"It is permissible to wonder about the origin of the phrase `an old identity.' Surely no man, however old, can be an identity? An entity he is, or a nonentity; an individual, a centenarian, or an oldest inhabitant; but identity is a condition of sameness, of being identical with something. One can establish one's identity with that of some one who is being sought or sued, but once established it escapes us."
<hw>Inaka</hw>, <i>n</i>. a fish. See <i>Inanga</i>.
<hw>Inanga</hw> or <hw>Inaka</hw>, <i>n</i>. (the <i>ng</i> as in the word <i>singer</i>, not as in <i>finger</i>), a New Zealand fish, <i>Galaxias attenuatus</i>, or <i>Retropinna richardsoni</i>. It is often called the <i>Whitebait</i> and <i>Minnow</i>, and in Tasmania the larger variety is called <i>Jolly-tail</i>. The change from <i>Inanga</i> to <i>Inaka</i> is a dialectal Maori variation, answering exactly to the change from North Island Kainga to South Island Kaik (q.v.).
1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. ii. p. 100:
"This fish is called hinanga [sic.], and resembles Blackwall white-bait in size and flavour. Its colour is a pinkish white, spotted with black."
1896. `The Australasian,' Aug. 28, p. 407, col. 3:
"About the same size as this fish [the cockabully] is the `inaka' much used for bait. Indeed, it is called the New Zealand whitebait. A friend from Victoria having used this bait, I asked him to spell the name of the fish, and he wanted to make it like the patriarch who `walked with God' —Enoch-a. The more correct shape of the Maori word is inanga; but in the South Island `k' often takes the place of that distinctive Maori letter `ng,' as `kainga' becomes kaik; ngaio, kaio."
<hw>Inchman</hw>, <i>n</i>. a Tasmanian name for the <i>Bull-dog Ant</i> (q.v.), from its length, which is sometimes nearly an inch.
<hw>Indians</hw>, pl. <i>n</i>. early and now obsolete name for the Aboriginals in Australia and even for the Maoris.
1769. J. Banks, `Journal,' Oct. 21 (Sir J. D. Hooker edition), p. 191: