138 president's address — section f. 



Unfortunately, from the lack of historical records, and with 

 only the dim light of native traditions, there is an insurmountable 

 difficulty in defining dates and periods of native events. Take, for 

 instance, the history of the New Zealanders. It is plainly seen 

 that the Maoris were not the original inhabitants of New Zealand, 

 and the question arises— Whence came they? and how was New 

 Zealand occupied before the Maori incursion ? Some aid to this 

 inquiry will be found in the works of Sir George Grey and in Dr. 

 Gill's Rarotongan Myths. The invasion and conquest of Chatham 

 Island by a tribe of Maoris afford an instance of the way in which 

 a superior race has subjugated a weaker and jDossessed its terri- 

 tories. The ancient Moriori of Chatham Islancl have been nearly 

 extinguished by their savage conquerors. [Morioi'i, the name of 

 the aborigines of Chatham Island. Perhaps the name "Maori" 

 is a corruption derived from the original people of New Zealand 

 so called.] 



Notwithstanding the obscurity which now prevails, and the 

 many difficulties that have to be surmounted in obtaining light and 

 information to guide to right conclusions, I believe satisfactory 

 answers to the questions will ere long be obtained. I desire now 

 to stimulate sttxdents of anthropology in making investigation, and 

 to help them in the inquiry. I am not sanguine enough to expect 

 that all that is required will be effected at once, or by any 

 individual student. It is a search in which several will have to 

 start in different directions and meet together at a given point. 

 Each may take the course which most suits his own taste and 

 desire. The ways are open and lie directly before us — in history, 

 genealogy, ethnology, folklore, archaeology, and comparative 

 philology. A few remarks here on each of these subjects may be 

 helpful. Much information on all these subjects has already been 

 published. What is now requisite is to follow up the inquiry, 

 procure further information, and bring all into conjunction, with 

 careful anal) sis and just comparison, and then that Avhich now 

 appears shrouded in mystery will be vmravelled. 



In history no direct unbroken chain has up to the present been 

 discovered. There is, however, some isolated information that may 

 be brought together which will enable the student to obtain a clue 

 to the knowledge sought. Marsden's " History of Sumatra " and 

 ■works of that order, will be found of great advantage. It will be 

 Avell, perhaps, for the student, in the first instance, to direct his 

 attention to the histories of India, especially those of the southern 

 nations ; then to what can be collected of historical records of the 

 ancient peoples of South America, although regarding these the 

 philosopher and historian. Dr. von Martius, despaired of obtaining 

 any correct information. He says — " There is not a vestige of 

 history to afford any clue, not a ray of tradition, not a war song nor 

 a funeral lay can be found to clear away the dark night in which 

 the earlier ages of America are involved." The mists of long ages. 



