1888. Order in Council, New Zealand, Jan. 10, `Regulations under the Fisheries Conservation Act':
"The months of December, January, and February in each year are here prescribed a close season for the fish of the species of the mugil known as mullet or kanae."
<hw>Kanaka</hw>, <i>n</i>. and <i>adj</i>. a labourer from the South Sea Islands, working in Queensland sugar-plantations. The word is Hawaiian (Sandwich Islands). The kindred words are given in the following extract from
Fornander's Polynesian Race' (1885), vol. iii. p. 154:
"<i>Kanaka</i>, <i>s</i>. Hawaiian, man, human, mankind, a common man in distinction from chiefs. Samoan, New Zealand [sc. Maori], Tongan, <i>tangata</i>, man. Tahitian, <i>taata</i>, man."
In the original word the accent is on the first syllable, which accent Mr. Rudyard Kipling preserves (see quotation, 1893), though he has changed the word in his reprint of the poem in `The Seven Seas'; but the usual pronunciation in Australia is to accent the second syllable.
1794. J. J. Jarves, `History of Hawaiian Islands,' printed at Honolulu (1872), p. 82:
"[On 21st Feb. 1794.] A salute was then fired, and the natives shouted, `Kanaka no Beritane'—we are men of Britain."
1852. A. Miller, `Narrative of United States Exploring Expedition,' c. ii. p. 142:
"On Monday (Nov. 16, 1840) our gentlemen formed themselves into two parties, and started on horseback for their journey. One party consisted of Messrs. Reade, Rich, and Wall, with eight kanakas and two guides."