370 BEPORT— 1891. 



are here and there terms which seem to indicate that abstract 

 ideas were once more common to the minds of the race than 

 now. But, while the language is defective for the purpose of 

 argumentative discourse, it is peculiarly well adapted for the 

 purpose of narration, and the peculiar style of oratory cultivated 

 by the people. 



To Sir George Grey, K.G.B., formerly Governor of New Zea- 

 land, is justly due the credit of rescuing Maori literature from 

 oblivion. For, although many writers have published speci- 

 mens of Maori compositions. Sir George Grey was the first to 

 compile and publish anything like a complete collection of the 

 literature of the people, though even his work is far from being 

 exhaustive. It is satisfactory, therefore, to find that other 

 competent Maori scholars, like Dr. Shortland, Mr. Colenso, 

 F.E.S., and Mr. White, have added largely to the valuable 

 collection of Maori traditions which we now possess in book- 

 form. 



It is a curious fact that the same misfortune attended Sir 

 George Grey's first effort to compile the literature of the 

 Maoris which attended the Eev. Dr. Maunsell's attempt to 

 compile a lexicon of the language — the materials in both 

 instances, after many years of labour, were totally destroyed 

 by fire. In the case of the lexicon the loss was irreparable, 

 as Dr. Maunsell has never attempted to rewrite the work ; but, 

 fortunately. Sir George Grey, undaunted by the loss, renewed 

 his efforts and carried them to a successful issue. What a 

 monument of patient industry the completed work was may 

 be best understood by reference to the author's preface, where 

 he tells his readers, "For more than eight years I devoted a 

 great part of my available time to acquaint myself with the 

 ancient language of the country, to collect its traditional 

 poems and legends, to induce the priests to impart to me their 

 mythology, and to study their proverbs. When I had with 

 great pains collected a large mass of materials Government 

 House was destroyed by fire, and with it were burnt the 

 materials to aid me in my studies ; and thus I was left to 

 commence again my difficult and wearying task." How suc- 

 cessfully he overcame the difficulties thrown in his way, and 

 accomplished his task, his published works testify. 



Mythology. 



I shall commence my notes on the literature of that portion 

 of the Maori race which inhabits these Islands by briefly 

 reviewing the mythological traditions compiled by Sir George 

 Grey and others. 



It is surprising to find a people sunk in such barbarism as 

 the Maoris at the time they first came into contact with 



