Ebook Maori Tales and Legends

From a vast mass Of legendary tales, rich in variants, and recorded Often in a fragmentary manner, I have chosen those in this little volume as the Oldest and best known amongst the natives. I have endeavoured to adhere to the true spirit Of the tales themselves, and to give them the form, expression, and speech characteristic of the country and clever native race. The Maoris, as a rule, are eloquent, and their language is full of metaphor and poetical allusion, and musical with open vowels. Every syllable ends with a vowel, every vowel is sounded, and that according to the Italian method.