104 
RELIGION. 
the unenlightened African of the other ; it is however a clear 
proof that, when men forget their God; they fall into the 
same vain practices whatever may be their race; whether 
black or white. 
The Maori gods were demons, whose evil designs could 
only be counteracted by powerful spells and charms ; these 
proving effectual, sacrifices and offerings were made to soothe 
the vanquished spirits and appease their wrath. Rehua, whose 
abode was placed in the highest of their ten heavens, appears 
to have been the best of them all, and on that account to have 
had the chief abode assigned him ; he was supposed to mani- 
fest himself in meteors. The gods in general appeared in the 
whirlwind and lightning, answering their votaries in the clap 
of thunder. The inferior beings made themselves visible in 
the form of lizards, moths, butterflies, spiders, and even 
flies ; when they spoke it was in a low whistling tone. They 
were supposed to be so numerous as to surround the living 
in crowds, hei te muia nga wairua penei nga wairoa , ‘ the 
spirits throng like musquitoes/ ever watching to inflict evil. 
The nearest and most beloved relatives were supposed to 
have their natures changed by death, and to become malig- 
nant, even towards those they formerly loved, although there 
are exceptions, where spirits have refused to admit their 
relatives into Hades, thrusting them away with friendly 
violence, and the command to go back and take care of 
some beloved one left behind. 
Spirits and gods were supposed to require food as well as 
man, but they only consumed the essence or spirit of it, the 
gross substance being left for the priests. In sleep the soul 
was supposed to quit the body and wander about holding 
converse with its friends, and then returning again to its 
body ; dreams were viewed as realities. Aituas or omens 
were supposed to be sent as warnings, and everything out 
of the common way was thus regarded : the twitching of a 
nerve, the involuntary movement of a limb, the twinkling of 
the eye, or sudden awaking out of sleep, were all tokens of 
something which required a council to be held to ascertain 
what they meant. They had also different birds of omen, as 
