308 KEPOiiT— 1891. 



work which he is now engaged on. Having resided on the 

 islands myself for twelve months in 1868-69, I obtained 

 some acquaintance with this ancient branch of the Polynesian 

 race ; but, not having the present inquiry in view, I omitted to 

 obtain the information which would now be to me so valuable. 

 The study of this people will prove of great interest when their 

 traditions and knowledge become known, for it is believed with 

 strong reason that they represent that branch of the race 

 which occupied New Zealand before the migration of the 

 Maoris in 1430. There are very considerable differences in 

 their physique, appearance, customs, habits, and language, 

 which separate tliem from the other Polynesians by a wide 

 gulf — so much so as to render the result of Quatrefages' study 

 of their craniology quite probable, and in keeping with his 

 theor}' that they have a taint of Melanesian blood in their 

 veins. The greater interest attaches to this people from the 

 melancholy fact that they will be extinct within the next few 

 years. In 1862, when a census of them was taken, they num- 

 bered 160. Last year Mr. Edward Tregear, of Wellington, was 

 able to find only twenty-seven alive. Like all Polynesians, 

 thej^ had a large collection of traditions, many of which have 

 been secured by Mr. Shand, a gentleman who has devoted 

 many years to their study, and who, perhaps, alone is able to 

 speak with authority concerning them. 



39. Hawaikl. — The Moriori have a knowledge of this widely- 

 distributed name, and mention is made in their traditions that 

 three canoes arrived from there in the time of Bongopapa, who 

 lived twenty-seven generations ago, which would make the 

 date about the year 1300. As previously mentioned, this was 

 not the date of discovery of the group, about which there is at 

 present a good deal of uncertainty. The Moriori has had more 

 than once intercourse with the outer world, as the following 

 brief history will show, which I translate from Tc Korimako, a 

 newspaper published in Maori (No. 14, of April, 1883) : — 



" This is the line of descent of the ancestors of this island 

 of Wliarekauri (the Maori name of Chatham Island ; 

 BekoJina was the Moriori name, and, according to what the 

 Morioris told me, Bangi-kohua also) : — 



" First, Bangi. His wife was Pajya. These were the first 

 people made by God. Their chi\d\yoiS Bang i-tokona. His child 

 was Te Ao-marama. His wife was Butake-tvJienua. Their 

 children were, — 



" Bongo-mai-ivhemia (whose wife was Tu-ivlicnua) and 

 Bongo-mai-tere. The children of the former were, — 



" Bangipokia, Tangoro-mapunaicai, and Talii-ioata." 



40. Aotea. — " The first canoe which came to this island 

 belonged to Za/m. It came from /lo/c^ (New Zealand). When 

 Kaliu came to the island he found it drifting about. It was he 



