WoHLERS. — Civilization of Southern Maoris. 128 



Art XIV. — On the Conversion and Civilization of the Maoris in the South 

 of New Zealand. By the Eev. J. F. H. Wohlers, Euapuke, 

 Southland. 



[Read before the Southland Institute, 20th September', 1881.] 

 FovEAux Straits, between Stewart Island and the south coast of the 

 South Island, was but imperfectly known in civilized parts when I arrived 

 here in May, 1844. Going to an unknown region, it was thought not 

 advisable to be encumbered with much luggage : so I landed on the island 

 of Euapuke with a carpet-bag and a pair of blankets. I was now alone 

 among the Maoris, and had a good opportunity of learning their language 

 and their ways of thinking. There were then about two hundred living on 

 the island, and about four hundred more were living in small villages on 

 the coasts and islands in the straits. The island of Euapuke, where 

 the principal chiefs resided, was the centreing place for all, and was 

 fi'equently visited by the dispersed population in the straits ; it was, there- 

 fore, a suitable place for commencing mission work. 



Some years before my arrival the straits had been frequented by whaling 

 and sealing vessels, and some forty of the sailors had remained here among 

 the Maoris. This was of importance, for through them a little trade was 

 coming up : and they could make boats, which were of far more use to the 

 Maoris than their former canoes. But a movement of greater importance 

 had now come from the north. 



To understand this movement, we must first look into the then con- 

 dition of the Maoris. Through the increasing importance laid on the tapii, 

 during several generations, they had lost their hold on the poetical and 

 sublime ideas of their ancient religion. Their ancient gods had now merely 

 historical significance, and these were known only by a very few wise old 

 men. Their poetical ideas had no longer any influence on the minds of the 

 Maoris. They had sunk deeper and deeper in savage barbarism and 

 cannibalism. This is unnatural to the idea of humanity, and must lead to 

 destruction of the race. So their bodily constitution lost its vitality. If 

 any one became sick, he had no hope of recovery. The tapu — sacred to 

 ghosts and favourable to the higher classes living — had grown to a fearful 

 extent. Anything tajm dared not be touched or even approached by people 

 of the lower classes. Offenders were generally killed for such sacrilege ; 

 and, even if they were not detected, the ghosts always killed them through 

 inward fear. The higher classes had the power to lay the tapu on any 

 thing, by solemnly naming it with deceased members of the chiefs' families. 

 Though they were not affected by all tapus, yet all, high and low, had to 



