and socially together in the same tent, ate out of the same pot, 
and were good friends. — Thus the memory of older time is now 
like that of a dream to the Maori of the present day. 
With the exception of a few aged chiefs the Maoris are all con- 
verted to Christianity . 1 Being trained in excellent missionary schools 
with native teachers and preachers, the most of them know how to 
read and write, and sometimes display an astonishing proficiency in 
the knowledge of geography and history. While agriculture and the 
raising of cattle are their chief occupation, they participate also in 
commerce and trade, and especially a large portion of coast-navi- 
gation is in the hands of the natives , who have acquired an ex- 
tensive reputation as well-skilled and dauntless seafarers. Richly 
endowed hy nature with intellectual and physical powers, of a 
lively temper, energetic and open minded, and with natural wit, 
the Maori is fully aware of his progress in moral improvement and 
culture ; 2 yet he is not capable of attaining the full height of a 
Christian civilized life; and it is from this very incompleteness, 
that his race is doomed to gradual extinction. 3 
The incapability of the Maoris of attaining the full height of 
European erudition and morality is probably seen most strikingly 
in their indifference to the English language, and in their views 
of Christianity. Since the English language has made such rapid 
progress in other countries owning to British sway, it is very sin- 
gular , that it has been so much neglected upon New Zealand. 
Much as the Maoris have adopted of the habits, manners and cus- 
toms of the English, their language thus far has remained almost 
entirely strange to them. While in other British colonies the na- 
1 About one half were converted by the missionaries of the Anglican High 
Church; the other half by Wesleyans and Roman Catholic Missionaries. 
2 A chief describes in a letter the former state of affairs in the following 
words: tv We did wrong to each other, made w^ar upon each other, ate upon one 
another, and exterminated each other.” 
3 The frontispiece of this work gives us an idea of the half-civilized state in 
the very exterior of a still living chief. He wears European shirt and neck-lace, 
over it his Maori mantle, in one hand a gun, in the other a Maori weapon, the 
mere of nephrite. The Albatros feathers of old in their head-dress are supplanted 
by those of a peacock. 
