New Zealand and Its Aborigines; Being an Account of the Aborigines, Trade, and Resources of the Colony; And the Advantages It Now Presents as a Field (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1845 Excerpt: ...and a mockery of justice, but is founded on an erroneous view of the character of the natives. They would, no doubt, like such an honour to be conferred on them, but, if any one of them were to be put on his trial, he would ten times rather trust to the justice of a European jury than to one wholly or partially formed of his own countrymen. But even if the natives could not thus be got, voluntarily, to submit, immediately, to our authority by such means, a very short period would elapse before they would willingly express their readiness to do so. Our considerate conduct would soon approve itself to their good feelings; and, confidence in our good intentions being once restored, there would be no difficulty in getting them to accede to any proposals, founded on principles of common sense and justice, which they can so readily be made to comprehend as well as to appreciate. The present power of the natives is founded on our injustice and impolitic conduct towards them, combined with the interest which now binds the POWER OF THE NATIVES. 171 individuals in a tribe together for common safety against the aggressions of other tribes. It is from this cause that they have hitherto been found so difficult to control. An offence to one man becomes at once an offence against the whole body, and he cannot be punished without exciting the hostility of the tribe. Then, if any attempt be made against the tribe, other tribes will join against the common enemy. Once introduce, however, the changes referred to, and the common interest which binds the individuals and the tribe, and the various tribes amongst themselves, will be immediately dissolved. They will no longer trust to their own powers for preserving order and peace, and therefore will not require such combinations...