354 
Wild Life in Southern Seas. 
new god, were yet pitiful to the cry of hunger 
of the people, and sent thee a score of por¬ 
poises ? ’Twas I, Tahua, and U’umao, and 
Mau, my brothers ! In the night we chased 
them from the deep sea across the lagoon on 
to the beach, so that the people might eat ! 
And so, lest this land be for ever smitten with 
all manner of evil things, cast out this new 
religion and make an offering. . . . Give me 
thy daughter Aimata.” 
Then Hino-riri, springing to her feet, flung 
herself on the ground before Matara, and cried 
out in her agony, “ Let me die instead. Take 
my life, Matara, but let this little child 
live.” 
Tati said naught ; he still lay upon the mat 
with his face hidden ; but when he heard 
Matara call out the name of Aimata he rose, 
and, taking the boy Tairoa by the hand, led 
him quickly away. And then Matara too 
turned away from the woman at his feet, and 
was gone. 
Four men stepped out, and, while two of 
them held Hino-riri, the others seized the 
child, and took her away with them to the altar 
of Tahua. There they killed her, and then 
