290 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



chosen and never have been executed without some strong 

 overmastering motive for the design. If the Maori executed 

 with infinite trouble the double spiral of the sun- worshipper, 

 does there not seem to be exceediug probability that he shared 

 the ancient knowledge of the sun-symbol known on every con- 

 tinent of the Old and New Worlds? Another proof of this, 

 though a slight one, is that in the perfect bow-piece under the 

 spirals lies as a support a conventional human figure, stated 

 by the Maoris to be an image of Maui. Maui, the Polynesian 

 hero, was undoubtedly a sun-god ; that has been proven and 

 accepted by scholars. The moon (Hina) was his sister, and, 

 like Prometheus, he was the fire-bringer. 



Having seen, then, that spirals are connected with the 

 sivastika, with a primitive reference to the revolving sun and 

 a later meaning of " good luck," is there any proof in New 

 Zealand itself that the Maoris were ever sun-worshippers? 

 It . would be of little use to show that the natives were in 

 possession of a sun-symbol unless we could learn that it was 

 highly probable that their forefathers knew the meaning of it. 

 The Maoris (or some tribes of them) certainly worshipped the 

 sun. The early missionaries knew little on the subject of the 

 Maori religion, and unintentionally misrepresented the beliefs 

 in the native mind as to the dwellers on Olympus. Inquirers 

 of a different type took up investigation, and to men like Sir 

 George Grey, Mr. John White, Dr. Shortland, Canon Stack, 

 Elsdon Best, S. Percy Smith, and others new light on dark 

 places was revealed. The Polynesian Society in its eight 

 years of existence has also done much to let us understand 

 the spiritual attitude of the ancient Polynesians, and I trust 

 that it will do more. 



The author of "The New-Zealanders "* (printed 1830) 

 quotes from Savage in his " Account of New Zealand," who 

 says, " When paying their adoration to the rising sun the 

 arms are spread and the head bowed, with the appearance of 

 much joy in their countenances, accompanied with a degree 

 of elegant and reverential solemnity, and the song used on the 

 occasion is cheerful." The author remarks that it is strange 

 that none of their other visitors have remarked this species of 

 idolatry among these savages, but adds, '* Yet two New-Zea- 

 landers who are now in this country (England) were in the 

 habit of commencing the exhibition of their national customs 

 ■with the ceremonies practised in their morning devotion to 

 the sun." This evidence has been ignored, probably because 

 unconfirmed by others not making particular inquiries in this 

 direction, but weight should be given to it as the observation 

 of an exceedingly early visitor to New Zealand, who, if not as 



* " Library of Entertaining Knowledge," p. 232. 



