ORIGIN OF THE ISLAND. 143 
into it, tied the line to which the land was fastened 
to its beak, and then caused the dove to fly to the 
clouds, and draw up the islands above the surface 
of the water. This sacred dove, at times, appears, 
endowed with Mawe’s spirit ; and coos in the 
night, presaging a storm, or some terrible cala- 
mity to those who hear it. When New Zealand 
was raised from the depths of the ocean, Mawe 
went on shore ; where he found many things to 
astonish him — men and fire ; neither of which he 
had ever seen before. He took some fire in his 
hands, not knowing the torture it would create ; 
but when he felt the pain, he ran with the fire in 
his hands, and jumped into the sea : he came up, 
bearing Sulphur or White Island (a burning island, 
called Puhiawakari, in the Bay of Plenty) on his 
shoulders ; to which he set fire, and which has 
continued ever since to burn^. When he sank in 
the waters, the sun for the first time set, and dark- 
ness covered the earth. When he found that all 
was night, he immediately pursued the sun, and 
brought him back again in the morning ; but had 
no power to keep him from running away again, 
and causing night : he, however, tied a string to 
the sun, and fastened it to the moon, that, as the 
former went down, the other, being pulled after 
it by the superior power of the sun, may rise 
and 2:ive Mawe light during his absence. As the 
• On this island are many specimens of sulphur, beautifully 
crystallized, but so delicate as scarcely to allow of being re- 
moved. 
