CHAP. VII.] 107 



CHAPTER VII. 



The Character and Intellectual Faculties of the New Zealauders 

 Their Classes and Grades of Society Property Religion. 



I HAVE as yet said nothing about the character and 

 intellectual faculties of the New Zealanders. In 

 their character the predominant feature is self- 

 estimation ; and to this source we may trace that 

 heterogeneous mixture of pride, vanity, covetous- 

 ness of new and strange things, that mildness and 

 ferocity, fickleness, and good and kind disposi- 

 tion, which they exhibit. It appears to me that 

 this self-esteem, if wisely guided, might be made 

 the best means of raising their social condition. I 

 am no partisan of that condemnation of the cha- 

 racter of so-called savage tribes, amongst whom I 

 include the New Zealanders, which is so indis- 

 criminately indulged in by travellers : in ^general 

 I believe that their good and amiable qualities far 

 outweigh the bad. 



They are affectionate husbands and parents ; and 

 although the younger and more vigorous chiefs 

 supersede the aged in their authority over the tribe, 

 the latter are respected, and their council listened 

 to. The tribes more removed from intercourse with 

 Europeans are hospitable, and this cardinal virtue 



