The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-08-29

The MAoRIs, as the aborigines of New Zealand
are called,-andt this is the term they themselvesus use
to designate their race,-very much resemble our
native Hawaiians in many Of their characteristics,
and they may unquestionably be regarded as orig
inally of the came race. This is made apparent
more especially in a comparison of the spoken Ian
guage of the two peoples, which have striking
similarities; and the physical and mental differ
ences are only such as may readily be accounted
for by the difference in climate, and the lapse of
time-how great can only be surmised-since the
separation of these two branches of one tribe.
The total Maori population of New Zealand is
now stated at some 46 900 only by our last CEN
sUs the native Hawaiians exceeded this figure by
a few thousands. Both the aboriginal New Zea-
landers and the Hawaiians were brought under
the influence of Christian Missions at nearly the
same period, some fifty years ago. To-day, the
British colonists assert (ride the Otago Witness)
that the Christianity of the Maori is "only a
veneer, and there are not wanting those among
US who assert the same of the Hawaiian. But
without pausing to discuss this point, w may OBJ
serve that the many similarities SO perceptible in
the Maoris and our own aborigines, cannot fail to
invest with a peculiar interest everything that
COuCcTuS Iuc IOEIutE, mOEc particularly u We lilly
perchance discern in them any symptoms of awak
ening yigor in the race, or of that spirit of ma
tional recuperation which we are SO DESTROYS of
recognizing and encouraging among the latter.
1t has been the fashion Of late years, in New
Zealand, as well as here, to prophesy that COM
paratively a few years more will see the last of the
original owners of the soil-the Maoris-that
they are so rapidly passing away by a combina-
ton Of causes, that nothing can prevent their ex-
%tinction. Now. however, we note a change in
the views of the colonists in this respect. The
following, from q late number Of the Otago VIZ
ness, will be read with interest:
"Only those who are thoroughly acquainted with
Maoridom can have an accurate idea of the change
that is insensibly stealing over our aboriginal people.
There is scarcely, it may be affirmed with safety, in
the whole of the Northern Island, q Native, however
remote from contact with Europeans may be his
abode, or the length Of time he has voluntarily isolat-
ed himself from having any connection with the
race, that either thinks, feels, or would act
at the present period as he would have done at the
outbreak Of the Waitara war. He appears almost q
man Of another generation. He has learned many
lessons since and, wise man as he is, has commenced
putting them into practice. Of course the process of |
elimination is going on, and the weak succumb to /
the vices OF european INTRODUCTION but In almost 4
every town and village in the North will be found
Natives living among their white fellow subjects, who
are enabled to hold their own in the contest for life
often in commercial interchangeable can judge of
the events Of the present, and how they viii affect
their future interests, with considerable shrewdness.
Their children speak the English language well,
through the Press they become versed in the history
Of our dOings in many parts Of our Empire, and the
knowledge the children thus acquire is fltrated, per-
haps without design, into the minds Of their parents.
Their views expand with their years, they neglect no
Of acquiring information, and have the
of some Of the best heads the North Island
possesses to give them counsel. on which, as a rule,
rely. The Southern Cross some twelve months
sgo had an article on this subject, headed " Shirts
md Civilization, - the gist of which was that clothing
md its accessories would assimilaee the Maori to our
habits of thought and conduct but war and confs-
;ation have done more to wean him from his past
than all the teaching Of Missionaries, or
he possession Of all that he has acquired from his
with Europeans. That his Christianity
vas only a veneer the last war told US but the
necessity he feels of assimilating himself to our habits
rises from the conviction that such a course of con-
is necessary, not only to retain his influence,
mt his actual existence. He smiles with wonder