also forms an amusement to the young men; thus the numerals are pronounced foti, forua, fotoru, fawa fadima, &c, and are often repeated by a company, combining together, for their harmless gratification.