Phillips. — On the Use of Projectile Weapons by the Maoris. 53 



domicile, and the physical features and animal life of a new country, in- 

 duced him to forget. It will doubtless surprise the speculators above re- 

 ferred to to learn that this very forgetfulness, as a deductive argument, is 

 only further proof of the soundness of the original deduction. 



Moreover, Mr. Colenso, in his reference to Dr. Forster's remarks * upon 

 the use of the bow and arrow by the Tanna people, is likely to mislead the 

 incautious reader. The Island of Tanna forms one of the New Hebrides 

 group, lying slightly to the westward of the longitude of New Zealand, and 

 about 1600 miles immediately to the northward. Its inhabitants are a 

 mixed race (Papuan and Malayan). As I have already said the bow is a 

 familiar weapon of war among the Papuans, let no one suppose for a mo- 

 ment that the Maoris came from any of then- islands. The ordinary course 

 of the trade winds and great storms effectually prevents any such means of 

 communication. Dr. Forster's remarks are, therefore, quite inappropriate. 

 So also with regard to the natives of New Caledonia. The trade winds blow 

 dhect from a little to the north of New Zealand towards New Caledonia, nine 

 months out of the year, the rest of the year being the hurricane season. 

 (Sydney sailing vessels, in order to reach New Caledonia, have first to pick 

 up the longitude of New Zealand). Now the general feature of the South 

 Sea Island canoe is to run before the wind, though an oblique course can be 

 steered by keeping as close to the wind's eye as the saihng properties of the 

 particular craft allow. It would have been almost an impossible task to 

 tack down to New Zealand from Tanna or New Caledonia. Both of these 

 examples are therefore quite beside the question at issue. Tanna must not 

 be confused with Tonga, for Tonga and the Tongese occupy quite a different 

 position, and a north-easter might easily have sent a canoe load of warriors 

 down to the Kermadec Islands, and so on to New Zealand.! 



I desire also to point out that the heading of my paper contains the 

 words "peculiar method of propulsion.'' This peculiarity was the one im- 

 portant feature of the paper, and sufficient attention has hardly been given 

 to it. Whether the Maori knew or did not know the use of the bow was 

 quite secondary to the chief question — peculiarity of propulsion. I have 

 enquu-ed of old natives in the Wairarapa concerning the matter, and shown 

 them the arrow and whip. While expressing ignorance of the former, they 

 readily apphed the whip to a raupo stick to cast it in sport. As I know of 

 no similar method of propulsion existing among civilized nations, I think we 

 should all feel favoured by Mr. Colenso more carefully enquhmg into its 

 origin. 



With regard to the use of the bow and arrow among other savage nations, 

 I gather that it is or has been used as follows : — And first, with regard to 

 * j-ioc. cit. Appendix A, p. 114. f See Note B, 



