Best. — On Maori Origins. 469 



though it be not understood by man. We cannot understand 

 the words of their speech. It is only when we are dreaming 

 that we hear dogs, and birds, and reptiles make use of human 

 speech. 



Origin of Affection. 



The feeling of affection originated with the heavenly 

 bodies. The sun and moon moved together, and a great 

 love sprang up between them. The sun embraced the 

 moon, and they ever greet each other, in all seasons. A 

 time came when the suu said to the moon, " Go you to 

 your own place, as also our brethren the stars ; let us ever 

 love our brethren." Such was the origin cf affection, which 

 we still know in the world. And it ever continues with these 

 people of the heavens ; they never quarrel, but go their ways 

 in peace. They know not death as we, their descendants in 

 this world, know it. They die neither in war nor yet by the 

 house-wall. The saying is, " Rurea taitea, ka tu ko taikaka" 

 (Reject the toi7ea = sapwood, and leave the taikaka= heart- 

 wood, standing). Let us explain : The taitea represents the 

 people of this world, who dwell in evil towards each other. 

 They perish like the sapwood of timber. But the taikaka is 

 the durable heart wood, which resembles the heavenly bodies 

 on high. But no trees of earth equal them ; they perish and 

 decay, while the sun and moon and stars live on for ever ; 

 neither do they fall from on high. 



When Tane and his brethren disputed over the question 

 as to whether or not their parents (Heaven and Earth) should 

 be separated or not, that was the origin of family quarrels, 

 which are ever known on earth. 



And Papa (the Earth Mother) still provides food for her 

 descendants in this world ; she produces all the foods upon 

 which we subsist. 



Origin of Karakia (Invocations). 



Invocations were first used in primal chaos, long ages be- 

 fore man was. In the time of Te Pu and Te More their invo- 

 cation to their gods (Te Ao-matinitini and Te Wherikoriko) 

 was this : — 



Te Wherikoriko, naumai koe, haere i mua ra 



Te Rangi-matinitini, naumai, haere koe i mua ra 



Ki o taua uri. 



Haere i tua, haere i waho 



Torohei. 



Tangaroa - akiukiu had two daughters, Hine-raumati 

 (raumati = summer) and Hine-takurua (takurua = winter). 

 They are the personifications of the two seasons. They both 

 became wives of the sun. Hine-takurua attends to the work 

 of sea-fishing, while Hine-raumati attends to the cultivation 



