Posts. These posts have their upper extremities carved in divers curious forms, in one case into four vertical projections. Is it possible that the illustration in our last number had some symbolical significance among local Maori of the Waikato district? Perchance we have here another New Guinea-New Zealand parallel. [409] Mummification Among the Maori. In a review of Andreas Reischek's book Sterbende Welt, recently printed by a syndicate of New Zealand papers, occurs the following:"It is interesting to learn that in the State Natural History Museum at Vienna there are at present two mummified bodies of Maoris. One of Reischek's ambitions was to obtain such a rarity, but it was only when he got right into the heart of the King Country that he succeeded in finding what he had set his heart on. He thus tells the story: "Two Maoris, who had already become sufficiently Europeanised to be willing to renounce their national and religious principles for gold, led me at night to a cave near Kawhia; there I found four mummies, of which two were in a state of perfect preservation. The undertaking was a very dangerous one, for discovery would certainly have cost me my life. In the night I had the mummies removed from the spot and then well hidden; during the next night they were carried still further away, and so on until they had been brought safely over the boundaries of Maoriland. But even then I kept them cautiously hidden from sight up to the time of my departure. Now both of these ancestors of the Maori adorn the ethnographical collection of the State Natural History Museum at Vienna.'" It may be noted that a form of mummification was occasionally practised by the Maori; it consisted of a rude drying process. This usage may have been introduced from Polynesia; it was practised at Tahiti, as shown by Cook. According to evidence given by Captain G. Mair and others it would appear that, in some cases, bodies of the dead deposited in dry pumice sand became desiccated naturally, and were at least partially preserved as to skin and hair. PROCEEDINGS. POLYNESIAN SOCIETY. A meeting of the Council was held March 31, 1926 at the Society's Room, Woodward Street, Wellington, at 8 p.m., Sir M. Pomare, and Messrs. Baillie, Balneavis, Best and M. Crompton-Smith being present. After the minutes and business arising therefrom had been transacted, the following new members were elected: Messrs. T. Chamberlin Chamberlin, A. Drummond Duthie, Dr. W. L. Crowther, Hamilton Borough Council, P. G. Morgan, Robert Bruce, Dr. T. C. Moore, W. Gaw, Rev. Father J. Devolver, C. J. Halfpenny, and L. G. Kelly; also as life member, Mrs. R. Staples Brown, and as corresponding member, Mr. C. O. Blagden. The deaths of Messrs. R. D. Welsh and J. B. Roy were reported, and the resignation of Dr. J. S. Emerson. Various correspondence was dealt with, and exchange of publications with the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and American Anthropological Association, was approved. The B.P. Bishop Museum forwarded a copy of the second edition of the Hawaiian dictionary. In accordance with the Society's rule the editors for the ensuing year were appointed, Messrs. Best and Andersen. The printing of Mr. Elsdon Best's paper on the work of the Society as a circular, was approved. Manuscript, by Messrs. Jenness and Ballantyne, on Goodenough Island, was received and ordered to be printed. The attention of the Council was drawn to valuable manuscript in the charge of the Dominion Museum, and Grey Collection, Auckland. It was resolved to inform the Board of Maori Ethnological Research of the existence of these documents. "THE MAORI” By ELSDON BEST, F.N.Z.I. Memoirs of the Polynesian Society, Volume V., published by the Board of Maori Ethnological Research for the Author, and on behalf of the Polynesian Society. Chapter This Memoir is complete in two volumes. VOLUME I.-CONTENTS. I. Physical and Mental Characteristics of Maori II. The Maori as a Seafarer and Coloniser-the Peopling of New Zealand III. Traditional History and its Teaching-the Whare-wananga, or School of Learning IV. Cosmogony and Anthropogeny V. Myth and Folk Lore VI. Religious Beliefs and Practices of the Maori-Maori Magic VIII. Social Customs continued-Marriage Customs List of Authorities and Index VOLUME II.-CONTENTS. Chapter IX. Customs pertaining to Birth X. Sickness, Death, Burial and Exhumation XI. The Arts of Pleasure-Games and Pastimes XIII. The Dawn of Science XIV. The Art of War XV. The Pa Maori, or Fortified Village XVI. Maori Agriculture XVII. Fishing Devices and Methods XVIII. Forest Lore and Woodcraft XIX. Textile Arts XX. Personal Adornment XXI. Dwelling Houses and Storehouses List of Authorities Index The volumes are well illustrated and admirably arranged. They are desirable both as works of reference and as books well worth reading. Price to Members of the Polynesian Society, 4s 9d each Volume, including postage. Members are entitled to one copy only of each volume at this price. Additional copies are 8/6 each volume, including postage. All orders must be accompanied by remittance and sent direct to the Distributors, Messrs. Harry H. Tombs, Ltd., 22, Wingfield Street, Wellington, New Zealand. |
