188 Transactions. 



Other offspring of Rangi and Papa we are not here concerned 

 with, but we will give the position of Tane as preserved by the 

 Tuhoe Tribe, and given by old Tutakangahau : — 



' The first-born of Rangi and Papa, who carne into being 

 before light was, before man was, and before heaven and earth 

 were separated, were Te Kaukau-nunui, Te Kaukau-roroa, Te 

 Rupe-tu, Te Rupe-pae, Pekepeke, Hauaitu, Te Manu-waero- 

 rua, and Tahiri-matea. The second lot so born of Heaven and 

 Earth were Tane-tuturi, Tane-pepeke, Tane-ueha, Tane-uetika, 

 Tane-mabuta, Tane-mataahi, and Tane-te-po-tiwha. The third 

 lot were Tane-te-wai-ora, Tane-nui-a-rangi, Paia-te-rangi, and 

 Ruaumoko. The human race is descended from Tane-nui-a- 

 rangi and Tane-te-wai-ora. The offspring of Tane-te-po-tiwha 

 were Te Ao-tu, Te Ao-hore, Hine-tuahoanga, and Tangaroa." 



Of the many different beings named Tane in the above 

 myth, Tane-te-wai-ora and Tane-te-po-tiwha are often spoken 

 of as being separate and distinct from Tane-nui-a-rangi, but all 

 the others seem to be but different names of Tane-nui-a-rangi. 

 The name of Tane appears to be changed according to the dif- 

 ferent beings or natural objects which originated with him. As 

 the progenitor of the genus homo he is termed Tane-nui-a-rangi, 

 or simply Tane. As the origin of trees and plant-life he is 

 Tane-mahuta. As the origin of birds he is Tane-mataahi. 

 Tane has many other names, as Tane-takoto, Tane-wai-nui, 

 Tane-wai-kokina, Tane-wai-patato, Tane-i-te-kapua, and those 

 given above. 



Rangi, the Sky Parent, is known in full as Rangi nui e tu 

 nei (the Great Heavens above), and Papa-tuanuku is the full 

 title of the Earth Mother. This twain were the origin of all 

 things on earth ; they were the primal parents ; nothing existed 

 before them save darkness and the mythical beings that were 

 the denizens of darkness and chaos. 



And Rangi and Papa were as one in the beginning, for the 

 sky lay prone upon the earth, and darkness covered the earth. 

 Light was not. It was Tane who forced the heavens upwards 

 and brought light to the world. For the offspring of Rangi 

 and Papa were living in darkness on the breast of the Earth 

 Mother. They desired light and space. Hence Tane thrust 

 the sky upwards with his feet as he lay on the breast of Papa. 

 So it is said that the branches of a tree are the legs of Tane, 

 and the butt or base of the tree is the head of Tane. For such 

 are the thoughts of the Maori. 



The many names assigned to Tane is a circumstance that 

 carries the mind to ancient Asiatic cults, and to others far spread 

 toward the setting sun. For in like manner did Merodach, 

 the chief deity of the Babylonian pantheon, bear many names, 



