The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-12-13
PEOPLE OF PACIFIC
Address of Hon. S. Percy
Smith at KaWaiahao.
Territory of the 100000 Poly
nesians-Were Great Navigators.
Some Remarkable Voyages.

Prof. S. Percy Smith of New Zealand
addressed the congregation of the ka-
waiahao church last evening, in Eng
lish, but, unfortunately his remarks
could not be heard at distance of 80
feet by the white audience. His re-
marks were translated by the Rev. H.
H. Parker Hesaid: "The time was when
the people of the Southern islands
knew as much of your Hawaiian ances-
tors, as the white men knew of you to-
day Tahiti was so known. The New
Zealanders knew these Islands as
Wyhee The area occupied by the
Polynesian races is larger than that of
any other race in the world. Much of
it is water. There are many scattered
islands. Pleasant island is 1000 miles
to the south. New Zealand is 1000
miles away from Hawaii. The total
number Of Polynesians is about 200,-
900. The number is small. The whole
area is divided into four parts, Ha-
wall, Tahiti, Samoa and New Zealand
Hawaii has 10000, Tahiti $4,000, Sa-
moa 10000, New Zealand $4,000 The
race came from the west in canoes. Ha-
wall was settled at an early period.
| There were two series of migrations
| through Polynesia. The latest migra-
| tors had the most intelligence, and oc-
cupied the best positions. The Poly
nesians were great navigators. While
the whites were cruising along the Eu-
ropean shores, they wre crossing and
recrossing the ocean. The traditions of
the different settlements show the uni
ty of the race, and its common history.
The second migration was to New Zea-
land, % generations ago. There were
disturbances in the central Pacific, and
the migration to New Zealand began,
in five large canoes laden with men
women, sweet potatoes, taro, and even
rats. One of the chiefs returned on a
voyage of 1900 miles in a big canoe,
| fought battle in the central Pacific,
and returned home to New Zealand in
months. Tahiti was an important
place The Hawaiians visited it often,
% generations ago. The New Zealand
ers met the Hawaiians in Tahiti and
intermarried No doubt people in Ha-
wall were related by blood to some OF
the Maoris. The people of Tahiti were
also related to the people of New Zea-
land and Hawaii Many things show
the identity. Language differs slightly
1t is often more alike at extreme points
than at points close together geograp-
hically. The customs are much the
same. The appearance of the people is
the same Mix up the same number OF
Hawaiians with the same number OF
New Zealanders, and no one could dis
tinguish between them
Professor Smith described Tahiti, its
trees and food. The people are happy
under French rule. The Samoans are
not much civilized, do not live like the
whites. They make their hair white
with lime. The largest part of Poly
nesia is New Zealand, 1000 miles from
here. It would take 10 Hawaiian group!
to make New Zealand. In the early
part of the century there were 100000
Maoris, now only $4,000. The chiefs
fought each other in the early part OF
the century. There was war with the
British for 10 years. Now all live in
harmony. Probably the race is now in
creasing. If the Maoris had known OF
the professors visit they would have
sent messages. The Hawaiian have
changed the T to K. Professor Smith
spoke in the New Zealand tongue. The
natives who could hear, said they
generally undertook what he said.