4 Transacliotis. — Miscellaneous. 



The Maori race, as it now is, seems to be in its old age; but it must once 

 in some former time have had its youth, wlien, in buoyancy of spirit and 

 yet simplicity of mind, it saw in the surrounding nature and natural 

 phenomena beings of a higlicr order, to whom the national poets gave names 

 and a history. This must have been before they came to New Zealand, as these 

 names, and a similarity of the mythology attached to them, are to be found 

 among the whole Polynesian race, and may likely be traced back still farther. 

 Ethnology might be assisted if all who are in a position among uncivilized 

 races to do so, would make themselves acquainted with their mythology and 

 ancient tales, and then communicate the result to scientific men, who might 

 thereby trace the development and migration of the races. Care should be 

 taken by the collectors to furnish only the raw material, and not to mix Greek 

 mythology or Hebrew history with it. 



The ancient tales among the Maori have been handed down through 

 many generations by word of mouth only. The tohunga, or wise men 

 among them, told those tales over and over again, almost always in 

 the same words, so that the younger ones, who had a mind for 

 learning, learnt them by rote, and could impart them in the same way to a 

 following generation. Still discrepancies would creep in, and deeds which in 

 some localities are imputed to one personage, in others are imputed to another. 

 But that is of no consequence. Although some tales may have been built on 

 facts, and if even these could be stript of the fictions, which they cannot, they 

 would not be of the least historical value, as they lie altogether outside the 

 bounds of general history. 



The heathen religion of the Maori in New Zealand had got into such 

 confusion that no meaning could be found in it. The cause of that confusion 

 may be found in the fact that among them, at least in former times, as well as 

 among all Polynesians, their kings or great chiefs were regarded as divine 

 persons already during their lifetime, and that after their death they were 

 transformed into gods. Those among them who had been great as men, would 

 be much feared and worshij)ped as gods after their death, till, in the course of 

 time, they were suj)eraeded by new ones. Through such continual changes the 

 original gmls would be neglected in fear and woi-ship, till at last they were only 

 regarded as histoiical beings without any influence. Even the deeper meaning 

 of their history has been lost. There are some invocations and incantations to 

 the old gods pi-eserved, hut they are not understood now, and the? wise men 

 cannot exi)lain them. Either the language has been much changed since they 

 were composed, or tlie ancient priests clothed them purposely in obscure forms. 



By religion we undei-stand a feeling of <lependency in the human mind, in 

 the conHcionsness of its own weaknrss, on a higher being, or Innings; which 

 bf'ingH Hif llicn foir fiMiifl mill wdisliippctl. But the Maori religion had lost 



