FIRST LESSONS
IN
THE MAORI LANGUAGE

WITH A SHORT VOCABULARY

BY

W. L. WILLIAMS, B. A.

LONDON:
TRÜBNER & CO. 60, PATERNOSTER ROW.
1862.

PREFACE.

The object of the following pages is not to giveanything like a complete treatise on the Maorilanguage, nor even a complete outline of Maori Grammar;but rather to furnish, in as small a compassas possible, some practical hints on the ordinarymodes of using the different parts of speech; andto clear away some of the difficulties which are mostlikely to occur to one who is making his first acquaintancewith the language; and, I should add,to do this to the satisfaction, in some degree at least,of those who are willing to avail themselves of myguidance. How far I have succeeded such personsmust decide.

There are doubtless some things—probably not afew—which are not even here alluded to, but whichmight be advantageously set down, even in a smallwork like this: but the task of selection has notproved altogether an easy one. I have had to settlea priori what points are, and what are not likely topresent difficulty to an English student of the Maorilanguage. In doing this I could not fall back on myown experience in learning the language, for Maorihas never been exactly a strange language to me,and I have had but little opportunity of availingmyself of the experience of others. I shall be gladtherefore to receive any suggestions which may helpin any way to render this little book more useful tothose for whose use it is intended.

In conclusion, I may be allowed to offer one caution;and that is, that it is not easy to learn to speaka language merely from books. Books, properly used,are of great service; and in the present case Maunsell'sGrammar will repay a careful study: but thereis no school for learning to speak any given languagelike frequent intercourse with the people who usethat language and no other.

Turanga, April 13, 1862.

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