The aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand call themselves Maoris,
or Tangatu Maori which is equivalent to " indigenous men," in opposi-
tion to pakeha, which signifies " stranger." According to their own
tradition they came from the eastward from the island of Hawaiki and
settled in the country when it was still uninhabited. It is supposed
by some authors that the Maoris belong to two distinct races, which is
evidently a mistake founded upon the external physical appearances of
the two chief classes, into which society was divided. But these diffe-
rences of bodily constitution are easily accounted for by the difference
of social habits, and a more or less luxurious mode of living on the
one side, and a life of labour and hardship and an occasional scanty
food supply on the other. The native population of New Zealand was
estimated in 1843 at 114,890 souls. In 1855 theirnumber was found
to be reduced to 56,049 and in 1877 it was supposed that the aggregate
number of the native population would not exceed 40,ooo. 1

New Zealand was colonised under the patronage of the British
government in 1840 ; and the colonial settlements, which were stimu-
lated by the discovery of gold, were increased in a comparatively short
time at such a rapid rate that the number of white inhabitants felt
themselves sufficiently powerful to establish four provincial legislatures
and a permanent central government controlled by a parliament whose
members are elected by the people. Each province is presided over by
an executive officer called superintendent who has his own cabinet or
responsible advisers. 2 Although the Maoris were not excluded from
the rights of citizenship, and they were even encouraged to make
common cause with their white neighbours and join the new political
organisation, yet many were loath to abandon the ancient customs of
their forefathers, and accept the conditions of a new civilisation, to
which they were entire strangers ; which required them not only to
renounce their religion, and shake off their allegiance which was due
to their chiefs ; but even their language was henceforth proscribed in

1 Mr. Kerry-Nioholls states that in 1881 the number of natives was 44,099, of
which 24,370 were males, 19,729 females.
