458 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF POLVNEfelA. 



The natives of New Zealand, the Figis, and the Navigators' Islands, 

 must be very differently regarded. An unfair prejudice has grown up 

 against the Maories, in consequence of the wars which have so long 

 ao-itated New Zealand, but I say most emphatically that that war would 

 never have occurred but for the disgraceful conduct of the New 

 Zealand colonists. Language too strong cannot be used in condemna- 

 tion of the treatment which the Maories have received at the hands of 

 our people, who have deceived, misled, plundered, butchered them, 

 with unmitigated atrocity, and then asked the world to sympathize with 

 them when the Maori turned upon his oppressor. I know not one 

 redeeming feature in the policy of the New Zealand colonists towards 

 the natives, though if any palpable proof were needed to show that 

 the Maori is worthy of a better destiny than extermination, it is the 

 manner in which he has sustained the contest against bis European 

 tyrants. Implicit faith may be put in the honor of a Maori. His word 

 is irrevocable. I confidently believe that no amount of injustice 

 inflicted upon him by one whom he has promised to protect would 

 induce him to swerve from his pledge. But the whole treatment of 

 the colonists towards him has been a systematic course of trickery and 

 deception, and even under that he never offered violent resistance 

 until he had received an amount of provocation which was far beyond 

 what would have sufficed to drive any civilized community to arms. 

 The prejudice against him is therefore unjust. The Maori is capable 

 of a high degree of mental culture, probably as capable as any abori- 

 ginal in the world, and many Europeans. He is a successful agricul- 

 turist, a shrewd diplomatist, and oftentimes a successful merchant, an 

 honest (that is to say a trustworthy) lawyer, and an eloquent politician. 



Of the Figians we know less. They have not had the same advan- 

 tages, and disadvantages I fear I must say, of intercourse with Euro- 

 peans ; but I am strongly inclined to the conviction that the talent 

 they undoubtedly possess as traders, and in the developement of the 

 resources of their rich and beautiful island, may be taken as some 

 evidence that they are capable of holding a much higher position than 

 they now possess in the scale of humanity, I might say in the scale of 

 nations. They are easily taught. They are endowed with many quali- 

 ties which render them fully capable of social and political organization, 

 upon our own basis, as well as of self-government. And I think that 

 a series of independent nationalities throughout the Pacific, composed 

 of now existing materials, should be the object sought to be attained 



