CHAPTER XIV.

THE RELIGION OF THE MAORIES.

WE meet in New Zealand with that curious system of “taboo” or “tapu”

which prevails throughout the greater part of the Polynesian Archipelago; a
system evidently conceived in the interest of the priesthood, and forming, to a
great extent, the basis of its power.

We meet also with a recognition of the two Principles of Good and Evil, whose
antagonism colours the creed of almost every race.

The Good Spirit of the Maories is called Atua; the Evil Spirit, Wairua. All evil
spirits, or all the objects representing them, are known as Wairuas, and all the
emblems or types of the Good Spirit as Atuas; but there is one supreme
Goodness, one great and overruling God, to which the name of Atua is also
applied.

According to Mr. Angas, the Kakariki, or green lizard, is specially venerated as
an Atua. On one occasion, during the early days of Christian mission work in
New Zealand, a missionary was examining a phial of green lizards, and a Maori
entering the room, the missionary showed it to him. Whereupon the Maori
immediately exhibited all the signs of extreme terror, and exclaiming, “I shall
die! I shall die!” proceeded to crawl away on his hands and knees. Any novel
object, any object beyond the intelligence of the Maories, they convert into an
Atua. Thus, a barometer is an Atua, because it indicates changes of weather; a
compass, because it points to the north; a watch, because it mysteriously records
the progress of time. Not to these typical atuas, however, does the Maori render
the homage of prayer and praise; this he reserves for the supreme and unseen
Atua, and offers through the agency of his priests or tohungas. It is to be feared
that these prayers are often unintelligible to those on whose behalf they are
offered, but the Maories do not the less heartily believe in them; and, indeed, the
history of religion all over the world presents innumerable illustrations of the