662 
ADAM AND EYE. 
mountain had slipped down; this is used, or rather was 
formerly, as a burial place ; at one end the Chiefs and great 
men were thrown down, and at the other slaves and per- 
sons of no consequence ; an idea prevailed, that if any one, 
especially a stranger, ascended this mountain, it was sure to 
rain ; this was mentioned by the teacher, Hamuera, as we 
started to visit their ancient place of sepulture ; of course, I 
told him it was an idle fancy, to which he assented ; the day 
was fine, indeed cloudless, when we commenced the ascent, 
but before we had reached half the way up it set in heavy rain ; 
the teacher turned round and looked at me, but said nothing. 
The same idea exists in Peru. 
Adam and Eve. 
The Egyptian hieroglyphic given of Adam and Eve recently 
found in the temple of Philoe, represents most clearly our first 
parents, with the serpent at the base of the tree looking up 
to Eve. Adam seems to be returning from tilling the garden, 
with some tool or implement of husbandry in his hand ; the 
first work given him to do when placed in Paradise, was 
“ to dress it, and to keep it This hieroglyphic is therefore 
singularly faithful, and establishes the fact that the Egyp- 
tians were early acquainted with the scriptural narrative, and 
it is not improbable also with its general outlines, before the 
time when Moses was inspired to write it, and that it forms 
a portion of the original tradition handed down to them from 
the patriarchal times.* 
Steatite. 
The soap stone is a soft unctious substance, or earth, found 
in various parts, generally of a yellow color, I chiefly met 
with it in the Bay of Islands, on the Kiri kiri river ; formerly, 
in times of dearth, it was eaten j the same as is done by the 
Carribees, who are accustomed to prepare it as a regular 
article for winter consumption. 
* See page 61. 
