TKANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 393 



were, they designed the forms of them in such a way as to 

 render them objects of beauty. Witli such inferior tools as 

 sharp fragments of stone and shells, their artists executed with 

 finished workmanship carvings of complicated pattern and 

 beautiful design. Possessing that subtle faculty which enables 

 people to discern at once the fitness of things, the Maoris pre- 

 served in their formal intercourse with each other the utmost 

 propriety of conduct, and always behaved with dignified self- 

 possession in the presence of civilised men, however exalted in 

 station. 



Those who only fix their eyes upon the defective side of 

 the Maori's character and acquirements ; who think only of 

 his cruel behaviour towards his foes and inferiors, and forget 

 his com'tesy and generosity to his friends and equals; who 

 think only of the things in which he comes behind the ordinary 

 civilised man, inscead of the things in which he excelled him, 

 will find in these traditions a rebuke administered to that spirit 

 of race-pride which leads the European to look with feelings 

 akin to contempt on all coloured men, as if they were all alike 

 infinitely beneath him ; and they will also learn how it is that 

 most of those Europeans who have taken pains to acquire 

 accurate knowledge of the first inhabitants of this country 

 have foi'med such a high opinion of the Maori race. 



Appendix. 



Table showing that the Mythological Traditions brought by 

 the Maoris from Hawaiki were accurately preserved up 

 to the Time of the English Occupation of their Country, 

 as proved by their Correspondence with similar Traditions 

 in other Parts of Polynesia, from which the Maoris have 

 been separated for Centuries. 



Mangaian and Hawaiian Maori 



(FifZe Gill and Fornauder). iVide Grey, Shortlaud, White, &c.). 



Chaos begat Papa, or Earth. Chaos begat Papa. 



Papa, the wife of Awatca = day-time. Papa, the wife of Eangi = day. 



The childi-en of Papa and Awatea The children of Papa and Rangi 



were — • were — 



Taugaroa, god of the sea ; Taugaroa, god of the sea ; 



Rongo, a cruel god, leader of war among Kongo, a cruel god, leader of a rebel- 

 mortals; lion in heaven; 



Tane, the generative principle. Tane,begetter of trees and men. There 



were other sons besides. 



The sky pressed on the earth and con- The sky pressed upon the earth and 

 fined the inhabitants, who were in confined the inhabitants, who were in 

 darkness. darkness. 



The sky was raised to where it is now The sky was raised to where it is now 

 by Maui. by Tane. 



Ra, the Sun, captured by Maui, who Ra, captured by Blaui— snared with a 

 compelled him to go more slowly— noose. Beaten to make him go more 

 snared with a noose. slowly. 



Maui, son of Taranga, visits his parents Blaui, son of Taranga, visits his friends 

 in the underworld in the form of a in the underworld in the form of a 

 pigeon. pigeon. 



