6 Transactions. —Miscellaneous, 
and use of the powers of Nature; (2) their relying on their own strength 
and ability as able men; and (8) their often invoking their deceased 
ancestors to help them in times of great need; or, more frequently, 
encouraging themselves, at such times, with the bare recital or recollection 
of their ancestors’ names* and prowess. 
Now all this strong and common, yet (if I may so term it) quiescent 
belief in the supernatural or miraculous, in my opinion forms a very 
peculiar and characteristic trait in the old New Zealander. (I know, of 
course, of those miracles related in the Old Testament, and that, too, 
generally, in like simple manner, without note or comment). No doubt all 
ancient nations felt more or less the influence of the Divine in Nature, or of 
the power of Nature ; but as they knew her but imperfectly, all remarkable 
or unusual phenomena appeared to them as manifestations of supernatural 
. Powers, divine or demoniac (as the case might be), or as miracles, which, 
while they inspired some peoples with awe, did not so act on the minds of the 
ancient Maori. Not but that they had plenty of signs and wonders, akin to 
the Roman fictions of prodiyia and portente,} which served to announce 
important events; but, while they saw and observed, talked of and. 
magnified them, they never feared them ;. rather ridiculed them, or treated 
them lightly ; and even when all things turned out well and satisfactory, 
and in keeping with their belief in, or expectations from, those higher 
powers, no such thing as thanksgiving to them was ever dreamt of ! 
Moreover, it should also be briefly noticed, that while they laughed and 
mocked at earthquakes, at pealing thunder, at vivid lightnings, and at 
terrific storms, they exhibited great dread at merely unexpectedly seeing a 
small, common, and harmless lizard ; at a gaseous flame suddenly shooting 
forth, with crackling noise, from their private fire towards them; and at a 
big spark bouncing therefrom in a similar direction ! ete., ete. 
The subject of my paper this evening will be some of the doings (and 
their consequences) of a powerful chief, named Uenuku,} who dwelt here on 
the East Coast of New Zealand, between Table and East Capes, about 
twenty-five generations back,§ or (say) A.D. 1000,—time of our Danish 
* See “ Paikea’s Spell,” in the Story of Ruatapu and Paikea. (infra.) 
Livy, I1., 10: XLII, ete.; Lucan, Phars., I.; Pliny, H.N., I1., VII., XVL., ete ; 
Plutarch, Ces., 63. 
} There were several chiefs and personages of ancient days named Uenuku; some of 
es bearing an additional suffix to distinguish them. One is said to have dwelt at 
‘‘ Hawaiki” before the so-called migration hither. (See Grey’s “ Polynesian Mythology,” 
p-, 123, ete.) Uenuku is, also, a name for the rainbow. 
§ One of the genealogies gives twenty- -eight generations, (viz., three additional 
names). This may be owing to an early branch, commencing with the son of another 
wife. (See Appendix, Genealogy). 
