EXTERMINATION OF MORIORIS 399 



January, 1901, there were only about a dozen pure-blooded indi- 

 viduals left ; some of these were of great age, while the youngest 

 was a lad of about 16, and they had all, I think, more or less 

 completely adopted European manners and customs. Under 

 these circumstances we are fortunate in possessing any reliable 

 record of this interesting people, and that we do so is largely 

 due to the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. Alexander Bhand, who 

 for more than thirty years lived amongst the Morioris and 

 made a special study both of that race and of their Maori 

 conquerors. 



It appears from their language, customs and traditions, as 

 well as from their physical characteristics, that the Morioris are 

 closely related to the New Zealand Maoris. Their ignorance of 

 the art of tattooing, and their very inferior artistic faculties in 

 general, however, point to a very remote separation of the two 

 races. 



Like the Maoris they trace their origin to an unknown father- 

 land called Hawaiki, from which they must have emigrated to 

 Chatham Island in canoes. In their new home they appear to 

 have found the conditions of life remarkably easy, indeed, as the 

 sequel shows, fatally so. With an abundant natural food supply 

 of fruit, shell-fish, &c., and with no enemies to contend with, 

 they multiplied until the islands were thickly populated, while 

 at the same time they doubtless became lazy and effeminate. 



The discovery of the islands by the brig " Chatham," in 1790, 

 may be said to have sealed the fate of the unfortunate Moriori, 

 though it is doubtful whether any serious injury ensued until 

 the advent of the whaling and sealing vessels in 1828. These 

 vessels brought with them many undesirable visitors, and prob- 

 ably were the means of introducing a disease which soon played 

 havoc with the native race. On board some of the ships, moreover, 

 were Maoris from New Zealand, who, on their return, painted 

 such a glowing picture of the land of plenty, that a large number 

 of their fellow-countrymen determined to emigrate to the islands 

 en masse. 



In order to effect this purpose they took possession of the brig 

 " Rodney " at Port Nicholson, in New Zealand, about the 

 beginning of November, 1835. They are said to have seized the 

 crew and compelled the captain to transport them, about 900 in 

 number, to their destination. At the time of the invasion the 

 Morioris are supposed to have numbered about 2000, and had they 



