CHAP. IV.] WORLD OF SPIRITS. 67 



chief, descends into it, it goes into Heaven (Taki- 

 wana) ; there his left eye remains, and becomes a 

 star. In the reinga the spirits live as men do on 

 earth ; but they can leave it, and influence the ac- 

 tions and the fate of those who are alive, communi- 

 cating with them through the medium of the to- 

 hunga, who hears them. Their voice has a whistling 

 sound, which others besides the tohunga sometimes 

 perceive, when they walk out in the dark. If tra- 

 vellers come into the neighbourhood of the reinga, 

 they throw down a piece of fern, or of the nikau- 

 palm (Areca), to let the spirits know whether the 

 wanderers are inhabitants of the open land or of 

 the forest. The wairua often speak in dreams to 

 the priest or to the ariki, who announces their 

 communications in the morning, and these often 

 lead to important resolutions. The belief in dreams 

 is universal, and the commands given in that way 

 are implicitly obeyed, and often influence their most 

 important actions. 



F 2 



