Tregeae. — Polynesian Folk-lore. 399 



process of kindling fire naturally led man to the ideas of sexual 

 reproduction.* This is what we see in a hymn of the ' Rig 

 Veda,' where the pramantha evidently represents the male," 

 etc.1 



If we consider this arani symbol as a fact, we shall find 

 significance in the words of Sir H. Eawlinson,] when he says: 

 "The primitive meaning of ar was 'fire.' . . . The 

 Aryans generally appear to have been sun- or fire-worshippers, 

 and probably they received their name from the fact. This 

 would seem more probable than the ordinary derivation from 

 the root ar, ' to plough ;' and it would include the sense of 

 'noble' preferred by Mr. Peile, 'children of the sun' being 

 usually a special title of the priestly or royal caste." 



Can we find these Arani in Polynesia? I will take the 

 evidence of the late M. Lesson. § He, quoting P. A. Lesson in 

 the " Voyage aux lies Mangareva," says that it is idle to attempt 

 to give a date for the establishment of the Polynesian race on 

 these islands. They report themselves as " a colony of immi- 

 grants descended from a great people called Arani." Who were 

 these Arani from whom the Polynesians were descended ? Is it 

 certain that there is no connection between them and the Aryan 

 users of the Arani " fire-symbol ?" 



* I would direct the attention of Maori scholars to the fact (doubtless 

 a very natural one) that the same idea of kindling the divine spark and of 

 sexual reproduction obtains among the Maori races. Hika, the word 

 meaning "to kindle fire by friction," also means "coitus," or did formerly 

 possess this meaning. As an example, I may adduce the old legend of the 

 arrival of the Tainui canoe in the Great Migration. [See Govt, pamphlet, 

 G. 8, 1880 : J. White.] The immigrant Maoris were unable to drag the 

 canoe across the portage at Otahuhu, because the gods were angry on 

 account of a sin committed by Marama, one of the chief women of the 

 canoe, with her slave. The others did not know the cause of the canoe 

 remaining immovable until the chieftainess chanted a song in which oc- 

 curred the words: "Turutwru mat ra te ivai o te hika o Marama," a phrase 

 by which, says the native narrator (Hoani Nahe, M.H.E.), her offence 

 became known. Compare also ahi, " fire," and ai, " coitus." 



t It is acknowledged that there is no certain derivation for " swastika." 

 If the Maori, as I believe, has kept more truly than any others to the old 

 Aryan or pre-Aryan speech, the meaning may be as follows : — The Maori, 

 like the Persians, do not use the sibilant : sivastika, without the two s 

 letters, would be whatika : that is, in Maori, whati, "bent at an angle, or 

 elbow," and ka, " to kindle fire." The swastika was a fire-kindling cross, 

 with ends bent at angles. 



I " Jour. Anth. Soc," vol. i., p. 366. 



§ " Les Polynesiens," vol. ii., p. 268. 



