FIJI-NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITION 245 
where in Polynesia. Moreover, it seems impossible that such a 
motif could arise independently after the Maoris reached New 
Zealand. He is inclined to think it due to the pre-Maori race, or 
‘‘Moriori,’’ a people leaving little positive material evidence of 
their existence, but probably originating in Melanesia, where the 
spiral design is known to occur. 
The Maoris were a war-like race and cannibalism was common 
among them, as throughout most of Polynesia. They showed real 
military genius in planning their ‘‘pas’’ or fortified places which 
were strategically located and surrounded by well designed stock- 
ades, moats and trenches which were ample protection against 
spears, clubs or stones. Of course they were never intended to 
withstand artillery fire of which these people learned to their 
grief when they resisted the Colonial Government. 
Like the Fijians, these people believed in a literal immortality; 
moreover they had a highly elaborate system of spiritual and 
mental concepts as set forth in Mr. Best’s little work on ‘‘Spiritual 
and Mental Concepts of the Maoris,’’ but the subject is too com- 
plicated for treatment here.* 
The word ‘‘Maori’’ is used throughout the most of Polynesia to 
designate simply natives or aborigines, I was told that a New 
Zealand Maori can understand the language of either the Cook or 
Society Island group, and this is the best of evidence of com- 
munity of origin. 
It seems that about forty generations ago two Polynesian chiefs 
discovered New Zealand and returned to the islands whence they 
came, and that some twelve generations later the first real settlers 
arrived in New Zealand. In the interval the Moriori or pre- 
Maoris appeared, probably from Melanesia, and were in New Zea- 
land when the first migration of the true Maori arrived. 
The land from whence they came is known by well established 
tradition as Hawaiki and there is still some doubt as to its loca- 
tion, but there is much strong evidence, I understand, to indicate 
2In this connection, mention should be made of a series of monographs of 
the Dominion Museum, published in compact, convenient form and contain- 
ing a mine of interesting, reliable information. The three published before 
we left New Zealand, copies of which are before me, are: 
No. 1. ‘‘Some Aspects of Maori Myth and Religion’’ By Elsdon Best 
No. 2. ‘‘Spiritual and Mental Concepts of the Maori’’ By Elsdon Best 
No. 3. ‘‘ Astronomical Knowledge of the Maori’’ By Elsdon Best 
These ‘‘Dominion Museum Monographs’’ are published by the Museum, 
Wellington, under the authority of the Minister of Internal Affairs. 
