MYTHOLOGY. 
31 
in the living fountain, the Wai ora Tane; he determined, 
therefore, to do the same and to enter the womb of Hine-nui- 
te-po, that is Hades, where the living water—the life-giving 
stream—was situated.* Hine-nui-te-po draws all into her womb, 
but permits none to return. Maui determined to try, trust¬ 
ing to his great powers ; but before he made the attempt, he 
strictly charged his friends, the birds, not to laugh. He then 
allowed great mother night to draw him into her womb. His 
head and shoulders had already entered, when that forgetful 
bird, the Piwaka-waka, began to laugh. Night closed her 
portals, Maui was cut in two and died! Thus death came 
into the world! Had not the Piwaka-waka laughed, Maui 
would have drank of the living stream, and man would never 
have died. Such was the end of Maui! 
He does not appear to have been generally prayed to as a 
god ; yet he was invoked for their kumara crops and success in 
fishing. A karakia, or pure, addressed to him begins as follows: 
Maui e hoea mai to heru, 
Mo nga pa tuna, 
Te heru o Maui, 
Ko i wano ai, whiti mai 
Te marama, &c., &c. 
Maui is also said to have tattoed the lips of the native dog; 
and that accounts for its muzzle being always black.f 
* One account states that his object was to kill Hine-nui-te-po, and carry 
off her heart. 
f Ko ta Maui uhi, i taia ki te Kuri, ko ta te kahuitara i taia ki te rangi, ka 
kikiwai, kairunga i taia ano hoki ki te tangala 
A MEBE MERE. 
