The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 28, 1901, Page 12

12 THE SUNDAY CALL. FIND in my genealogical researches regarding the Polynesian races that the Maoris, Tongans, Tahitians, Sa- and Hawailans can, without be proved one and the same researches carry us back un- rringly to a period of probably 1000 years 2go, which may be considered as fairly remote in two ancestral lines, as thus: aori—Tol, Whatenga, Raura. Samoan—Ta. Atonga, Raulu. Maoriori (the people who are supposed to have inhabited New Zealand before the Maoris)—Toi, Hatonga, Raura. Here we have absolute agreement in the order and names of these ancestors of the Maori and Samoans. The variation in orthography is due to the peculiar dialect which the latter have no doubt contracted by with their barbarous spezking neighbors of the west. By trac- ing these lines down to the present day it will be found that they severally give a mean of about forty generations; some more, others again less. Assuming twenty- five years to fairly represent a generation, we have here a period in Polynesian his- tory of 1000 years ago which absolutely accords with that of their kindred of Sa- moa, while that of the Maoriori, whose isolation from New Zealand was as com- plete as that of the Samoan, also give the names in the same order, if fiot fully: Raratongan—Moemetua, Moeitiiti. —Moeteraur, Moeftifti. ouriari, Moitiiti. closer contact Finally, if we choose to review a period which is at the least twenty generations, or about 500 years earlier, 1500 years ago, we may do so thus: Hawalian—Laka, Weahieloa, Aloha. Maori—Rata, Wahiero, Aroha. Samoan—Talofa. With a variation in orthography only, we at this remote perfod find perfect har- mony in the genealogical tables of these people, who, for hundreds of years, have been separated by that vast surfate of heaving waters. Poiynesian history is built up in the lives and works of indi- viduals who have succeeded each other in their generations; individual names are frequently derived from some circum- stance connected with the birth or life of the possessor, and finally important prin- =inles sre nfttimas asenciatad in 2 name. S Wi W ‘A‘\ ’Z],‘ r.m s\ . Vast though the subject be and wide, the interval of space and of time, unfet- tered by cataclysmal disasters and ter- restrial changes, the mind of the native prophet or adept of less than 100 years ago could grasp with clearness the prin- ciples of creation which has been handed down as a legacy from his forefathers. He could explain the evolution and jnvo- lution of a germ, how it was affected by its surrounding elements and what those elements consisted of; he could describe the contents of the universe, recite how the stars were sown throughout space, their order and class, and the forces which keep them suspended and circling in their respective spheres; he could point to the four parts of the “girdle of the sky” and tell us that even these points participated in the unceasing motion vis- ible elsewhere; he would state that far beyond the “column of the sky,” or milky- way, and that Rehua-Sirius is recorded to have rushed in brilliance through the dark opening near the Southern Cross on the way to its prgsent position in the sky. He would assert that all material and visible phenomena was hastening onward to its final equlibrium; that as a man was born of his mother, the earth, so he re- turns again to her. The Maori prophet will tell that his progenitors had originally belonged to a large country, the borders of which almost extended to New Zea- land; that the principal part of that country was suddenly submerged by sub- terranean forces, and that a large portion of the people of his race perished, at the same time historical buildings contaiuing the records «f history and all other treas- ure were lost. The origin of the Polynesian race is wrapped in mystery. Having no historical records, their whole knowledge of the past being confined to oral traditions, and being e wandering race, they knew little about themselves and less about their origin. Our ethnologists have tried to trace the history of the Polynesians by their p .t wanderings; but they have ever been a race who trod lightly on the land with naked feet and their footprints have been obliterated by ‘the trampling of nameless invading hosts and their abiding places have been lost under fields of battle, vol- canic eruptions and tidal waves. Out of the darkness they came, an un- fortunate, fateful race, driven by strange destiny from their birthplace, doomed be- fore time to annihilation. asking not new worlds were ever being created’ \ b, .55 . il P /5',1///1//;’/ A/ /4 whence they came or whither they went, or, if asking, answered only by gloomy parable and mystic sayings. There are some who believe that the ‘wonderful vigor and physique of the Poly- nesians will enable the race to exist. The Polynesians are the finest and most inter- esting native race in the world without a doubt. They are gs bold as the frontier tribes of India, whom, indeed, they much resemble without being so sordid. In many customs, words and legends they resemble the ancient Peruvians—the inhabitants of Western South America— and yet it appears that the race once in- habited a mainland which is believed to be India—inland India, the plains and foothills of the Himalayas, Avith their borders touching the sea on the Persian Guif. Ages must have passed while the people dwelt in those parts. They became navi- gators, crossing the neighboring scas, ac- quiring many customs of a Semitic origin, together with some words of their jan- guage. This race was probably dwelling in Arabla and the shores of the Persian Gulf. But a time came when the Aryan race began to make its appearance in India, a race of superior caliber and prob- ably more numerous. Before this intrud- ing race the ancient Polyneslans gradu- ally retreated, but not at once. There was a period when much intercourse took place between the two races. It appears that gradually the Aryan drove the Polynesian race out of India and that the Polynesians-gradually ac- quired the art of navigation, pushed out into unknown seas and made their way to the Pacific. If all the native races in the world were paraded in any country it is the Polyne- sians that would win the most favor for physique, for character, for history. We can respect and admire them for their bravery and sterling virtues, We have fought against them and found them worthy foemen: they have fought with us and have proved loyal comrades. Ob- stinate and self-willed, proud and super- stitious, warlike and poetical, at one time recklessly brave, at another time helpless in a panic of fear; royally liberal to-day, shamelessly mean to-morrow, they are, withal, light-hearted, good-natured and capital company. “ They have been likened to our savage forefathers, and in many respects they have similar characteristics. but where P T N, ;/ 1, e our race was doggedly per‘slsten! the Polynesian is erratic and uncertain; and whereas our race proved their capacity for development and advancement in the march of civilization, the Polynesian has been left behind and in many things shows that he belongs to a decadent race. Perhaps the legend of the Lake Watk- aremoana would be most appropriate in showing how everything is handed from- one to another, and the beauty of such. My guide commenced the legend as fol- lows: “And now that we are here among the silent homes of the ancient people it is well that I should tell you the legends of the ‘sea of the rippling waters,’ for that is why I followed you through the dark forests and across the snowy moun- tains which lie far away, where the sky hangs down. And it is not an idle jour- ney, but one in which there is much to be learned and much to be seen. But you must not be alarmed at, the. monsters which inhabit the sea of Waikare, for I am an ariki taniwha (lord of dragons), therefore it isfwell 1 should be with you, for no taniwha will molest you; and be strenuous in retaining what I impart, for I know that you have not eaten of the sacred herb which binds knowiedge ac- quired. “Friend, it is well that we are alone, for the people that are with us have little love for the gallant stories of old. I'il tell them to you so that you can preserve the traditions of my people and record them that they may be rétained in the world of light. I will give you one of the tradi- tlons, the story of Rakahanga, a legend of the Tanira, or aboriginal people of Kai- kare. Moana Rakahanga-i-te-rangi was 2 pahi (a virgin, a betrothed girl) of an- cient times, and dweit with her people at Tauranga (Poverty Bay). “The fame of her beauty reached the chfefs of the multitude of Tanira, who dwelt by the shores of the rippling sea of ‘Waikare. -So the thought grew: let us ac- quire this famous and lovely lady as a wife for one of us Then Rongo-tawa, our descendant of Whaitiri, with Han and Rongo-i-te-Karangl, formed with great care a party of seventy men, who were 80 selected as to be all men of fine ap- pearance and equal size. They were also well trained in the various kinds of songs and dances. Thelr object was to show what fine men the Tanira race were and how 'greatly accomplished, that Lady Rakahanga might choose a husband from the visiting chief.” . “This kind of expsdition s termea ‘kortamahine.” When about to commence their journey a council of the chiefs de- cided that Han was too ugly to form one OP.the party, as he wore a beard, so it was decided that he should be left be- hind, for it would never do to parade such a plain fellow before the famous beauty Rakahanga. Thus the party left without him,, but Han, who was a man endowed with certain wondrous powers, hid him- self behind the prenake or bow of the canoe which conveyed the party to Tauranga and so arrived safely at the lace where the men of the Te Taulra landed and proceeded to the village where Rakahanga lived. “When they were out of sight Han came forth from his place of concealment and hid himself until nightfall. In the even- ing all met in the Whare-tapere, or amusement-house, of the Pa, where the visitors were to show their various ac- complishments in order that one of their number might find favor in the eyes of Rakahanga. And some of the village people, were sent to collect fuel which was to be carefully selected in order ghat the fires in the Whare-tapere might burn clearly and not to smoke. But that de- ceifful Han drew near and caused those fires to smoke dreadfully by mesuns' of the following song: ‘Gather together the smoke from above; gather together the smcke from above and below.’ This in- cantation produced so much smoke that many of the people, including our heroine, rushed forth from the house into the darkness of the night, which concealed his ugliness, and more 8o by a spell termed Tan-patiti (kind of song) managed to in- gratiate himself with the much sought Rakahanga. “So much indeed did he take that lady’s fancy that she determined to choose this man as her husband, and so she marked him by pinching his. forehead, that she might know him in the light of day. The next morning when all were assembled Rakahanga proceeded to search for the man she had chosen as her husband, look- ing closely at each of the visitors in or- der to detect her mark. For a long time she failed to detect this marked man, until at last Han appeared, and then poor Raka was much disgusted to find in him v so fll-favored & mair, BTa the other chiefs were much disgusted that this ugly fel- low should win so charming a girl. “So the Chief Kiwi disregarded Han's claims, took Rakahanga as a wife for himself, and accompanied by his friend Weka they started by an inland track to Waikaremoona. The deserted Han was indignant at losing his promised wife and went in pursuit. ““As he journeyed through the forest he came to where two men named Tane- here-ti and Tane-here-pi were spearing pigeons in a tree. Han inquired of these men whether they had seen any travel- €rs pass by. They replied, ‘Yes, two men and a woman have passed here.’ So Han went on until he reached Waimaha, where he evertook Kiwi and his companions. Han, armed with his famous greenstone battle axe, Hawea-te-marama, at once at- tacked the two men and slew Kiwl, but Weka and Rakahanga escaped and fled far away into the forest. Friend, lest you be misled, this is not the same Weka who married Toroa, for that was long after. And so Weka and Raka traveled on across the great hills until they came to Te Ringa Falls, on the Wairoa River. “The night was falling when they ar- rived at the place; the darkness settled down as they traversed the summit of the dread cliff above the fall; s great fear came upon Raka and she sald, ‘Friend, let us be cautious lest we full from this great cliff,’ but Weka said, ‘Fear not, this {s the track by which we go. But as he spoke they came to the highest and most dangerous part of the cliff and ‘Weka quickly turned and thrust the poor girl over the edge of the rock into the black chasm below. The reason of this act was the fact that Raka had favored “the ugly man Han at Taurenga. Thus in that fearful chasm perished Rakahan- ga-I-ti-Rangi, the famous juhi of old. And her last words were ‘Hepo Rakahan- ga-l-raru-al.” (‘By darkness was Raka- hanga confounded’).” = s o The practice of moko or tattoo was for- merly universal, but it is going out of fashion. They use several patterns, and the operation is performed by skilled ar- tists. This ament was deemed necey- sary to manh and a woman of red RAWINIA HIPARGO lips was a reproach. The painful process is undergone at the age of puberty. The patient places the head on the lap of the performer. First the lines are described with charcoal; the skin is then punctured by a sharp instrument of bone or steel, driven by a small mallet—a pigment pre- pared from a vegetable substance is dropped into the wound. Although the subject be writhing in agony, no ery of pain will escape him. Those around make a terrible noise with their songs during the ordeal. Only a small portion can be done at a time. When the inflammation has subsided and the excoriation healed, the operation i3 considered complete. The Huia feather is a royal ornament worn generally by the King's family— chiefs and relatives. It is a medium-sized, black feather with a white tip. The bird is sald to be extinct. The carvings are done upon the hardest possible wood and until very. recently with the rudest instruments. They are generally in the form of hideous mon- strosities, which are supposed to be a likeness of the family gods. Their carv- ings are principally historical—sometimes they are decidedly vulgar, though always clever. Lichs Hamper a Railway. 5 IR GUILFORD MOLESWORTH states that the construction of the Uganda Rallway iInvolves an or- ganization equivalent to the main- tenance of an alien army, amounting to over 20,000 men, in a practically waterless country, devoid of resources and of all means of animal and wheeled transport. Even at the advanced workings hundreds of miles in the heart of Africa, everything Pad to be Imported from a distant coun- try, and from railhead to the advanced parties all stores, ete., had until lately to be carried on men’s heads. Apart, too, from the engineering difficulties, the scar- city of water greatly hampered the work, while the depredations of man-eatin; lions, necessitating the election of special stocKades for the protection of the Indlan coolles’ camps, Involved the death of two officials gnd about thirty Deering Magasine. .