Smith. — On Maori Nomenclature. 411 



With respect to the word "atua," I do not, of course, refer 

 to the atuas of Maori mythology, which may, I think, be 

 regarded as mere fanciful personifications of the manifesta- 

 tions which we call natural phenomena, and not as the names 

 of sentient beings who are concerned with human affairs, or 

 anything more than the objects appearing and forces operating 

 in the visible world. Some are names given to mere abstrac- 

 tions — vacancy, darkness, light, &c. ; others, inanimate objects 

 — sun, wind, storm, &c. The atua known to the Maoris as 

 having present personal relations with human beings was a 

 malignant being. In the case of His Satanic Majesty the other 

 mode has been adopted : the word " Devil," Reiocra, and the 

 name " Satan," Hatana, have been naturalised in Maoridom, 

 and are as well known throughout New Zealand as any word 

 of purely Maori origin. 



The Maori scholar is often puzzled by coming across a 

 word which looks like a Maori word, but which is an utter 

 stranger to him. Its meaning is sought by examining it 

 critically and comparing it with other words apparently 

 similar. Nothing beyond a guess can be arrived at. At last 

 he finds out that the word is an old acquaintance unrecognised 

 in its Maori dress. For example, I once heard some natives 

 using the word " koroa " in reference to sudden deaths which 

 had occurred. I could not think what the word was till one 

 of the natives said I ought to know, as it was a pakeha word, 

 and then I found it was our word " cholera," which they had 

 heard used by Europeans, and supposed to be the cause of 

 these deaths. I could give many other instances of Maori- 

 ised English words which on first appearance proved very 

 puzzling. 



It must not be supposed, however, that the Maori language 

 is deficient or lacking in respect of words to designate with 

 clearness and precision the things which appertained to the 

 life and surroundings of the aboriginal New-Zealander in his 

 somewhat circumscribed world. He had words for each of 

 the twenty-nine days of the lunar month, for the seasons, 

 the heavenly bodies, birds, beasts, fishes, plants, social re- 

 lations, passions, sentiments, rude art. Everything, in fact, 

 coming within the scope of his intelligent observation had an 

 appropriate word by which it was designated. 



The nicest distinctions were marked by different words 

 which in translation are generally rendered by the same 

 English word. The Maori has as many (or more) names for 

 the head as we have, and each embodying a different idea. 

 " Upoko " is the principal word used as the name of the head, 

 but the idea is very different from that conveyed by the use 

 of another word, " mahunga," also meaning head. " Upolco " 

 is used charily — the idea of the tapu or sacredness is present 



