TBANSAOTIONS OF SECTION G. 375 



Fire Goddess saved some sparks, which she threw into the 

 kaikomako and a few other trees, where they are still cherished. 

 Hence men rub portions of the wood of these trees together 

 when they wish to ignite a fire. 



The inhabitants of earth became subject to death through 

 Maui's failure to overcome the Great Lady of Night. Maui, 

 having overcome every labour he undertook, asked his father 

 whether there was any undertaking beyond his power. He 

 replied, "It is impossible for you to overcome your ancestress, 

 the Great Lady of Night." Maui replied, " Lay aside such 

 idle thoughts, and let us both fearlessly seek whether men are 

 to die or live for ever." Boasting of the great feats he had 

 accomplished, Maui went forth, full of confidence, to attempt 

 the conquest of the devourer of all living. Accompanied by a 

 crowd of companions disguised as little birds, he reached the 

 dwelling of the old lady in the evening. She was asleep, with 

 her mouth wide open. Divesting himself of his clothing, and 

 armed with a weapon, he entered the old w^oman's mouth. 

 The little birds tried hard to suppress their laughter at the 

 ridiculous figure he cut. At last the tiwakawaka (fantail) 

 could keep his merriment in no longer, and laughed out loudly. 

 This woke the old woman, who, discovering her danger, closed 

 her mouth on Maui, who never returned to this world again. 

 And in consequence of his failure death prevailed over all beings 

 on earth. 



The labours of Maui were, — 



1. The search for and discovery of his father in the under- 



world. 



2. Obtaining his ancestress Murirangawhenua's jaw-bone. 



3. Noosing and beating the sun, so that mankind might 



have longer days. 



4. Fishing up the land. 



5. Fetching fire from the goddess Mahuika. 



6. Changing his sister Hinauri's husband into a dog. 



7. His encounter with the Great Lady of Night, in which 



he lost his life. 



To quote Judge Fornander's remarks upon similar myths in 

 Hawaii, " They point to a period of the human mind when the 

 thoughts of sages still lingered and laboured on the borderland 

 between material facts and metaphysical abstractions ; when 

 Atea was still half the sun springing forth from and succeeding 

 to and dispelling the gloom and darkness of night, and half the 

 deified impersonation of creative power ; when Atea was still 

 the mere dawn in the result of the apparent contest between 

 darkness and light, encircling the neck of the sun as well as 

 his goddess- wife." 



