Narrative of the Circumnavigation of the Globe by the Austrian Frigate Novara Volume Iii Part 6

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The average weight of a Maori, deducting their mats and clothes, is about 141 lbs.; of 617 Europeans (both English and Irish), who were weighed, the average weight was 143 lbs. Dr. Thompson found the natives under 21 less fully developed than soldiers of the same age, but after that the Maori began to turn the beam as regards weight.

The girth of the chest, measured above the nipples, gave as the average of 151 natives 35.36 inches; of 628 soldiers of the 58th regiment, 35.71 inches. Between 16 and 20 the chest of the native is more than half an inch less than that of the European; a little later it is found to be about the same.

In order to test the physical and muscular strength of the Maori, Dr.

Thompson made them lift the utmost weights they could from the ground, with the following results from 31 individuals on whom he experimented:--

6 New Zealanders lifted 410 to 420 lbs.

2 " " 400 " 410 "

5 " " 390 " 400 "

3 " " 380 " 390 "

6 " " 360 " 380 "

5 " " 340 " 360 "

2 " " 336 "

2 " " 250 " 266 "

The average of the foregoing gives 367 lbs., the highest being 420 lbs., the lowest 250 lbs. A similar experiment made with 31 soldiers of the 58th regiment (averaging in weight 144 lbs.) gave the following figures:--

2 soldiers lifted 504 lbs.

6 " " 460 " to 480 lbs.

14 " " 400 " " 460 "

9 " " 350 " " 400 "

Thus the average weight which the British soldiers could lift from the ground was 422 lbs., or 55 lbs. more than the Maori.

Perron in his "Voyage des Decouvertes aux Terres Australes," observed as the result of numerous experiments, that the weakest Frenchman had more muscular strength than the most powerful native of Van Diemen's Land, and that the weakest Englishman was stronger than the strongest native of New Holland. Judging by that standard, the Maories are of a far more powerful build than the Australian aborigines.

What appears to us most interesting in the results of Dr. Thomson's observations, is the immense disparity of the muscular strength of the Maori as compared with that of the Anglo-Saxon race, although in height, weight, and girth they so closely resemble them. The main reason of this astonis.h.i.+ng dissimilarity is undoubtedly due in the main to the exclusively vegetable diet of the New Zealanders, which it is well known promotes the deposition of fat in the system, without proportionately increasing the amount of muscular tissue. Moreover the uniform, uneventful life of the Maories by no means tends to the development of muscular strength.

Dr. Thomson justly remarks that the foregoing facts completely demolish the arguments of those who find a pleasure in representing the world as degenerating, and mankind as much less powerful and free from blemish than in former ages, ere trade and civilization had exercised their unpropitious influence upon the habits and manners of mankind. For here we have the New Zealanders, living up to the present century a life of the most primitive simplicity, yet evidently in respect of mere corporeal strength lagging far behind the denizens of a country, where culture and machinery have brought about social changes of such magnitude, as no other civilized people on the globe can show.

Of few races inhabiting the southern hemisphere, have the proverbs, poetry, songs, and traditions been the subject of such zealous study as those of the Maori, and no one has made more careful investigation into this interesting feature than the present Governor, Sir George Grey, who set on foot most minute inquiries into the older history of the Maori, which he published in a variety of valuable works,[33] although several of the missionaries, as also educated settlers of many years' standing in the colony, have extended our acquaintance with the Maori race, by the publication of a grammar and dictionary of the Maori language, as also many valuable works upon the natural history of the New Zealand Islands.[34]

To this most honourable and widely-diffused activity, science is indebted for a specimen of literature which furnishes an excellent sample of the high cultivation of the native race, and makes us acquainted with moral axioms and pieces of poetry which would do honour even to a poet of Caucasian descent.

We subjoin a few adages and short poems of Sir George Grey's valuable collections, which more especially indicate the dignified character and originality of thought of this singular people, and are taken from a larger number embraced in Sir George Grey's collection of "Proverbial and Popular Sayings" already mentioned.

Canst thou still the surf that breaks on the Shoal of Rongo-mai-ta-kupe? (Alluding to the difficulty of allaying a revolt.) * * * * *

The little child grows, but the little axe remains for ever little (i. e. manhood is more valuable than any other possession).

Capricious as a salmon in the stream or a girl on sh.o.r.e.

The flounder flies back to hide itself in the water it has mudded.

You can search the dark corner of a house, but not the heart of a man.

Bad food will not make a man mean, but a n.o.ble man makes mean food respectable.

Kokowai or red ochre sucks up oil when you mix them. (If a chief visits you, he and his followers soon absorb all your property!)

A smooth tree you may climb, however tall it is; but how can you pa.s.s over the sea, gla.s.sy as it looks?

Perhaps, although I am little, you will find me troublesome as a sandfly.

Although hidden from us, we know there are plenty of roots of the wild convolvulus running under the ground there; so with the evil thoughts of our hearts.

You won't care to look long at the good food you have before you, but a face you love you can often look at (a pretty wife is better worth getting than a rich one).

A girl's beauty is like a fine day, a storm soon follows it; so old age and ugliness follow close upon loveliness.

There are a mult.i.tude of stars in the heavens, but a very little cloud covers many of them (meaning that a small band of resolute men may defeat a large number).

If he had taken refuge on a mountain-top we could have climbed it; if he had taken refuge amidst ocean's surge our canoes could have contended with it; but having taken shelter under the protection of a _mighty chief_, who can reach him there?

If you have a sperm whale's tooth, you must also have a sperm whale's jaw to carry it!

Quick in speech, slow to act; promises are quickly made, the body is slow to move.

A fathomless throat, but no industry; a monster's appet.i.te, but no perseverance in labour.

He is ascending the snow-capped mountains of Ruahmi (i. e. he is growing old).

Rangipo and Raeroa started together on a journey. Rangipo carried his G.o.d _alone_ with him; Raeroa carried his G.o.d on his back, and _food_ in his hand; Rangipo died,--Raeroa lived.

The block of wood has no business to dictate to the artist who carves it.

I can scarcely look out eagerly from the hill-top!

A mouth, ready as a salmon, to spring at its prey.

He is a descendant of Ki-ki, who was so skilled in magic that his shadow withered trees and plants if it fell on them.

The grasp of a chief's red hand cannot be loosened, but the grasp of a slave, what strength has it?

Few are the friends that aid at planting, but when the crops are gathered they come in shoals.

An old broken canoe may be mended, but youth and beauty cannot be restored:--

A fat man has been fattened by food, not by active thought; you will find him full, but not wise.

Women and war are the two dangers of men.

A woman probably hears the foe sing as they sacrifice to their G.o.ds the bodies of her slaughtered relatives (i. e. it is of little use to have a daughter, she will perhaps raise up heirs for your foes).

Women and land are the causes which destroy men.

The Moa-bird (_Dinornis gigantea_) trampled down the Rata tree (_Metrosidero Robusta_) when it was young; how then can you expect it to grow straight now? (i. e. it is difficult to overcome early influences.)