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NATURE 



{Oct. 24, 1889 



We came, after an immense and unknown lapse of time, to the 

 Neolithic period, when the earliest inhabitants of Northumber- 

 land, who were, so far as can be ascertained, cognate with the 

 Basques and Lapps, crossed the Tyne in small family or tribal 

 bands. Though probably never numerous, their polished 

 weapons and implements had been frequently found. Con- 

 siderable hoards of bronze had been found near Alnwick, Roth- 

 bury, and Wallington. Beads of gold were discovered in a 

 barrow at Four Laws, or Chesterhope. Near Bellingham, in 

 North Tynedale, a gold armlet was found. Burial by inhuma- 

 tion was customary in the later Stone Age, and cremation fol- 

 lowed. Interments were sometimes in split oak coffins, found 

 at Featherstone, but usually in stone-lined graves, the body 

 being doubled up as in the posture of sleep, sometimes with an 

 iron food-vessel placed near the head. The author explained 

 the migrations of the people in early times. To the Iron period 

 we owed the introduction of the greater part of the names of 

 local mountains, hills, rivers, and streams, as the Tyne from 

 "don" or " tan," the water. The bronze-using invaders may 

 have landed in England about B.C. 1000, and the Iron Age in 

 Northumberland might have begun about B.C. 500 or 400. 

 Modern Northumbrians, he concluded by remarking, might 

 perchance owe more than they thought to the combination of 

 racial characteristics resulting from the continuity of life 

 proceeding from even prehistoric times down to the present 

 day. 



Sir William Turner read a paper on implements of stags' 

 horn associated with whales' skeletons found in the Carse lands 

 of Stirling. He showed that skeletons of whales had been found, 

 together with implements of stags' horn. The discovery of 

 these horn implements showed that when the fertile land now 

 forming the Carse of Stirling was submerged below the sea- 

 level, the surrounding high lands were inhabited by a hardy 

 •Caledonian race, who manufactured useful tools and weapons 

 from the antlers of the red deer. It was probable that the 

 whales had been stranded during the ebb of the tide, and that 

 the people had descended from the adjacent heights, and, with 

 the aid of their chisels of horn, had spoiled the carcass of its 

 load of flesh and blubber. There was nothing in the shape of 

 those implements to lead anyone to suppose that they could be 

 used in the chase of the whale. The period of this people was 

 probably covered by that termed the Neolithic, the termination 

 of which was stated to be from 5000 to 7cxx) years ago, 



Mr. Bernard Hollander read a communication on the relations 

 between brain-functions and human character, with the view of 

 showing the possibility of a scientific phrenology. 



The following papers were also read : — Prof. G. J. Romanes, 

 F.R.S., on the origin of human faculty ; Prof. Frazer, on a new 

 method of illustrating the topographical anatomy of the brain ; 

 Mr. George Weddell, notes on classification in sociology ; Mr. 

 S. B. J, Skertchly, on fire-making in North Borneo, and on 

 some Borneo traps ; Mr. James Macdonald, on manners, customs, 

 and superstitions of South African tribes. 



THE MAORIS. 



A N unusually lengthy Report from the Registrar-General of 

 "^ New Zealand on the condition of that colony, which has 



'lately been laid before Parliament, contains some interesting in- 

 formation respecting the present condition of the Maoris. Mr. 

 Brown says that, according to the traditions of the Maoris, their 

 ancestors first arrived in New Zealand from an island in the 

 Pacific Ocean, to which the name of Hawaiki is given. Since 

 that event it appears, from genealogical sticks kept by the 



.tohungas, or priests, that about 20 generations of the race have 

 lived. The number of the Maori race at the time of the first 

 foundation of the colony, in 1840, was estimated at about 80, cxdo. 

 Twenty years previously the number had been estimated at 

 100,000. In 1857 an enumeration of the race was made, from 

 which it appeared that the number of males was then about 

 31,667, and that of the females about 24,303; and of those 

 whose sex was not stated, 79 ; a total of 56,049. Subsequent 

 attempts at enumeration have been made ; but, owing to the 

 objections felt by natives to stating their numbers, and to the 

 •difficulties experienced in obtaining information in those parts 

 to which the European was not allowed free access, with not 

 wholly satisfactory results. The latest, and probably most 

 accurate, of these enumerations, was made in 1886. This gave 

 the number of males as 22,840, and the females as 19, 129 ; a 

 total of 41,969. 



That there has been a serious decrease in the numbers of the 



race of late years is the general opinion of all competent to 

 judge, and a consideration of the numbers of each sex, and the 

 proportion living at each age-period, leads to the conclusion 

 that in all • probability the decrease is still progressive. In 

 1886 the proportion of females was 8375 to every 100 males. 

 In the European portion of the population the proportion was 

 85*28 females to 100 males. The proportions are not relatively 

 comparable, as the excess of European males over females is 

 caused by immigration ; but there is no external cause to 

 account for the Maori males being more numerous than the 

 females. In the European portion of the population, under 20 

 years of age, the proportion was 100 males to 99 females ; in 

 the Maori population under 20, the proportion was 100 males to 

 87 females. The males under 15 years of age were in the pro- 

 portion of 31 '82 to every 100 of the male population, and the 

 similar proportion among the females was 33*59 ; these being 

 less than the proportions in 1881 — an evidence of a low birth- 

 rate, or high juvenile mortality, leading to a racial decrease. 



On comparing the proportions living at each quinquennium 

 under 20, and each decennium above that period, with the 

 corresponding proportions in the population of England, and 

 that of the New Zealand European, it is found that at all ages 

 under 20 the proportions among the Maoris are far less than 

 among the other two populations, and at each age-period above 

 40 the Maori proportions are far higher. It is, of course, a fair 

 inference that the causes of these larger proportions at the higher 

 age-periods are two-fold — namely, a low birth-rate, and a high 

 death-rate among the younger members of the community. This 

 is borne out by the much smaller proportions of young children 

 to those in either the English or New Zealand European com- 

 munities. The smaller proportion of females (83'75) to males 

 (100) also shows a greater mortality among the adult 

 females than among the males, as 42*29 per cent, of the 

 females living were .-under 20 years of age, but only 39*70 per 

 cent, of the males were under 20. The manifest decrease 

 in the numbers of the race is much to be regretted, for the 

 Maoris show great aptitude for civilization, and they possess fine 

 characteristics, both mental and physical, and rapidly adopt 

 the manners and customs of their civilized neighbours. In 

 mental qualifications they can hardly be deemed as naturally 

 an inferior race, and the native members of both the Legis- 

 lative Council and the House of Representatives take a dignified, 

 active, and intelligent part in the debates, especially in those 

 having any reference to Maori interests. The Maoris contri- 

 bute largely to the taxation of the country through the Customs 

 duties ; and, having regard to the relations now subsisting 

 between the races, they may be regarded as constituting an 

 important element of strength in the population of the colony. 



On the subject of the education of the natives, Mr. Brown 

 says the number of native village schools at the end of 1887, 

 either supported or subsidized by the Government, was seventy- 

 nine, an increase of eight on the number in 1886. In addition, 

 there were two more subsidized private schools for the education 

 of Maori children only, and seven boarding-schools for native 

 children, the cost of whose maintenance was paid either by 

 Government or out of endowments. The number of Maori 

 children attending school at the end of 1887 was 2812, viz, 1612 

 males and 1200 females. These included children of mixed 

 European and Maori blood, who live as members of native 

 tribes. The following is a statement of the number of Maori 

 children who were attending schools in 1886 and 1887 : — 



1886. 1887, 



At public European schools 475 ... 343 



At native village schools 1910 ... 2215 



At subsidized or endowed boarding- 

 schools 162 ... 156 



At private European or native schools 100 ... 98 



There was thus an increase of 165 on the number of native 

 children who were being educated in 1887, There was a de- 

 crease of 132 in the number attending European public schools, 

 but an increase of 305 on the number attending the native village 

 schools. 



The information supplied respecting the age of the Maoris at 

 the census of 1881 was very incomplete, and therefore only a 

 merely approximate estimate can be given as to the numbers 

 living at the usual school ages, 5 to 15. Out of a Maori 

 population of 22,840 males and 19,129 females, the ages of 

 21,724 males and 17,936 females were given as either under or 

 over 15 years. The proportion of those under 15, if applied to 

 the whole of the population, would give 7226 males, and 6420 



