MYTHOLOGY. 
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of their visit, telling her that their companion, the European, 
did not believe in the existence of native gods, or that they 
could hold intercourse with men, and therefore he wished 
her to show that such was really the case, by giving him 
an actual proof of it ; for some time she hesitated, stating 
that she had given up such things, and had become a praying 
woman ; at last, however, after much entreaty, she consented, 
bidding one of the party take away some of the brands from 
the fire, and throw them outside, as the gods did not like 
too much light, which was doubtless very true ; this was 
accordingly done ; the old woman sat crouched down by 
the fire, with her head concealed in her blanket, swaying her 
body to and fro : the young chief laid himself full length on 
the ground, with his face downwards and began by calling 
on the different gods by name, who were considered to be 
his relatives, addressing them as though present ; his being 
the eldest son of the eldest branch of his family, was sup- 
posed to confer this privilege upon him ; at first, they 
appeared to pay no attention to their relative, he therefore 
spoke to them in a louder tone, but still without success ; at 
last, he called to them in an angry tone, telling them if they 
did not speak, the European would go away and disbelieve 
in their existence ; the old womam sat still, and appeared 
to take no notice of any thing ; the European kept his 
eye steadily fixed upon her, went and sat by her side ; 
suddenly he heard a scratching as of a rat running up the 
raupo, and along the roof of the house, until the sound 
seemed to come from the spot exactly over their heads ; he 
thought it was done by some accomplice outside, but he was 
not aware of any one being there besides the party in the 
house ; he detected no movement of the old woman, be- 
yond that of rocking her body to and fro ; then he heard 
a low whistle, and could distinguish the inquiry, what did 
they want with him ? The Maori gods always speak in a 
whistling tone ; the young chief replied, they wanted him 
to come and shew himself to the European; he said he 
should kill him if he came, the chief insisted that he should 
render himself visible, the god held back, but the chief 
