Best. — Maori tJschatology. 153 



and some other trees, from which the Maori people procure fire 

 by the hika, or generating process. 



Then it was that Hine-mii-te-Po resolved to avenge the 

 destruction of the progeny of her sister Mahuika. To prepare 

 the way, and to render Maui susceptible to her designs, she had 

 recourse to magic, for it had come to her knowledge that Maui 

 had designs against her. She sent one Kahukura (a butterfly) 

 as a messenger to obtain the aria* of Maui, in the form of a drop 

 of his blood. But Maui slew the messenger with a slap of his 

 hand. Then Hine despatched Waeroa (the mosquito), but Maui 

 heard the insect humming and destroyed it. Then Tuiau (the 

 midge) was sent, and death was the lot of Tuiau. But when 

 Hine sent the silent Namu (sandfly), success was won, and she 

 obtained a drop of the blood of Maui, over which she performed 

 certain rites of magic to enable her to take the life of Maui. 



At a certain time the thought came to Maui that he would 

 strive to gain eternal life for man, that man might revive from 

 decay as the moon does. He called together his people — the 

 forest elves, the birds, and the multitude of the Mahoihoi — and 

 explained to them his design. They said, " Maui, you will 

 perish. Beware ! Your spirit, has been taken by Hine-nui- 

 te-Po." But Maui persisted, and so he and his people fared on 

 until they found the diead Goddess of Hades, who was asleep. 

 Said Maui to his folk, " You must be veiy careful not to laugh 

 while I enter the body of Hine, lest she awaken and slay me. 

 When I have gained [or obtained] her manawa, then all will 

 be well. Do as I say and Hine [or her power to inflict death 

 upon mankind] shall be destroyed." Then Maui essayed to 

 enter the body of Hine by the passage whence man is born 

 into the world. But when he had half entered, the strange sight 

 was too much for Piwakawaka (the fantail, a bird), who laughed 

 aloud. Hence awoke the dread Goddess of Death, who, by 

 closing her puapua (? labia) caused the death of Maui. So 

 perished Maui, the hero, he who performed marvellous deeds, 

 but who succumbed in his effort to gain eternal life for man. 



(Ka hi atu a Maui ki ana iwi, " Kei kata koutou ki ahau. 

 Mehemea ka uru ahau ki roto i nga puapua o Hine-nui-te-Po, 

 kei kata koutou ki ahau. Ki te kata koutou, ka mate ahau ; ki 

 te kore e kata, ko la ka mate i a au. Kia taea ra ano e ahau tona 

 manawa, katahi ka hamumu ai koutou.'''' Katahi ka tukua kia 

 ngaro ki roto i nga kuivha o Hine-nui-te-Po, tu maro ana te nanakia 

 i roto i nga kuha (kuwha) o Hine. Na, kua heke iho a Maui, ka 

 tae iho ia ki nga puapua o Hine-nui-te-Po, e tuhera (tuwhera) 



* Aria = semblance. This blood would be used as an ohonga. (See 

 Transactions, vol. xxxiv, p. 75.) 



