Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-11
A TAT T00ED RACE $=;:$$$$ rs


From Saturdays Daily.
The Rev. Wherahiko Rawei of New
Zealand, a native Maori missionary, is
in the city en- route to st. Louis, where
he will represent his people at the
exposition. He will preach tomorrow
morning at the First Baptist church
and in the evening at the First Con-
gregational church.
The Maoris are the aborisinals of
New Zealand and the finest and most
intelligent of all South Sea island
races. Rev. Rawei is an educated
man of evident refinement and is pres
ident of the Native Young Peoples
society of Christian Endeavor. He is
accompanied by his wife who is also
native missionary.
Mr.. Rawei is pleasing talker and
when interviewed last evening by a
representative of the Courier spoke in
terestingly of the wonderful progress
made by the Maoris since the intro
duction of Christianity sixty years ago.
Then cannibalism was prevalent and
now the natives hold some OF the most
important positions in New Zealand.
The present postmaster generf is
native and many of them have become
noted physicians, lawyers and business
men. Rev Rawei lived in a native
village until twelve years OF age when
he was adopted by an English lady,
who visited the village with a party OF
tourists, and sent to one of the schools,
where he learned the English
Language, was given a finished educa-
ton and later became missionary.
He considers that as a people the
Maoris will eventually disappear, and
pathetically declares that the truth of
thu" principle that, where two races
widely differing in blood and habits of
life are brought into contact, the
weaker must become extinct, is now
being verified in New Zealand, as it
has already been,in the sister Island
Of Tasmania.
G. The Wholesale Introduction of fire.
arms by the famous chiefs, Hongi, Mo-
Eaka and Ruatara first raised the
Slack banner of destruction in Maori
land, and for. twenty years after, the
most cruel and bloody wars, between
tribes which had hitherto been friend
ly, worked awful havoc among the
male population. Today, says Mr..
Rawei, the report of gun seldom or ev-
er breaks the stiffness of the valley
or hill. The weapon itself is simply
preserved by the old warriors as
grim relic Of bygone times.
But whiskey. rum, tobacco and the
insane adoption Of half-European,
half-Maori mode of dressing and liv-
ing, are carrying on the fatal work of
extinction quite as effectually. And
moreover. these same death agents
are materially aided by the Tuhungas,
fnatiye priests. The terrible influence
for which these so-called priests
phets have upon our people,
Rawei. is quite unintelligible
ACQUAINTED with Maori
: D4ss OF tE4dght BY playing upon
the feeling of naturally superstitious
race, by twisting the meaning of Gods
word to uphold their pernicious views
by terrifying their ignorant victims
with lamentations of vague import, and
still more doubtful efficacy, these ma
tive quacks place an insurmountable
obstacle between philanthropy and it's
objects bar the road to good will aud
friendliness between Europe and Ma
orr and raise an appalling barrier to
the advance of civilization. But the
dark Slde OF the picture Is not WITHOUT
it's relieving features.
The genius Of the Maoris is simply
marvellous. They seem to have a nat
ural gift for carving. Without mathe-
NAUTICAL Instruments, the trueness of
their lines and of the figures is aston
ishingal Their canoe heads are fine
specimens Of such carving; also their
wharepunis (native houses,) the en-
trance to which, with the rafters and
panels SHOW the inventiveness of
their minds, ithe correctness of their
eye, and the dizziness of their fingers.
Add to these. carved food bowls, must
cal instruments and gods, and it will
be. realized that genius in art is a pre-
dominant trait Of this native people.
All this fine work, be it remembered,
has been done with flint and shell CHS
els of their own manufacture; the for