THE TWO EACES WHICH PEOPLED POLYNESIA. 
49 
both in customs and language, this applies to its Aboriginal 
races still existing, as also to their Hindu conquerors. 
Ludlow in his history of India, notices some of the remark- 
able points of difference between the Aboriginal tribes and 
the Hindus, which also apply to the Maori, and prove a close 
resemblance between them. 
1 . The Hindus were divided into castes, the Aboriginal races 
were not ; this was the case with the Maori ; they had, it is 
true, three orders — chiefs, toh ungas or priests, and slaves ; but 
chiefs were by birth arikis, or high priests, and also tohungas 
or inferior ones, according to their fancied powers in spiritual 
matters, and the priests were often chiefs and warriors ; even 
the slaves might be turned into chiefs and priests if perceived 
to have abilities to fit them for either one or the other. 
2. Hindu widows were not allowed to marry : with the abo- 
rigines they were the property of the younger brother of the 
late husband. This was also the custom in New Zealand, 
unless the widows strangled themselves, which was more 
frequently the case, like the Hindu widow who immolated 
herself on the funeral pile of her husband. The Maori head 
chief frequently claimed a right over widows, disposing of 
them to the best bidder, but in general they belonged to the 
brother of the deceased. 
3. The Hindu venerated the cow, and abstained from 
eating flesh. The others feed on everything without dis- 
tinction ; so also the Maori. 
4. The Hindu abhors the shedding of blood ; the other 
conceives no religious or domestic ceremony complete with- 
out blood and the offering of a live victim. This also was 
general throughout Polynesia, even houses were dedicated 
with the sacrifice of human life ; their altars were stained 
with blood, and their recklessness of life was astonishing. 
5. The Hindus have a Bhraminical priesthood, the others 
have their own self-created priests, who are respected ac- 
cording to their skill in magic and sorcery, in divining future 
events and curing diseases ; this was precisely the same with 
the Polynesian. 
6. The Hindus burn their dead, the others bury them with 
