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Show Ni:V 7KA1.ANI). CuntrihtitcU. Among the thousands of iwuids which dot the mighty Pacific Ocean, and are noted for their beautiful scenery, tropical cUmate and beautiful beau-tiful verdure, let New Zealand be rated among the first. Where the dark-skinned Maori' once roamed unmolested, each tribe plying their warfare and cannibalism with the other, now rise the spires of churches church-es and cathedrals, he.ivenward, surrounded sur-rounded on every hand by beautiful dwellings, lawns and gardens. The busy hum of industry 'has reared its head above anthropophogy and the savage native now tread the streets of the cities and villages with a cosmopolitan air. But how different fifty years ago! Then might have been seen the dusky warriors awaiting the word of the priest (Tohungaj whether to go out to battle with the nearest tribe, or remain quiet for a few d.tys. If his incantations were heard by the Maori (rod, Maui, and favorable omens, or visions of success shown 1 to the dusky priest, then would they arise in their might, and the majesty of theit strength, and go forth to meet the enemy, carrying home their victims as trophies of their y.iccess and valor, in war. Then- viould the air resound with whoops and yells of the savage con-nibals, con-nibals, in their "haka" or war dance to the god of war. The lifeless forms or tneir captured victims could be seen roasting upon a copper niaori, or to be a little more explicit, upon the heaps of heated stones or cob-bels, cob-bels, which served them in their cooking and prepared 'food for their feasts. These were fca Us of no ordinary kind. On numerous I occasions has the writes been told in glowing and eloquent language by some old surviving cannibal how he relished human Hesli. ' And while thus engaged, he would siimc-k his lips, as if he longed for another meal. It rivalled, he would say, the flesh of any domestic animal he had ever eaten. But to-day the habits and customs of half a century ago have waned into insignificance, and the light of civilization rears its bfty head among them but, sorry t j say, not without a blight. How many times has the writer not seen the effects of civilization among them? Whisky by the hogshead hogs-head sdd to them, and in return their land given in payment. But gospel influences are now having the desired effect, and ere long, the Maori will stand erect like a man. |