NGAPUHI.WAIKATO.EASTROTO-TAUPO.TARA-CAPE.RUA.NAKI.KeriKeriKariKariKariTatouTatouTatauTatauTatou & TatauTatouMatouMatouMatauMatauMatou & MatauMatouRatouRatouRatauRatauRatou & RatauRatouKoro & KoruaKoruaKoutouKoutouKoutauKoutauKoutou & KoutauKotouTaua or TaoTauaTauaTauaMaua or MaoMauaMauaMauaRaua or RaoRauaRauaRouaHeiHeiHaiHaiHai & HeiEiKeiKeiKaiKaiKai & KeiKeiTuteiTutaiTutaiTutaiTutaiTuteiWhaWaMaoaMaiaMaoaMaia & MaoaHohouWhawhauHohou & WhawhuaO-ouTeinaTeinaTainaTainaTeinaTeinaTaraiTaraiTareiTareiTaraiHeoiHeotiHeotiEoi & EotiKuaKuaKouaKua & KouaKuKiaKiaKiaKiaKiaKiHoroHohoroO-oroTopaTaoTaoTaoRoaRoTonuTonuTou
See also the lettersngandh.
[3]This sound is not known in the Bay of Plenty. Its place is supplied by a simplen, further southward byk.
[3]This sound is not known in the Bay of Plenty. Its place is supplied by a simplen, further southward byk.
§ 1. The articles in Maori are as follows:—
(a.) The definite articleteand its pluralnga; e. g.
(b.) The indefinite articleshe,tetahi, and its pluraletahi; e. g.
(c.) The arthritic particlesaandko; e. g.
§ 2.Teis not so uniformly definite as the Englishthe; being sometimes used;
(a.) Where no article would be employed in English, i. e., in cases where the noun is taken in its widest sense; e. g.
(b.) Sometimes it is employed instead of the Englisha; e. g.
(c.) Sometimes it is used instead of the pronounsome; e. g.
(d.) It is employed for many other purposes which the Englishthedoes not recognize. We shall only mention the following;
Note.—It has been asserted thatteis sometimes used in the plural number, as in the preceding example, "tekaipuke," and in the following;tetini o te tangata,many men; ka rekatepititi,peaches are sweet.
We are more inclined to think that we have, in these examples, the operation of a figure of frequent occurrence in Maori, viz., synecdoche, and that one of a class is made to represent a whole class.
Expressions of this kind are common in English, without involving the plural number of the article; e. g.,the fruit of the tree,a great many,a few men,&c.Bishop Lowth's remarks on these instances are quite to the point.
"The reason of it, he says, is manifest from the effect which the article has in these phrases; it means a small or great number, collectively taken, and therefore gives the idea of a whole, that is, of unity. Thus likewise,a hundred,a thousandis one whole number, an aggregate of many collectively taken; and therefore still retains the articlea, though joined as an adjective to a plural substantive; as,a hundred years."
(e.) Lastly,teis sometimes employed before proper names; e. g.
Note 1.—To define the rule by which the article is prefixed or omitted before proper names is a work of some difficulty, usage being very irregular.
Note 2.—Sometimesteis blended withointo one word; as in the following example: kitoHone ware, to the house of John, instead of kitewhareoHone.
Note 3.—The student should be careful, in speaking, to distinguish between the articlete, and the negative particlete. The latter should always be pronounced more distinctly and forcibly than the article.
§ 3.Ngamay with strict propriety be called the plural of the definite article. There are a few exceptions, or rather slight variations, which we do not think it necessary to mention.
§ 4.Hevaries in some respects in its uses from the Englisha.
(a.) It is used sometimes where no article would be employed in English; e. g.
(b.) It is occasionally used in the same sense assomein English, e. g.,
(c.) It is used in the plural number, e. g.
§ 5. A great many uses of the indefinite article are shared byhewithte tahi. We shall mention here a few of them.
N.B.—Te tahiexactly corresponds with the definition given by Bishop Lowth of the English articlea. "It determines it (the thing spoken of) to be one single thing of the kind, leaving it still uncertain which." A similar use of the numeralonewe find in French, sometimes in Hebrew, and more than once in the New Testament; (vid. Mat. xxi. 19, and Mark xiv. 51.)
We need not look abroad for parallel instances; our indefinite articleanbeing, as every etymologist is aware, the Saxon article, which signifiesone.
(b.)Etahimay be considered as corresponding to the partitive articledesof the French. It determines thethings spoken of to be any number of things of the kind, leaving it uncertain how many, or which, of the things they are. It closely resembles the adjectivesomeof English, and we enumerate it here among the articles because it only differs fromte tahi(which is clearly an article) in being its plural; e. g.
§ 6.A[4]is a regular attendant on the personal pronouns; e. g.
(b.) It is also the article by which the names of individuals and tribes are always preceded; e. g.
Note 1.—When the particlekois prefixed to either the proper name, or the pronoun,ais omitted; e. g.koHone,koia.(2) It is also omitted after the prepositionse,ma,mo,no,na,o,a. The prepositions with which it is retained arei,ki,kei, and their compounds—i runga i, &c.; e. g.i runga i a Hone,above John.Note 2.—Europeans who have not made the language a study, often very incorrectly substituteeforabefore a proper name; e. g., they will say,kei hea ete Waru, where iste Waru, and again kuatae maie Nanaia,Nanaia has arrived.E, as we shall show hereafter, is the sign of the vocative case. A is omitted before such words as the following, kei ngaPakeha, kei ngaMaori, &c.Note 3.—Ais sometimes in Waikato prefixed to appellatives; e. g. kiatuahangata,apapa,akara.
Note 1.—When the particlekois prefixed to either the proper name, or the pronoun,ais omitted; e. g.
(2) It is also omitted after the prepositionse,ma,mo,no,na,o,a. The prepositions with which it is retained arei,ki,kei, and their compounds—i runga i, &c.; e. g.
Note 2.—Europeans who have not made the language a study, often very incorrectly substituteeforabefore a proper name; e. g., they will say,kei hea ete Waru, where iste Waru, and again kuatae maie Nanaia,Nanaia has arrived.E, as we shall show hereafter, is the sign of the vocative case. A is omitted before such words as the following, kei ngaPakeha, kei ngaMaori, &c.
Note 3.—Ais sometimes in Waikato prefixed to appellatives; e. g. kiatuahangata,apapa,akara.
(c.) A is also prefixed to thenames of places, and toprepositions, andadverbswhich have assumed the form of substantives, when in the nominative case; e. g.
Note.—Sometimesais prefixed to the name of the place when the people of the place, and not the place itself, are intended; e. g. ka mate i a Waikato,will be killed by Waikato.
Some speakers are often guilty of solecisms from not remembering thatais not prefixed to any of theobliquecases of the names of places. Thus we heard some old residents in the land say, Haere kiaPokuru,Go to Pokuru. Haere kiaWaitemata,Go to Waitemata. According to this formPokuru, andWaitemataare not places, but persons.
(d.) A is always prefixed to anyinanimate thingto which a name has been given; i. e. totrees,canoes,ships,boats,meres,[5]guns, &c.; e. g.
Note.—Stars also come under the operation of this rule, e. g.Ko wai tena whetu i runga iaTawera,what star is that above Tawera?[6]Kua araaMatariki,[7]Matariki has made his appearance.Houses, Caves, and such like, are regulated by rule (c), e. g.Heoi ano nga tangatakeia Puru o Waikato,all the people have mustered off to Puruowaikato—Wherowhero's house on the Waikato river.If the above rules be correct—and we are persuaded that the candid inquirer will assent to them, the following remarks may, perhaps, be worthy the consideration of our Missionary brethren.1st. We think that we are distinctly warranted by the analogy of the language to treat the books of the Old and New Testaments as proper names, and prefixato them; as in the following examples, kei a Kenehi, kei a Roma. Such portions however, as the Psalms, the Law, the Acts, the Revelations, &c., might, we think, be most safely considered as appellatives. Such an usage has obtained in English, and will not, we believe, be thought a novelty in Maori, by any one who attends to such sentences as the following:Kowai hei whakahua i ta tatou whangai hau?I a wai? iaTu.Ko hea te haua mai na? ko Puhimatarenga, &c.2. The following sentences are incorrect:E haere maiana te Mihaia.Kua mate te Karaiti.N.B.—The speaker should distinguish between the article, and the prepositiona; as in the following sentence:Ekore ahau e kai ianga taurekareka,I will not eat (the food) of the slaves.The prepositionain these elliptical sentences should always be pronounced peculiarly strong.He should also note the following;kiă mea (withshort a) is, "to do."ki ā mea (withlong a) is,to such an one,to our friend, or in common parlance, (give it)to what do ye call him.
Note.—Stars also come under the operation of this rule, e. g.
Houses, Caves, and such like, are regulated by rule (c), e. g.
If the above rules be correct—and we are persuaded that the candid inquirer will assent to them, the following remarks may, perhaps, be worthy the consideration of our Missionary brethren.
1st. We think that we are distinctly warranted by the analogy of the language to treat the books of the Old and New Testaments as proper names, and prefixato them; as in the following examples, kei a Kenehi, kei a Roma. Such portions however, as the Psalms, the Law, the Acts, the Revelations, &c., might, we think, be most safely considered as appellatives. Such an usage has obtained in English, and will not, we believe, be thought a novelty in Maori, by any one who attends to such sentences as the following:
2. The following sentences are incorrect:
N.B.—The speaker should distinguish between the article, and the prepositiona; as in the following sentence:
The prepositionain these elliptical sentences should always be pronounced peculiarly strong.
He should also note the following;
[4]Some perhaps may object to our regardingaas an article, and may remind us of the definition that an article is "a word prefixed to substantives to point them out, and show how far their signification extends." This however is to make rules precede investigation, and our reply is, that if Bishop Lowth, from whom this definition is derived, had been writing on the Greek article, he would, most probably, have never given such a definition. Every scholar is aware of the disputes that have been agitated among the learned respecting the uses of this article, and that some have even maintained "that its use is guided by no rule at all." The fact is, every language has its peculiarities, and it would be absurd to maintain that because any given part of speech has certain powers in one language, it must have the same in another.We denominate this articlearthritic, because it is, as the Greeks would say, anarthron, alimbof the word to which it is prefixed, though it in no way defines the extent of its signification; unless perhaps we consider that, by its denoting the word to be either a pronoun, a proper name, &c., it thus, in a certain measure, restricts its application, and thus accords with the definition which some writers would give of the article; viz., "an index to the noun."[5]The mere is a native weapon for war made of the axe stone. It is an article of great value, and descends from father as anoha, an heirloom in the tribe.[6]Tawera is the morning star.[7]This star makes his appearance about the month of June, in the first month of the New Zealander, and creates an important epoch in his agricultural operations.
[4]Some perhaps may object to our regardingaas an article, and may remind us of the definition that an article is "a word prefixed to substantives to point them out, and show how far their signification extends." This however is to make rules precede investigation, and our reply is, that if Bishop Lowth, from whom this definition is derived, had been writing on the Greek article, he would, most probably, have never given such a definition. Every scholar is aware of the disputes that have been agitated among the learned respecting the uses of this article, and that some have even maintained "that its use is guided by no rule at all." The fact is, every language has its peculiarities, and it would be absurd to maintain that because any given part of speech has certain powers in one language, it must have the same in another.
We denominate this articlearthritic, because it is, as the Greeks would say, anarthron, alimbof the word to which it is prefixed, though it in no way defines the extent of its signification; unless perhaps we consider that, by its denoting the word to be either a pronoun, a proper name, &c., it thus, in a certain measure, restricts its application, and thus accords with the definition which some writers would give of the article; viz., "an index to the noun."
[5]The mere is a native weapon for war made of the axe stone. It is an article of great value, and descends from father as anoha, an heirloom in the tribe.
[6]Tawera is the morning star.
[7]This star makes his appearance about the month of June, in the first month of the New Zealander, and creates an important epoch in his agricultural operations.
Nouns in Maori may be comprised under three classes,primitiveandderivative, andverbal.[8]
(a.)Nouns primitiveare those which designateanimals,plants,numbers,membersof the animal body, some of thegreat objects of the natural world.
N.B.—It is often impossible to distinguish between primitive and derivative nouns.
(b.)Nouns derivative, which are altogether the most numerous, comprise,
1st. Nouns derived from verbs, i. e., the verb, in its simple form, used as a noun; e. g.,
(2.) Nouns derived fromadjectives; e. g.,
(3.) Nouns derived from adverbs and prepositions, e. g.
(4.)Compound Words.These are always formed by two words placed in immediate juxta-position, without any elision of either; e. g.
(c.) Verbal nouns are well worthy of the attention of the critical student. They are of very extensive uses in Maori, and a proper introduction of them will give animation and elegance to the sentence. The rules for their formation will be found hereafter. See verbs.
They are generally employed to denotetime,place,object,means, or someaccompanimenton, orrelationoftheact, orqualityof the ground form.—Other uses of them will be mentioned in the syntax.
To set forth the various uses of the verbal noun here would carry us beyond our limits. We shall therefore only give a few examples;—sufficient, however, we trust to lead the critical student into more extensive inquiry;
Note.—Instances will sometimes occur in which the simple root, or the verbal form, may be indifferently used in the sentence. The critical student, however, will generally be able to see the reason; e. g., tehereo tona hu,the thong of his shoe; teherengao tona hu,the holes, &c., by which the thong is fastened.
Proper Namesshould, perhaps, have been classed under the head ofderivative nouns.
They are epithets arbitrarily assumed, as among the Hebrews, from somecircumstance, quality, act, or thing. Sometimes they are simple; e. g., ko te Tawa,Tawa(a tree). Sometimes compound; e. g., Tangikai,cryfor food. They are generally known byaprefixed; whenais not prefixed, by the context.
Note.—Sometimes we meet with English appellatives employed as appellatives in Maori, but with the form peculiar to proper names; e. g., a mata,the mistress; a pepi,the baby; a tekawana,the governor. These, however, must be regarded as solecisms, and as in no way supported by Maori analogy.[9]We sometimes also meet with a Maori proper name employed as an appellative; i. e., If an individual of a particular district has been remarkable for any quality, his name will often be predicated of any other in whom the same feature of character is discernible: thus, Ropeti, of Waikato, was remarkable for making a great show of hospitality:—hence, to any person else who has been detected acting in a similar way, it will be said, Ko Ropeti, There is Ropeti.As all these terms are necessarily limited in their use to a particular district, we need not notice them further.
Note.—Sometimes we meet with English appellatives employed as appellatives in Maori, but with the form peculiar to proper names; e. g., a mata,the mistress; a pepi,the baby; a tekawana,the governor. These, however, must be regarded as solecisms, and as in no way supported by Maori analogy.[9]
We sometimes also meet with a Maori proper name employed as an appellative; i. e., If an individual of a particular district has been remarkable for any quality, his name will often be predicated of any other in whom the same feature of character is discernible: thus, Ropeti, of Waikato, was remarkable for making a great show of hospitality:—hence, to any person else who has been detected acting in a similar way, it will be said, Ko Ropeti, There is Ropeti.
As all these terms are necessarily limited in their use to a particular district, we need not notice them further.
Maori, we may premise, admits of no such thing as declension by inflection, i. e., by a variation of the ground form. All the relations, it is capable of expressing, are denoted by words, or particles,prefixed orpost-fixed to the noun.
Gender of Nouns.—Distinctions of gender are but seldom recognized in Maori. Only two are ever noticed, viz., themasculineandfeminine. These are always expressed by different words, e. g.
MALEFEMALEMatua}orfather.Whaea,mother.PapaTamaiti}Tamahine}orson.ordaughter.TamaroaKotiroTungane,brother of a female.Tuahine,sister of a man.Autane,brother-in-law of a female.Auwahine,sister-in-law of the man.Tangata,man.Wahine,woman.Koroheke,old man.Ruruhi,old woman.Tourahi and Toa,male of brute animals.Uwha,female of brutes.Tane,a male, mostly of the human species.Wahine,female.
In salutation, the sex of the person is almost always denoted by the address, e. g.,
Note 1.—It should, however, be noted that these modes of address will vary in different Districts. Thus in WaikatoE TaiandE koare often addressed to the male, andE kuito the girl—again also,taneandwahinewill be often found applied to the brute creation, andtourahi, in Waikato, is most frequently applied to thegelding.Note 2.—The speaker should notice that the relationship of individuals of the same sex is designated by the same terms as the corresponding ones of the opposite sex; e. g.,John'sMary'selder brother,is Tuakana.elder sister,is Tuakana.younger brother,teina.younger sister,teina.brother-in-law,taokete.sister-in-law,taokete.
Note 1.—It should, however, be noted that these modes of address will vary in different Districts. Thus in WaikatoE TaiandE koare often addressed to the male, andE kuito the girl—again also,taneandwahinewill be often found applied to the brute creation, andtourahi, in Waikato, is most frequently applied to thegelding.
Note 2.—The speaker should notice that the relationship of individuals of the same sex is designated by the same terms as the corresponding ones of the opposite sex; e. g.,
The distinction of sex in the other branches, is generally designated by tane and wahine postfixed to the relation; e. g.,
Number.—Substantives in Maori havetwonumbers, singular and plural.
Thesingularis known by the singular articleste, andtetahi, or by one of the singular pronouns connected with the noun; e. g.
Thepluralis known by (1)nga,e tahi, or (2) one of the plural or dual pronouns preceding the noun; e. g.
(3.) Sometimes the plural is designated byo, withouttepreceding the noun; e. g.
(4.) In a few cases we meet with an alteration in the ground form; e. g.,
(5.) In some trissyllables, the first syllable of the plural is pronounced long; as in matua, tupuna, wahine, tangata.
Note.—Examples of these two latter heads are not of frequent occurrence.
(6.) We frequently meet withmajoined to the proper name, in a sense corresponding to hoiamphi, and hoiperiin Greek, to denotethe person and his company: e. g.,
(7.) Sometimes alsomais in the same sense postfixed to appellatives; e. g.,
(8.) Sometimes anact oft repeated, or many things of thesame kindare denoted by a reduplication of one or more syllables; e. g.,
Case.—The distinction of case in Maori is exceedingly simple. As it is not the character of the language to decline either nouns or adjectives by a variation of the termination, it is evident that, in this respect, Maori is altogether different from Greek and Latin. Are we then to adopt the cases that those languages so clearly need? We are aware that some contend for them. But we are also assured that their adoption would be, not only useless but often exceedingly perplexing.It is true that prepositions may be found in Maori, as well as in English, that correspond with the cases that are to be found in those languages. But that, we submit, is not the question. Our business, we conceive should be, to inquire how the dependence of words on each other is denoted in Maori, and then look out for a system that will meet, not a few selected cases, but all the various possible conditions.Now, in Maori, the different connexions and relations of one thing to another are denoted by prepositions; there are upwards of twenty prepositions; and these are capable of being much increased in number by combination with each other; all having distinct meanings, different relations, and therefore distinct cases. Are all these then to be reduced to the six cases of Latin? Those who please may make the experiment with the following; kei runga i te pouaka, kei te kainga, ho atu ki a ia, me titiro atu ki a ia, patua ia ki te rakau, hei tua i te whare, &c.The simple and comprehensive cases of Murray's English Grammar seem therefore the best adapted for Maori, though we will confess that our own judgment is against allowing any possessive case to Maori.In English, it is true, that case may be recognised; because the ground form undergoes a change to denote it. Even in Hebrew, something analogous also might be admitted. But in Maori the possessive case is expressed, like all the other oblique cases, by a preposition. It may indeed be said, that in the pronouns we find a possessive formed by inflection. But this might justly be questioned: for it is very probable thatnoku, andnaku, are compounds of no oku and na aku, and, when a native speaks slowly, it may be observed that he pronounces those words as if so spelt.
Case.—The distinction of case in Maori is exceedingly simple. As it is not the character of the language to decline either nouns or adjectives by a variation of the termination, it is evident that, in this respect, Maori is altogether different from Greek and Latin. Are we then to adopt the cases that those languages so clearly need? We are aware that some contend for them. But we are also assured that their adoption would be, not only useless but often exceedingly perplexing.
It is true that prepositions may be found in Maori, as well as in English, that correspond with the cases that are to be found in those languages. But that, we submit, is not the question. Our business, we conceive should be, to inquire how the dependence of words on each other is denoted in Maori, and then look out for a system that will meet, not a few selected cases, but all the various possible conditions.
Now, in Maori, the different connexions and relations of one thing to another are denoted by prepositions; there are upwards of twenty prepositions; and these are capable of being much increased in number by combination with each other; all having distinct meanings, different relations, and therefore distinct cases. Are all these then to be reduced to the six cases of Latin? Those who please may make the experiment with the following; kei runga i te pouaka, kei te kainga, ho atu ki a ia, me titiro atu ki a ia, patua ia ki te rakau, hei tua i te whare, &c.
The simple and comprehensive cases of Murray's English Grammar seem therefore the best adapted for Maori, though we will confess that our own judgment is against allowing any possessive case to Maori.
In English, it is true, that case may be recognised; because the ground form undergoes a change to denote it. Even in Hebrew, something analogous also might be admitted. But in Maori the possessive case is expressed, like all the other oblique cases, by a preposition. It may indeed be said, that in the pronouns we find a possessive formed by inflection. But this might justly be questioned: for it is very probable thatnoku, andnaku, are compounds of no oku and na aku, and, when a native speaks slowly, it may be observed that he pronounces those words as if so spelt.
1. What is called the accusative case in Latin is most frequently denoted byi. This particle is different from the prepositioni, and is only employed to denote the passing on of the action of the verb to the noun; e. g., Ko wai hei keriite mara?who is to dig the field?(vid. prepositionsi.)
2. The vocative case is always denoted bye; e. g., E Hone!O John!
[8]We are aware thatverbalnouns should properly have been classed underderivative; but as we shall often have to speak of them as a distinct class, and as moreover they closely resemble, in some respects, the participal form of the verb, and are very frequently used instead of the finite verb itself, we have consulted our convenience in thus distinguishing them.[9]It is true, that we have mentioned (Chap. II. § 6 notes) a few cases which might seem to warrant such a use. But those clearly belong to a different class.
[8]We are aware thatverbalnouns should properly have been classed underderivative; but as we shall often have to speak of them as a distinct class, and as moreover they closely resemble, in some respects, the participal form of the verb, and are very frequently used instead of the finite verb itself, we have consulted our convenience in thus distinguishing them.
[9]It is true, that we have mentioned (Chap. II. § 6 notes) a few cases which might seem to warrant such a use. But those clearly belong to a different class.
Maori adjectives have no peculiar or appropriate form. They know no distinction of gender, number, case, or comparison.
In common with substantives, adjectives admit often of reduplication to denoterepetition, or many things the same kind, &c.—vid. ch. 3,number§ 8., e. g.
Note.—Comparison in Maori is formed byperiphrasis, for which vid. S.
Numerals in Maori abound in distinctions that are not to be met with in other languages.
Tahi, one, has sometimes a form peculiar to itself, being prefixed byko. All betweentahiandtekaumay be prefixed bye. All the simple numbers, i. e. all less thanten, will, when preceding the higher numbers, take their ordinary prefixes; e. g.
Numbers between ten and twenty are expressed by ten and unit; e. g.
Twenty, and all numbers between twenty and a hundred, may be expressed in two ways:
1st, (which is now the more general,) by aunitpreceding ten; e. g., eonotekau, (six tens)sixty; kaiwatekau,ninety, &c.
2ndly, byhokoprefixed to theunit; e. g., hokoruatwenty.
Note.—The Maori mode of counting has always, heretofore, been by pairs: thushokorua, twenty, stands fortwenty pair, i. e. forty, and so on. When they wish it to be understood singly they postfixtaki-takito the numeral adjective; e. g., hokoruataki-taki,twenty. Sometimestopu, orpu, is postfixed to make it more clear that the double of the number is intended; e. g., e waru topu, (eight doubled)sixteen.
Ngahuru, with Ngapuhi, denotesten, and tekau,eleven. In this, the central part of the island, as far as Taupo, ngahuru and tekau represent both of themten.
In expressing a sum oftensandunits, the smaller number follows ten or its multiple, and is connected with it by the numeral conjunctionma; e. g.,thirty-fouris denoted by "e toru tekau ma wha."
In expressing a sum ofhundreds, withtensandunits, the tens are postfixed to the hundreds without amaintervening; e. g., 136 is expressed by "ko tahi rau, e toru tekau, ma ono."
A sum ofthousands,hundreds,tensandunits, is expressed in the same way, the particlemaonly intervening between thetenand theunit; e. g., 1136 is expressed by "ko tahi mano, ko tahi rau, e toru tekau, ma ono."
Note.—It should be here noticed that this is the new mode of reckoning brought in by Europeans, and now fast spreading over the land. The old mode is not so convenient in calculation; but it is often heard; 240 would according to it, be thus expressed; Ko tahi rau ma rua, lit.one hundred and two. Two, here, stands for (twice ten) twenty doubled.250 would run thus, ko tahi rau ma rua pu tautahi,one hundred and two double, and a tautahi,an odd one.4900 would run thus; e rua mano ma wha, hokorima te tuma;two thousand, four hundred double, fifty double is the tuma, the excess.For all beyond a thousand there is, we suspect, a considerable diversity in the nomenclature of different tribes. In Waikato and Taupo 10,000 double, (i. e., 20,000 according to our reckoning,) would be atini, tentini, (i. e., 100,000 double) would be indifferently calledngera,rea,hea. All beyond that would be denominated by atini makehua, atuaururi whaioio, (or maioio) atini whakarere,&c.
Note.—It should be here noticed that this is the new mode of reckoning brought in by Europeans, and now fast spreading over the land. The old mode is not so convenient in calculation; but it is often heard; 240 would according to it, be thus expressed; Ko tahi rau ma rua, lit.one hundred and two. Two, here, stands for (twice ten) twenty doubled.
250 would run thus, ko tahi rau ma rua pu tautahi,one hundred and two double, and a tautahi,an odd one.
4900 would run thus; e rua mano ma wha, hokorima te tuma;two thousand, four hundred double, fifty double is the tuma, the excess.
For all beyond a thousand there is, we suspect, a considerable diversity in the nomenclature of different tribes. In Waikato and Taupo 10,000 double, (i. e., 20,000 according to our reckoning,) would be atini, tentini, (i. e., 100,000 double) would be indifferently calledngera,rea,hea. All beyond that would be denominated by atini makehua, atuaururi whaioio, (or maioio) atini whakarere,&c.
For denoting a number of persons less thanten,tokois generally prefixed to the numeral; e. g.,
For denotingdistributiontātaki is prefixed to the numeral; kiatātakirua pu nga utu i te tangata,let each man have four payments.
Note.—Tataki prefixed does not always denote distribution; e. g., Ka tataki-hia nga whakato o ta koutou mara?How many baskets (are these) that have been sown in your cultivation?
In measuring length, a fraction is denoted by huka; e. g.,
Ordinals.—The ordinal numbers are formed:
1. Bytuaprefixed to the cardinal; e. g., tua toru,third, tua iwa,ninth.
2. Bywhakaprefixed; e. g., whakatekau,tenth.
3. By the simple cardinal with the definite article, kote whateneioaku haerenga mai,this is the fourth of my comings here; i. e., this is the fourth time I have come here.
[10]Whatiangacorresponds to the ancient cubit—marois what a man can measure with his extended arms.
[10]Whatiangacorresponds to the ancient cubit—marois what a man can measure with his extended arms.
The personal pronouns of Maori are as follows:
The first person dual and plural has, as may be seen in the above table, two forms,tauaandtatou,mauaandmatou; the former class may be denominatedinclusive, the latterexclusive. For example:
The speaker of a company, who is addressing a person just come in, usesmatou; e tatari anamatouki a koe,we are, or have been waiting for you. If he means that only himself and another have been waiting, he usesmaua, e tatari ana maua kia a koe: but when he addresses the whole company he usestatou; Tatou ki te kai,let us go to dinner. If however he is addressing onlyanother beside himself, he usestaua; Taua ki te kai, let us (two) go to dinner. Again, if he says, Nomatoutenei kainga, he tells you, the hearer, that he and others possess this farm. If he says, Nomauatenei kainga, he tells you that he and some other person already mentioned possess it. If however he usetatou, No tatou tenei kainga, he means that all that he is addressing have a share in it. If he says, No taua tenei kainga, he tells you, the hearer, that it belongs to you and himself.