Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-22
MAORI PROGRESS,
RISE OF A TRIBE FROM sAvAoERy TO
CIVILIZATION.
A Land in severalty Problem as Solved
by British Legislators-peeuiiar
Customs

Tho Maors. who inhabit the three
ia islands situated in the south Paclhc
81 Ocean known as the Colony OF New lea
81 land. are mentally and physically the
81 finest race OF abOTigines IN the world.
81 They are a copper-colorcd race, not un-
81 like the American Indians in tint The
mon are large and powerful, and the
81 women are mostly handsome. In for
NOR wears they we're canuioals. As war
riors the men are very brave, not at all
trcacherous and much opposed to tor
tnre Of any kind, preicring TO Kill their
victims az once.
~ II ia supposed that number Of Kama
kas from the Hawaiian islands formed a
e party aud left their own islands IN large
81 canoes on voyage of discovery, and
IS landed on the north island Of New Zea-
81 land. making il their home. In favor OF
81 this theory is the fact that there are
# great many similar words IN both Ian
n guagcs. The writer found this ont by
So conversing with a kauaka at Honolulu
81 when on voyage from New Zealand to
"A San Francisco.
@ The British Colonial Government had
q q great deal OF trouble in occupying tie
Al north island, as the Niaoris vigorously
81 resisted the Pakcha (whte man taking
possession Of their lands. and fought
over every inch OF ground After the
& British cot firm footing they dealt
q fairly with the natives. and civilization
"a commenced. Ii Us TO the credit OF the
a Maors that they became civilized IN a
shorter time than any wild race on earth,
and have never been known To go on the
4 war path after swearing allegiance TO the
English Queen.
TATTOOING.
The Naoris are the only colorcd race
who use the tattoo to designate the
standing of their chiefs and princesses.
The Maori King has not a spot on his
face that is not tattOOed. In tattoomg
they first boil the leaves Of a plant that
grows IN the woods, making Iet-biack
ink. Next they secure some pcepee
thclls that are very sharp on
their edges, and laying the boy
10 he operated on On his back where he
is held by tHo or three strong
men. the tauei or me1icinc-man COM
ueuces cutting scroll work on tue
boys face, laying the flesh open with
the edge OF the she'll He then lays The
ink in the wounds. On a full-blooded
chief II takes from five 10 eight weeks 10
flush the tat!)oing, and nearly year
for it TO heal up. This is a most painful
mode Of decorating the person, bat the
Young chiefs are always ycry anxious TO
have the operation performed.
Since the Ma0ris have adopted civil
lied WAYS they have their own churches
and school-houses and a great many or
deined ministers, who have been edu-
Gated in the colleges of the white people.
They now worship the white mans God,
but before the missionaries got among
them they adOred the sun, moon, and
stars. and were very supcrstltous. 1ou
would never meet them ont alone after
dark. If they had 10 Journey either by
t,a or land at night, they kept mp con-
umsl chant to prevent bad spirits from
coming near them. They sincerely be-
heye in lipo Ohe deylD
A most peculiar Maori trait is the way
th,v greet each other after being parted
for long time. They appoach with the
expression, "Ah-wa,' drawn out TO
great length, seize hands, and commence
rubbing noses, crying at the same time.
y his will sometimes last ten minutes, de
pending on how long the parties have
been separated and on their relationship.
In head-dress the Maorls are like the white
PEOPLE, the men wearing their halr short
anithe women long. They once dressed
in mats and shawls woven out OF fax by
the women. but now in their pas
tcsmps) they Use blankets to wrap up
IN and flax mats TO lay on. They are a
very clearly race Of people, especially
about their food, which consists pnncl-
pallv OF fish and potatoes They never
boil potato until they haye scraped all
the skin of with pccpee shells. The
camp-work is all done 10y the women,
aud the fishing and hunting 10y the
men.
oLD-TME HANDIwORK.
1t lisa grand sight TO see some of the
handiwork of these people before civil
zation set IN. when they had no tools
but those of stones of their own manu-
facture. lou can hee canoes to-day,
built over a hundred years ago, that will
carry 800 persons. They are constructed
IN sections hewu ont of solid logs and
laced together with fax cords. The
seams are caulked with the tibrcs OF the
flax. These boats never leak and will
stand snv weather. IA a rule these ca
noes have a hgurohead carved ont ot II
,ohd block Of wood representing the
head chief Of the tribe tae canoe belongs
to. These large canoes are called war
canoes. as they were used mostly when
one Tribe was at war with another
The north island Is really the home OF
the Maon. the climate being very mild,
much like Florida IN winter aud pleasant
ia summer on account Oi the sea breeze
and there beng no swamps TO har0or
8,rssc. When Herbert Slade, the boxer,
came T. this country he was called a
Maori. but he is only half caste. His
f,tber WAS a white man and his mother a
Maori woman. The half castles are now
u,arlv a. numerous as the MaOrls, White
men having married great deal Win
Maori women during the last fifty years,
and. as "A rule. they have large families.
The half.castewom arethe handsomest
in the Australasian colonies. They marry
aud mix IN the best society.
MAORI POLITICS.
The Maoris have now their own NOM
Der. OF Parliament They are natural
orators and actors. ANY one knowing
What subject they are discussing can al
most tel what they are saying by Their
gestures. Their speeches always make
great impression IN the House, and are
delivered ia their own laNguage, the
Government supplying interpreters.
one Of the grandest sights the writer
ever saw was a war dance performed by
over 3. $50 Maoris, led by Queen Emma,
Queen Of the Napubl tribe: This wo-
man stands over SIX feet high, and IS
built in proportion. She IS the pest
specimen OF her race to be iound Ia
the colony. The war dancers worh IKE
well.traioed ballet, aud dance without
mahInp any false motions.