256 
Mythology of 
time, he endeavoured to effect it; but his brothers 
witnessing the sight, laughed, in consequence of which 
he died, and so became the cause of the introduction of 
death into the world. Those who maintain that Mani- 
potiki died in the birth an infant (which by far the 
greater part of the natives do), ascribe all the wonder¬ 
ful works to Manitikitikiotaranga, which others ascribe 
to Manipotiki. Mahuika is acknowledged to be a man; 
but he is sometimes said to be fire, because he was able 
at all times to produce fire at his pleasure. Where this 
man resided, and where the Mani family were born, they 
do not inform us : it is, however, generally affirmed that 
he lived to see all the Mani family grown up. 
It is observed, that all the Mani family went out to fish 
one day (where that place is nobody knows). The older 
brothers were busily employed in fishing, while the 
younger brother sat still and did nothing: he was, how¬ 
ever, frequently asked when he was going to catch some 
fish for himself, being assured by the others that he 
should have none of theirs : he very carelessly replied, 
“ What should I fisli for ?” and continued to sit still. At 
length his brothers upbraiding him with his idleness, he 
took up the hook, and casting it into the sea, he brought 
up more with one cast of the hook than all his brothers 
had done the whole time they had been fishing. On 
another occasion they all went out a-fishing; his brothers 
were busily employed as before, but he as usual sat still: 
his brothers threatened to feed him with the scales of 
the fish if he continued to waste his time there; he how¬ 
ever took no notice of their threats, but remained quiet 
in the canoe. His brothers, having caught a sufficient 
number offish for their purpose, were about to return on 
shore: he immediately took up his hook and cast it into 
the sea, and brought up more with one cast of the hook 
than all his brothers had caught. On seeing this and 
