258 
Mythology of 
the clouds; but even there the vengeance of Mahuika 
pursued him. Perceiving all refuge to fail him, and 
fearing for his life, he began to call to the small rain to 
pour: this, however, not answering his purpose, he called 
to the hail to pour ; and neither did this render him that 
speedy assistance which he required, lie therefore called 
to the large rain, or what we call hard rain, to pour ; 
which so completely put a stop to the progress of the 
flames, that it covered the ground with water, and the 
place where Mahuika was sitting, so that he in his turn 
began to fear for his life, and to call to his grandson to 
cease their strife. The grandson, however, was not to 
be won over so easily, he did not choose to use his in¬ 
fluence to restrain the rain; for as Mahuika had com¬ 
menced the conflict, it remained with him to call to his 
aid all the influence he possessed to protect him from the 
force which his grandson was bringing against him,— 
which failing him in his time of need, the water on the 
ground soon surrounded the old man, and in a short time 
reached his head, and he died. But the moment the 
water touched the tikitiki of Mahuika (the hair tied in a 
bunch on the crown), the fire fled, and lodged in various 
trees, from which the natives by friction get their fire. 
Pieces of these trees used to serve as tinder-boxes before 
European tinder-boxes were introduced.—Thus poor old 
Mahuika was drowned. When young Mani saw that 
Mahuika was dead, he went and dragged the body out 
of the water, and, as some say, buried it: but he took 
the jaw bone and hid it under his garment, of which he 
made a fish hook. 
While all this was transpiring nothing is said about 
the other brothers : perhaps the fire, not being intended 
for them, did not reach them ; it only pursued the object 
of Mahuika’s vengeance. But no doubt they waited 
anxiously enough for the return of young Mani with the 
fire,—which, however, he never brought. 
