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 shore.
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 noble 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 pass over the sea, glassy 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 multitude 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?