138 
MYTHOLOGY. 
having* his or her peculiar department, and they have been 
succeeded by the male and female saints of their churches, 
which have thus carefully preserved a close relationship to 
their venerated ancestors. 
Maru, one of the native gods, bears a remarkable resem- 
blance to Mars ; like him, he is the god of war ; he was 
killed and eaten when on earth, but his divinity flew up to 
heaven, and the planet Mars, from his fiery color, is called 
after him. This god had many names, as 
Maru i te Aewa 
„ — Koeta 
,, — Anaunau 
,, — Waka tamara 
„ — Tahuri mai 
„ — Takotua 
“ — Tawakarere 
“ — Biri 
“ — Nguha 
“ — Mataitai 
These names were descriptive of his various evil qualities ; 
his going to and fro as an adversary ; chattering defiance ; 
looking down malignantly ; causing disease ; flaming with 
wrath; full of anger and bitterness, there can scarcely be 
a more perfect description of the evil spirit. Maru was also 
a god of the Sandwich Isles. This deity being constantly 
engaged in evil, had no time to grow food, and was indig- 
nant if he were not liberally supplied, and with the best by 
his votaries. He was a god highly esteemed by his priests, 
who grew fat in his service. 
The history of one of these gods will be a specimen 
and furnish a faithful index of the national mind. No 
god figures more in the Maori mythology of later ages 
than Tawaki ; originally men were not aware that he was 
a deity, until one day he ascended a lofty hill, and some 
who were cutting brush wood, saw him throw aside his 
vile garments, and clothe himself with lightning, they then 
recognized him as a god. 
When Waitiri, his grandmother, descended from heaven, 
