Page:Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords, appointed to inquire into the present state of the Islands of New Zealand.pdf/50

 46 What were your Impressions?
 * I think we are still in a great degree ignorant of the real Superstition of the New Zealanders, not having enquired sufficiently into it. This is the Opinion of several of the Missionary Body. I think that much hereafter will be brought before Europeans which we are quite ignorant of at present.

Did they object to speak upon the Subject of Religion; did they ever allude to any of their Hopes or Fears before they had seen you?
 * They continually did so; speaking about the native God and the native Religion. The native God they say resides in the Woods.

Do they worship Idols?
 * Not any Idols.

Did you find them willing to receive religious Instruction?
 * They appeared very anxious to attend; but I found that confined chiefly to those who receive Payment from the Land, or those connected with the Stations. Waharoa would not attend, and the greater Part of his Tribe did not (when I was at Matamata), but his Two Sons did.

Was there any Jealousy on the Part of the Chiefs who did not attend, to prevent those who would attend?
 * I recollect Waharoa saying, that we should steal all his Men from him, and that he should be beaten when another Fight came on.

That was because you preached against War?
 * Yes.

Did you find the native Children easy to be taught?
 * Very easy; very interesting; equal to European Children in point of Intellect.

Had you any Opportunity, while you were there, of seeing any Persons that had been taught by the early Missionaries who went to that Country?
 * Yes; I have heard them preach in the native Language. I have taken one out with me after reading the Form of Prayer which is translated, and a Chapter. The Native stood up, and addressed them from the 7th Chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel.

Did the Men who were taught by the Church Missionaries behave as Christians ought to do?
 * Yes; but there are but few of them.

The Question refers to those who might have had the Elements of Truth originally instilled into their Minds; did it appear that they had lost the Impression, or that in after Life their Morals were correct, and they were conducting themselves in an orderly Manner?
 * I consider that they walk as well as we can expect them; according to native Custom, they walk consistently with it, so far that they will not go to War; they have come to that Determination, that they will stand in their own Defence; but they will not fight unless they are attacked.

Do they give up Canibalism?
 * They would of course, if they did not fight.

Do you know any Instance of any one of those Men converted to Christianity having been attacked and killing his Adversary?
 * I have known those we have thought well of that have turned again to go and fight, and have joined in Cannibalism. This very Slave I allude to, of the Reverend Mr. Brown, returned to his former Habits. We had thought better of him; and it remains to be proved how far the Remainder may stand their Ground.

Upon the whole, are you not of opinion that the Labours of the Missionaries have been successful as far as might be expected?
 * They have been successful; but I think a greater Effect might be given to them if their Minds were relieved from those secular Things which press so heavily upon them on behalf of their Children. Rh