MAORIS (pronounced mou'ris, a word meaning indigenous) is the name given to them selves by the inhabitants of New Zealand, and that by which they are now usually designated by ethnologists. The Maoris, in common with the natives generally- of Poly nesia, belong to the Malay race or family of mankind. Though calling themselves indig , enous, the Maoris have a tradition that their ancestors migrated to the present seat of ithe nation from the island of Hawaiki about 500 years ago. They came in 7 canoes, which had outriggers, to prevent foundering, and were called amatiatia, being very different from those subsequently used by them, which were much simpler in construc tion, and named wakka. The first of these canoes that touched at :New Zealand was named Arawa, and this brought over the first settlers from whom the 'Maoris are descended. If any faith is to be attached to this tradition, Hawaiki was, probably, the same as Hawaii, the principal of the Sandwich islands, distant about 4,000 m. n.e. of New Zealand. Some, however, suppose that it may have been Savaii, one of the Samoan or Navigators' islands, a group not half that distance away. • The tradition SRI'S nothing of any indigenous population found in New Zealand before the arrival of these immigrants. Many writers, however, incline to the belief that it was previously inhabited by a darker race, somewhat akin to the Papuas of New Guinea, sometimes called 'Negritos and Pelagian neg-roes. Supposing that the two races, in process of time, inter mingled, this might account, in some measure, for the differences apparent between the Maoris and the Tahitians, Samoans, Sandwich islanders, and other natives of the Pacific. But whether of pure or mixed race, all testimony combines in representing the Maoris as a nation standing very high in the scale of humanity. The skin of the Maoris is in general of an olive-blown color, but there are some in whom the shade is much lighter, while in others it is darker. In stature they almost equal Englishmen, and have a powerful muscular development. They have well-shaped, intellectual heads, and their features, when not tattooed, might almost be taken for European. Few of them have beards or whiskers, it being an immemorial custom with them to pluck out the hair on the face with pipi shells. On the head, the majority have long black hair, with a slight wave in it; but with some it is of a reddish tinge, and some Maoris again have the hair slightly frizzled. Their eyes are large, their lips thick, and their teeth, unlike those of most savage nations, are large and irregular. The women are of less stature than the men in proportion, and are in other respects inferior to them, perhaps from their marrying too young, and having to perform too much of the drudgery of life. Some of the women, however, are represented as being delicately molded, with long eye-lashes, pleasing features, and a plaintive, pathetic voice, which makes them highly interesting. Both sexes used to practice tattooing, a custom which has been almost abandoned since the conversion of the Maoris to Christianity. It was a painful operation, performed with a hammer and savv-like chisel. The punctures were stained with vegetable dyes, and the patterns, which extended over the face, hips, thighs, etc., represented ornamental scrolls and figures, supposed to denote the rank of the individual wearing them. The women were but slightly tattooed, with a few lines on the lips, chin, and occasionally- other parts of the body. The priests were the principal operators, and during the process, ancient songs were sung, to encourage, divert the attention, and increase the patience of the sufferers. This tattooing was supposed to make the Maori youth more terrible in the eyes of his enemies, and more acceptable in those of his mistress. Another remarkable custom among the Maoris was that of the taboo, by which the priest could make certain persons and things sacred and inviolate. This was partly a religious and partly a political ordinance, and was so much respected that even in war-time hostile tribes left unharmed all persons and things thus protected by the taboo of the opposite side. Cannibalism, a much more heinous and abominable custom, practiced so lately as
within the last 45 years, was universally prevalent among the 3Iaoris before their con version to Christianity. The last instance of it occurred in the year 1843. "Now, however," says Dr. Scherzer (Voyage of the Novara), "any allusion to this revolting practice is very painful to the New Zealander, as reminding him of his former low position in the scale of nations. Every time that we endeavored to make any inquiry of the natives respecting this custom, they withdrew vvith an ashamed look. In like manner, dogs' flesh has ceased to be an article of food, ever since the introduction of pork by capt. Cook. Formerly, the native or Maori dog, which at present is very scarce, was eaten on certain occasions, while its blood played a somewhat conspicuous part in Maori pharmacy." Infanticide, which also prevailed largely among them in tbeir days of heathenism. is now universally abolished, and the sante is the case with slavery and polygamy. The Maoris generally marry very young, and instances are known of females among them becoming mothers even at the tender age of 11 years. Their marriages, however, are not very productive, 3 in a family being considered a good average, and many of these dying in their first year. It is difficult to account for this, seeing that the Maoris of the present day are not addicted to intemperance, like other half-civilized tribes. The wars of the Maoris were formerly carried on with spears and clubs of various kinds, manufactured from stone and wood. Their most remarkable weapon was a spear of nephrite, which descended among the principal chiefs from father to son, and was regarded as a kind of scepter, and even a sacred object. It was called merimeri, "the fire of the gods," and was sometimes used for scalping prisoners. There are other weapons of nephrite in use among the Maoris; they are much sought after, and very costly. The use of fire-arms is now, however, very general among the Maoris, and that they are adroit marksmen has been made but too apparent in their contests with English troops. The language of the Maoris, like the. Polynesian languages generally, belongs to the Malay family. Its alphabet comprises only 14 letters. viz., A, E, FI, I, K, 3I, N, 0, P, T, U, W, and Ng. Seven tolerably dis tinct dia1,3cts are spoken among them. The language is represented as rich and sono rous, well adapted for poetical expression, especially of the lyric kind. The :Maoris have an abundance of metrical proverbs, legends, and traditions, of which a collection has been made by sir George Grey. They are also passionately attached to. music and song. More than five-sixths of the Maoris are now converted to Christianity. Of them, such as live within the English settlements are becoming gradually assimilated ta our own colonists, for the most part wearing. tlie European dress, etc., while those further removed are content with the blanket, which has comt4lo bupersede the natty° cloth. They generally practice agriculture, but will not work very hard. They are good sailors and fishermen, and, indeed, more than a hundred coasting-vessels of a good size are now the property of natives. The Maoris, however, as a nation, although ready to imitate our manners and customs, are not quite content with our colonial rule, and have frequently raised the standard of revolt against Britain under their native chieftains. In 1861 hostilities commenced between the Maoris and the British, which terminated in favor of the latter the following year. In 1863 v.-ar broke out again, the Maoris having conspired to expel the British troops. In 1868 they massacred many of the settlers, and resisted, to desperation, the troops sent to quell tshem—a feat accomplished the following year. Pop. '68, only 38,40.