Tr Ranet Hrroa.—The Passing of the Maori. 369 
because it was overwhelming other branches of the Polynesian race to 
which he belonged. Marett (6) points out that evolution is influenced by 
race, environment, and culture. He says: “ Life evolves—that is to say, 
changes—by being handed on from certain forms to certain other forms, 
and a partial rigidity marks the process together with a partial plasticity. 
There is a stiffening, so to speak, that keeps the life-force, up to a point, 
sufficient weight attached to it as an avenue of escape for the Maori. It 
is this “s 
Though the Maori is still of the same race, the plastic part of him has 
been subjected for over five centuries to a changed environment. Five 
centuries in a temperate climate toughened his constitution, sharpened 
his mentality, and altered his material culture. The islanders, with their 
open houses, scanty tapa clothing, and food without labour, were left far 
behind the Maori. The sea-roads to Hawaiki were closed down for ever. 
vigorous climate, caused him to shed the indolence of the tropics. 
A more vigorous and virile people was bred, an when conditions were 
rudely changed with the nineteenth century the Maori was in a better 
nction than his more easy-going kinsman in 
Polynesia. As his material environment has changed in New Zealand, 
the Maori has strewn the century path with the thousands of his dead ; 
but generation by generation the measure of plasticity has reacted little 
by little, until now the survivors have weathered the storm of extinction. 
better prenatal environment for succeeding generations. 
Dr. Rivers (7), in discussing the depopulation of Melanesia, assigns the 
