THE TWO RACES WHICH PEOPLED POLYNESIA. 
17 
separate state in the Northern Island, it is in the middle one, 
Te wai pounamu, that the remains of this ancient people 
are yet to be discovered amidst the natural fastnesses of the 
southern Alps, where they are known as the Nga-ti-ma-moe. 
In former years, such was the dread which this degraded 
race had of the fierce Maori, that immediately they saw any 
of them they fled; occasionally, however, they were surprised, 
and either eaten, or kept as slaves. The Nga-ti-ma-moe do 
not appear to have cultivated the ground, but to have derived 
their substance from snaring, birds, and fishing, as well as 
from such indigenous fruits and roots as the country produced. 
Since the introduction of Christianity, probably much of 
their fear of the Maori has disappeared, and the two races 
have become more or less intermingled, especially as 
the number of the latter on the western coast has become 
greatly diminished, and cannot be much in excess of the 
danger, or indifferent to it. No accident occurred whilst they were making 
their houses, though to us it seemed an almost impossible undertaking to 
accomplish without the help of wings. 
All this has been rendered necessary by their continued quarrels. They never 
heard of any other mode of living. Insecurity of life and property causes no 
questioning and little uneasiness ; it is simply the necessary condition of human 
life. They fear no attack when once safely lodged in their houses in the clouds. 
They say that no one would dare to attempt to burn or cut down the tree, for 
they keep a large stock of stones and spears aloft, and say that they could crush 
any men who attempted to come near the tree. There is a stage outside the 
house, and a trap-door in the bamboo flooring, from which they drop heavy 
stones, and no doubt the fighting men run about on the branches, and throw 
their spears as fearlessly and securely as if they had a footing on firm ground. ” 
— Journal of the Mission Voyage to the Melanesian Islands in ‘ Southern Cross 
1866, page 10. 
The Author has observed the same amongst the Maori, who, from not wear- 
ing shoes, seem to have as much use of the toes as of the fingers and thumbs. 
On a rainy day, having to pass over a deep chasm by a single slippery trunk, 
he was going to make the attempt by getting astride of it, but a native offered 
to carry him over on his. back ; the offer was accepted, he walked over it just 
as firmly as on the ordinary road. Not wearing shoes enables the person 
to use the toes much the same as the fingers ; in passing over Taupo Lake, 
when the water was like a mirror, one of the natives saw a pipe at the bottom 
at a great depth, he immediately jumped over, dived down, and brought up the 
bowl of a pipe between his toes. This use of the toes must not be supposed to 
indicate any simian approximation ; the author has found it far safer to descend 
precipices without shoes than with them. The Hill Araans in Travancore like- 
wise live in trees ; their villages are described as being highly picturesque. 
C 
