An Incident and Its Lesson

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AN INCIDENT AND ITS LESSON. BY ELDER APOLLOS B. TAYLOR.

In many places, among the native inhabitants, or Maoris, of New Zealand, there is an interesting custom, and one that illustrates their most striking characteristic, which is love and hospitality for all men; or, to use their own word aroha. Whenever a visitor arrives at their kainga, or place of resi- dence, they feel it their duty, and I dare say it is a pleasure to them on account of their great love of talking, to hold a sort of inform- al meeting in the evening after supper. The proceedings of this meeting are speeches of welcome by the male hosts and replies by the visitors. The speech of welcome is called a mihi. The mihi consists of speaking and singing, in which the speaker assures the visitors

that they are welcome, and of their love for them. Any other matters that the speaker deems appropriate are spoken of also. The women tak* no part in the speaking, but help in the singing. The visitors then make an appropriate reply. In all of their speeches and songs of welcome and reply, the subject most promi- nent is love, and they seem to be very proud of this character- istic.

was a witness of a most pathetic incident, and the recipient I

of a most affecting welcome, recently. I was traveling among the

Maoris doing missionary work, in company with a companion. We called at a Maori kainga where we were received hospitably. There was a man about twenty-five years of age, who had been a helpless cripple ever since he was ten years of age, and, conse- quently, had no use of his body below the chest. He could not sit, so he had to recline on the ground, and rest his head on the