a chief’s house: 
CHAPTER VII. 
MYTHOLOGY. 
(continued.) 
Before the mythology of the Maori is further considered, 
it will be necessary briefly to state what were the ideas of 
God entertained by the natives. The word Atua, or spirit, 
which is used for God, formerly had various significations ; 
a plague or disease was also he atua , or God, a thief was an 
atua, thus also a thievish dog was he huri atua, a god-like dog, 
so also he tangata atua M te muru, a man equal to a god in 
stealing ; a child who pilfered was he tamaiti atua , a divine 
child ; there were great spirits and small ones, a man’s 
spirit was an atua pore pore, a little spirit ; but Maru Ron- 
gomai and other gods were, Atua nui , great gods ; there 
were atua ika , reptile or fish gods ; a great chief was called 
He %ka 3 a fish, sea monster, or reptile, and was regarded as 
a malignant god in life, and a still worse one after death ; 
there were likewise Atua marau as the toroa , albatross. 
