MYTHOLOGY. 
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heaven laid on the earth, and rendered her barren (it was 
indeed the eartlFs glacial period). In vain did she seek for 
offspring in the likeness of the night, or of the day. Then 
they considered what must be done for Rangi and Papa. 
Shall we slay them, or shall we separate them ? Tumata- 
uenga said, yes, let ns kill them. Tane Mahuta replied, 
no, by no means, rather let us separate them ; let one be 
placed above and the other remain below ; let one be like 
a stranger far removed from us ; the other be near as a 
mother to us. All agreed to this counsel ; one only was 
strongly opposed to their separation ; five decided that they 
should be parted; one only loved them. These are the 
words : — 
Te po, te po, 
Te ao, te ao, 
Te kimihanga, te hahaunga, 
I te kore, i te kore, 
Ko ta ratou rapunga, 
Whakaaro hoki mo o ratou 
matua, 
Kia tupu ai te tangata 
Na ko enei Kupu, 
Ko te nuinga, ko te roanga, 
Ko te nuinga ake o a ratou 
whakaaro, 
Patu i o ratou matua, 
Kia ora ai te tangata, 
Koia tenei a ratou tikanga, 
The-- night, the night, 
The day, the day, 
The seeking, the adzing out, 
From the nothing, the nothing. 
Their seeking thought 
Also for their mother. 
That man might arise, 
Behold this is the word, 
The largeness, the length, 
The height of their thought, 
To kill their mother, 
That man might live : 
This was their counsel. 
“ Tutenganahau cruelly severed the sinews which united 
the two. The first then laid hold of her, but did not suc- 
ceed ; the second laid hold, but with no more success ; the 
third did the same ; the fourth, the fifth, and he alone was 
able. Alas for Rangi and Papa ; alas the power of Tane 
Mahuta* for him was reserved the propping up : down went 
his head below, up went his heels above ; up entirely went 
* Tane Mahuta is represented as a tree with its head downward and roots 
upward ; and thus trees were supposed formerly to grow, because he laid down 
on his back and thrust up the heaven with his feet. 
