CoLENSO. — On a better Knowledge of the Maori Race. 57 



buried." When Euatona replied, " "What, wilfully throw away the bit of 

 (food obtained by extra exertion in) the scarce summer season?" And so 

 that hand-to-hand fight ended in favour of Euatona, who kept possession 

 of Kapuarangi, 



Art. III. — Contributions towards a better Knoivledge of the Maori Race. 

 By W. CoLKNso, F.L.S. 



[continued.*] 



[Read before the Hawkers Bay PhihsopMcal Institnte, 8th November, 1880.] 



" For I, too, agree with Solon, that ' I would fain grow old learning many 



things.' " — Plato : Laches. 



On the Ideality of the Ancient New Zealandee. 

 Part III. — On their Poetical Genius. 

 It may truly be said that with the New Zealander poetry is, or was, part of 

 their daily life. Whatever differences in taste may have existed among the 

 various ancient tribes (iwij composing the Maori people, in this matter 

 they were pre-eminently as one, — all used it, all were moved by it, all 

 enjoyed it. Indeed, I have very good reasons for believing that poetry — in 

 one shape or other — was much more commonly used than even their 

 proverbs were, — which formed the subject of my last paper read before you 

 under this head. Is it not true, that under much of poetry, as well as 

 of proverbs, there lies a philosophy ? With nursery ditties and jingles they 

 strove to amuse and quiet then- young children, and with longer legendary 

 and historical rhythmical recitals the old informed their youth, and dis- 

 sipated the ennui of wet days and long nights. With smart songs of 

 encouragement, sung alternately and in full chorus, they eased the heavy 

 labour of their most laborious works, — such as dragging the hulls of their 

 large canoes from the forests — often over many miles of the roughest 

 country, vsithout any road — to the sea, and also the large totara timber for 

 their chiefs' houses ; and often whole trunks of trees to form the outer wall 

 of fortification around their town (pa). They paddled their war-canoes to 

 suitable inspiring songs, which were regularly chaunted by their chiefs, or 

 fit men,f often two, if not three, in each large canoe, to which song the 

 paddlers kept time, both in paddling and in occasionally slapping the blades 



* See " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," Vol. XI., Art V., p. 77 ; and Vol. XII., Art VII., p. 108. 

 t CaUed kai-tuki, hau-tu, etc., — a kind of vocal marine fuglemen, encouragers, 

 ohaunters ; who, standing on the thwarts (more like birds than men !) directed, and kept, 

 and gave time, both by voice and gesture, to the paddlers. 



8 



