Tregear. — Polynesian Folk-lore. 379 



of stature. But the visitor said he should eujoy nothing better 

 than a trial of strength with the fire-god. Mauike entered his 

 dwelling to put on his war girdle (time i tona maro) ; but on 

 returning found that Maui had swelled himself to an enormous 

 size. Nothing daunted at this, Mauike boldly seized him with 

 both hands, and hurled him to the height of a cocoanut-tree. 

 Maui contrived in falling to make himself so light that he was in 

 no degree hurt by his adventure. Mauike, maddened that his 

 adversary shoidd yet breathe, exerted his full strength, and next 

 time hurled him far higher than the highest cocoanut-tree that ever 

 grew. Yet Maui was uninjured by his fall ; whilst the fire-god 

 lay pauting for breath. It was now Maui's turn. Seizing the 

 fire-god, he threw him up to a dizzy height, and caught him 

 like a ball with his hands. Assured that this was but a prepara- 

 tion for a final toss, which would seal his fate, the panting and 

 thoroughly exhausted Mauike entreated Maui to stop and to spare 

 his life. Whatever he desired should be his. 



" The fire-god, now in a miserable plight, was allowed to 

 breathe awhile. Maui said : ' Only on one condition will I 

 spare you : tell me the secret of fire. Where is it hidden ? 

 How is it produced ?' Mauike gladly promised to tell him all 

 he knew, and led him inside his wonderful dwelling. In one 

 corner there was a quantity of fine cocoanut fibre ; in another, 

 bundles of fire-yielding sticks, the an (lemon, Hibiscus), the 

 orongd ( Urtica argentea), the tauinu, and particularly the aoa 

 (Ficus indicus) or banyan tree. These sticks were all dry and 

 ready for use. In the middle of the room were two smaller 

 sticks by themselves. One of these the fire-god gave to Maui, 

 desiring him to hold it firmly, while he himself plied the other 

 most vigorously. And thus runs — 



The Fire-God's Song. 

 ' Grant, oh, grant me thy hidden fire, 

 Thou banyan tree! 

 Perform an incantation; 



Utter a prayer to (the spirit of) 

 The banyan tree ! 

 Kindle a fire for Mauike, 



Of the dust of the banyan tree.' 



" By the time this song was completed, Maui, to his great joy, 

 perceived a faint smoke arising out of the fine dust produced by 

 the friction of one stick upon another. As they persevered in 

 their work the smoke increased ; and, favoured with the fire- 

 god's breath, a slight flame arose, when the fine cocoanut fibre 

 was called into requisition to catch and increase the flame. 

 Mauike now called to his aid the different bundles of sticks, 

 and speedily got up a blazing fire, to the astonishment of Maui. 

 The grand secret of fire was secured. But the victor resolved 

 to be revenged for his trouble, and his tossing in the air, by 

 setting fire to his fallen adversary's abode. In a short time all 



