257 
the New Zealanders . 
* 
many of his wonderful works, his brothers began to dis¬ 
like him, and to be jealous of his influence. When they 
arrived on shore they seized all the fish, both his and theirs, 
and told him he might have the scales if he liked, 
but he should not eat one of the fish,—which they never 
allowed him to do. Being however anxious to cook 
some of the fish, they sent him to Mahuika to fetch some 
fire for that purpose. He came to his grandfather and 
asked for some fire : his grandfather cut ofl his little 
finger, and gave it to him. He immediately left him, 
and was returning to his brothers with the fire in his 
hand, when, on coming to a place on his way where was 
some water, he wilfully extinguished it, and again ap¬ 
peared before his grandfather, telling him that he had 
slipt and fallen dow T n, by which means the fire was put 
out. Mahuika gave him the finger next to his little one, 
which having shared the same fate as the former, he 
again presented himself before the old man ; but feigned 
to be another person, by endeavouring to speak in 
another tone of voice. His grandfather then cut ofl' his 
third finger and gave it to him, which also he put into 
the water, and returned to the old man. Mahuika, having 
heard of the fame of his grandson, began strongly to 
suspect that it was he who was playing him these tricks, 
and said to him, “You are, perhaps, my grandson 
playing me these tricks ?” The other made no reply, 
but laughed. The old man, on perceiving that it was 
his grandson, said to him, “I will be revenged on jou 
for serving me in this mannerand cutting oft his fourth 
finger, or the one next his thumb, the whole place was 
in a blaze. Young Mani, finding himself pursued by the 
fire, began to run from place to place to escape being 
destroyed by the devouring flame. At length, being 
encircled on all sides, and seeing no place to which he 
could fly for refuge on earth, he flew up into the air among 
s 
VOL. I. NO. IV. 
