CoLEjirso. — On tlie Maori Races of New Zealand. 417 



With tlie exceptiou of the return for Otago and SoutUaud, and also that 

 for the Chatham Islands, the foregoing can scarcely be depended on, owing 

 to the vagueness of the Whanganui return, the " incompleteness " of the 

 Eotorua one, and the recent numbers in the Nelson one, being only estimated 

 by Mr. Mackay. The return for Otago and Southland (which appears to 

 have been each time very accurately and satisfactorily taken — in 1852 by 

 Mr. Mantell, and in 1864 by Mr. Clarke) shows the greatest decrease ! but 

 here it should be noticed, that the last return (1864) also shows 125 half- 

 castes, i.e. 72 males and 53 females ; of whom some probably had not been 

 included by Mr. Mantell in 1852. Mr. Seed accompanies his Chatham 

 Islands return with the following remarks : — " From this return it will be 

 seen the natives must be rapidly on the decline. At Kaingaroa and the 

 adjacent villages, 34, nearly all adults, have died since 1856, and only 17 

 have been born in the same period. Several years ago the Bishop of New 

 Zealand took a list similar to the one I obtained, and then the natives, I am 

 told, numbered over a thousand." It may reasonably be doubted whether 

 the whole Maori population at present number 50,000. Appended is a 

 table, copied by the writer from recent official documents in the House of 

 Representatives, showing the numbers of the natives, the principal tribes, 

 tribal boundaries, and geographical position in the North Island; it can 

 scarcely, however, be wholly relied on for perfect accuracy, yet in all its 

 main features is correct. 



63. The causes of their very rapid decrease might here be properly 

 shown, but such can only be done very briefly. The writer beHeves that 

 many separate causes have all combined to bring about this sad state of 

 things ; not a few of which are nearly or wholly unknown to or over- 

 looked by those who have hitherto written on Maori statistics. — (1.) Their 

 own prevailing strong propensities, implacability and revenge ; hence their 

 love of war, murder, and pillage ; in their exterminating wars mercy was 

 never shown — the helpless and (to the victors) valueless were struck down 

 and slain in heaps. Besides the actual slaughter, they were always wear- 

 ing themselves out in preparing arms and building forts on high hills ; 

 or, more lately, in working day and night to obtain flax, &c., wherewith to 

 purchase firearms, and in building new forts on low lands. In this half- 

 harassed state many children and weak persons perished through want of 

 proper rest, care, and food. (2.) The increasing number of small tribes also 

 increased their feuds. (3.) I'heir immorality with foreigners, especially 

 shipping. (4.) Consequent infanticide (before birth, foeticide) and sterility, 

 to an extent which no writer has yet correctly conceived. (5.) Sorcery. 

 (6.) New diseases, especially epidemics, including the rewliarewha of forty-five 

 years back, the measles, hooping-cough, influenza, &c. (7.) The unlimited 

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