Ancient History of the Maori, Vol. 1 (1887) - Page 14

noble and heroic spirit, who, while they acknowledged and dreaded the malignant power of the gods of their fathers, yet dared to disclose some of their sacred lore to one of an alien race.

JOHN WHITE.

Wellington, 3rd January, 1887.

Note.—The alphabet of the Maori language consists of fourteen letters, which are hereunder given in the order in which they were arranged by those who first compiled the alphabet, namely:—


A	is pronounced	as a in	Father
E	"	a "	Fate
I	"	e "	Eat
O	"	o "	No
U	"	oo "	Boot
H	is called ha,	the a pronounced	as a in Father
K	" ka,	"	"
M	" ma,	"	"
N	" na,	"	"
P	" pa,	"	"
R	" ra,	"	"
T	" ta,	"	"
W	" wa,	"	"

Ng is a nasal sound, and rather difficult to obtain; but if the English word "sting" is written thus, "stinga," and the added a sounded as a in "Father," the sound of the Maori Ng will be obtained.

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