﻿106 Transactions. — Miscellaneo us. 



It is not my intention to enter into a discussion of the vexed question of 

 Polynesian migrations, although in some respects this interesting subject has 

 some bearing upon the so-called Moa traditions. 



Several essays and books, in English, German, French, and Italian, lie on 

 my table, all ti'eating of that question from various points of view, and in 

 which attempts are made to settle it one way or the other, but it would be 

 beyond the scope of this paper to enter into a discussion of the different 

 theories propounded therein. However, T wish to offer one suggestion, which 

 might assist in removing some of the difficulties as far as New Zealand is 

 concerned. 



It appears that befoi'e the arrival of European vessels in the Pacific Ocean, 

 frequent communications between the Ladrone Islands and Tahiti, and from 

 both these points to Hawai, by canoes existed, which afterwards ceased, 

 owing most probably to the circumstance that the Polynesian navigators were 

 frightened by the European vessels. Consequently, if the Polynesians some 

 hundred years ago had the courage to sail such long distances, it is very 

 possible that some of the large canoes, taken from their usual track by currents 

 and winds, landed in New Zealand, where a population of Autocthones, the 

 direct descendants of the moa-hunters and of the same Polynesian race as the 

 new comers existed. 



Were this the case it could easily be accounted for, that when Tasman 

 first visited our shores the Maoris possessed double canoes, manufactured by 

 them in imitation of those which had brought the few new comers to their 

 shores, but which, in course of time, were again discarded for their original 

 canoe of a more simple construction. 



Such an explanation might also account for the tradition about their 

 arrival in New Zealand. The same explanation may also assist us to under- 

 stand that some feathers of the Cassowary (Moa) were brought to New 

 Zealand, and that the fable of the large Moa and huge reptile from the 

 Friendly Islands, if not of much older origin, found also its way to our 

 shores. 



In summing up the points at issue, I think that the following propositions 

 are proved by me : — 



1st. The difierent species of the Dinornis or Moa began to appear and 

 flourish in the post-pliocene period of New Zealand. 



2nd. They have been extinct for such a long time that no reliable traditions 

 as to their existence have been handed down to us. 



3rd. A race of Autocthones, probably of Polynesian origin, was co-tem- 

 poraneous with the Moa, by whom the huge wingless birds were hunted and 

 exterminated. 



4th. A species of wild dog was co-temporaneous with them, which was 

 also killed and eaten by the moa-hunters. 



