Chatham Islands, 500 miles east of New Zealand. After centuries of independence and relative isolation, the indigenous Moriori population was invaded by 500 Maori armed with rifles and steel axes, followed by another ship with 400 more Maori on December 5th. The Moriori numbered more than two thousand, so they were still capable of managing the situation. Moriori tradition dictates that they attempt to resolve conflicts peacefully through discussion. At a council meeting, they decided to offer friendship and land in exchange for peace. The Maori attacked and killed hundreds of Moriori, cooking and eating many of the bodies and enslaving the rest, most of whom were killed within a few days anyway. It is noteworthy that both ethnic groups originate from the same stock in New Zealand, having separated shortly after the 11th century AD. The New Zealand Aborigines had recently adopted rifles and steel axes from the English colonists. This is one of the examples cited by Jared Diamond in his self-explanatory book, “Guns, Germs, Steel,” on the real reasons for the spread of certain civilizations and not others. Essentially, he attributes the advantages to economic circumstances, not specifically to population characteristics. Another similar example is the Hawaiian Islands from 1778.
