Best. — On Maori Origins. 471 



ruku, the seagull from Hine-karoro, the pakura from Wairua- 

 kokako. 



Eehua (a star name) is said to be the origin of the koko 

 bird {twi), and also of the inanga (whitebait). The inanga 

 said to Eehua. "What are we to do?" Kehua replied, 

 '•When you see a red appearance in the sky that is a sign 

 for you to go to your ancestor Wainui (the personification of 

 the ocean) and give birth to her grandchildren ; when they 

 are grown you will all return (to the fresh water)." Thus 

 when men see the red light in the sky they say, " O people ! 

 The inanga are migrating." For the inanga are taking their 

 young to their ancestor Wainui (the ocean), there to be born. 

 The pahore, the koputca, the porohe (all small fish), and eels 

 all go. The old inanga return to the rivers when they have 

 parted with their young, who follow after. These fish begin 

 to go to the sea in the moon Eakaunui. There are two other 

 migrations afterwards, known as Takero and Te Kohi-o- 

 Autahi-ma-rehua. 



Both Eehua and Takero are star names, as also, I believe, 

 is Naha, the origin of the patiki (flounder). 



Stones and pounamu (greenstone) are descended from 

 Tangotango (see Part I., vol. xxxii., art. xxxiv.). Kopu (the 

 star Venus) is also another origin of rock and stones — the 

 kinds of stone known as mata, kiripaka, kamaka, kurutai, 

 tuapaka, and turua. 



The origin of house-building was the house known as Te 

 Tatau-o-rangiriri, built by Tane and his brethren in the far 

 land of Mataora ; and there also originated the rite of the 

 kawanga tvJiare. One Eua, an ancestor of very remote times, 

 is said to have been the origin of the art of wood-carving. 



The personified form of snow and ice is one Nganga. 

 The origin of snow, according to Maori folk-lore, is as fol- 

 lows : The mountain of Tongariro is said to be a male, while 

 Pihanga is a female. Eangi gave the latter to Tongariro as a 

 wife, and to them were born the sleet and drifting snow. Ee- 

 ference to this occurs in song — 



Kati au, ka hoki ki taku whenua tupu 

 Ki te wai koropupu. 



I haria mai nei i Hawaiki ra ano e ana tuahine 

 Te hoa tau te pupu e hu nei i Tongariro 

 Ka mahana i taku kiri, na Rangi mai ano 

 Nana i whakamoe, ko Pihanga te wahine 

 Hai ua, hai hau, hai marangai ki te muri-e. 



The origin of weaving is assigned to Hine-rauamoa, before 

 mentioned, while Hine-ngaroa is credited with the invention 

 of weaving in coloured patterns. 



