Tregear. — Polynesian Folk-lore. 377 



(Avaiki)* lived four mighty ones : Manila, god of fire ; the sun- 

 god Ba ; Eu, supporter of the heavens ; and, lastly, his wife 

 Buataranga, guardian of the road to the invisible world. 



" To Eu and Buataranga was born a famous son Maui. At 

 an early age Maui was appointed one of the guardians of this 

 upper world where mortals live. Like the rest of the inhabi- 

 tants of the world he subsisted on uncooked food. The mother, 

 Buataranga, occasionally visited her son ; but always ate her 

 food apart, out of a basket brought with her from nether-land. 

 One day, when she was asleep, Maui peeped into her basket, 

 and discovered cooked food. Upon tasting it, he was decidedly 

 of opinion that it was a great improvement upon the raw diet to 

 which he was accustomed. This food came from nether-world ; 

 it was evident that the secret of fire was there. To nether- 

 world, the home of his parents, he would descend to gain this 

 knowledge, so that ever after he might enjoy the luxury of 

 cooked food. On the following day Buataranga was about to 

 return to Avaiki (nether-world) when Maui followed her through 

 the bush without her knowing it. This was no difficult task, 

 as she always came and returned by the same road. Peering 

 through the tall reeds, he saw his mother standing opposite a 

 black rock, which she addressed as follows : — 



' Buataranga, descend thou bodily through this chasm. 

 The rainbow-like must be obeyed. 

 As two clouds parting at dawn, 

 Open, open up my road to nether- world, ye fierce ones !' 



At these words the rock divided, and Buataranga descended. 

 Maui carefully treasured up those magic words ; and without 

 delay started off to see the god Tane, the owner of some 

 wonderful pigeons. He earnestly begged Tane to lend him one ; 

 but the proffered pigeon, not pleasing Maui, was at once returned 

 to its owner. A better pigeon was offered to the fastidious 

 borrower, but was rejected. Nothing would content Maui but 

 the possession of Akaotu, (or ' Fearless,') a red pigeon specially 

 prized by Tane. It was so tame that it knew its name, and, 

 wander wherever it might, it was sure to return to its master. 

 Tane, who was loth to part from his pet, extracted a promise 

 from Maui that the pigeon should be restored to him uninjured. 

 Maui now set off in high spirits, carrying with him his red 

 pigeon, to the place where his mother had descended. Upon 

 pronouncing the magic words which he had overheard, to his 

 great delight the rock opened, and Maui entering the pigeon 

 descended. Some assert that Maui transformed himself into a 

 small dragon-fly, and perched upon the back of the pigeon made 

 his descent. The two fierce guardian demons of the chasm, enraged 

 at finding themselves imposed upon by a stranger, made a grab 



* The Hervey Islanders drop h ; hence Avaiki = Maori Hawaiki. 



