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Revenge: A Love Tale of the Mount Eden Tribe

Introduction

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Introduction

At ten minutes past ten on the morning of November 19, 1890, less than two months before his death, John White completed the writing of Revenge. The publication of this novel fifty years later will, it is believed, be of interest to students and to all, who wish to know more about the Maori and his customs, his speech and his thought. In his novel, White reveals the courtesy and chivalry, the manners and customs and the life of the old-time Maori in a way that only his intimate knowledge of his subject would permit.

The MS. was evidently a first copy only, and is without corrections or signs of revision or re-reading of any kind. There is little doubt but that the author would have made considerable amendments to the text before venturing on publication. This work has been undertaken by the present editor, so that, while the valuable original material remains as it was recorded by White, the phraseology and literary form have been somewhat altered. The MS has been slightly abridged and notes have been added. In this connection the editor wishes to acknowledge the help of Mr. A. G. Stevenson, Assistant-Ethnologist of the Auckland Institute and Museum, whose contributions are indicated by the initials A.G.S.

A glossary has been included, which will provide page viiiBlack and white fascimile page image a handy method of verifying the meaning of words in the text The page numbers in this glossary refer to the first appearance of the words where, in most cases, a much fuller description of them will be found in the footnotes.

The place-names are given in the Maori form, but it will be noticed that almost invariably Maunga-whau is found in the modern form—Mount Eden, doubtless because the pakeha name is so well known. The same applies to one or two other well-known places.

In 1874 Te Rou; or, The Maori at Home, by the same author, was published in London, and perhaps no more fitting introduction to the present volume can be found than in his foreword to that book:

". . . Though woven together in the form of a tale, as that most convenient for life-like representation, the places mentioned are all real . . . the native mode of expression has been carefully followed; and the songs, proverbs and incantations are trustworthy (though perhaps in some respects imperfect) reproductions of the ancient originals.

". . . The present volume, or tale, exhibits truthfully the everyday life, habits and character of the pre-civilisation Maori; and as such may be accepted by scientific men as a contribution towards a knowledge of the past from one who, having no pretentions to scientific acquirements, writes from a personal knowedge and observation of the accuracy of the information conveyed.