42 
MYTHOLOGY. 
to it, is spoken of, instead of the place itself. Ihe word 
reinga, literally meaning the place where these spirits jumped 
into Po. 
The general estimation in which the gods were held by the 
natives, was not a slavish one. They rather regarded them as 
powerful enemies, who were to be rendered harmless by the 
aid of powerful charms or spells; and to avoid their ill will, 
offerings were made to them: still, they firmly believed in 
their existence and power of visibly interfering with human 
affairs.* The High Chiefs, or A.rikis, as well as the Tohungas, 
* The following account was given by a Chief, who was in a war expedition 
against the Ngatiawa, at Otaki. They were endeavouring to storm the powerful 
pa Kakutu, at Rangi-uru. At noon, when encamped opposite the beleaguered 
place, Puta, the Priest of Taupo, who was in their party, stood and prayed 
to Rongo-mai, the great god of his tribe, that he would manifest himself in 
their favor, and give the pa into their hands. Immediately a great noise was 
heard in the heavens, and they saw Rongo-mai rushing through the air, his 
form, which is that of a whale, was of fire, with a great head; he flew straight 
into the pa, which he entered with his head downwards, knocking up the 
dust which arose in a cloud with a crash like thunder. The Priest said in two 
days the place would be taken, which accordingly came to pass. My informant, 
a very sensible Christian Chief, believed it was actually the god who appeared, 
bid him draw his form, which he did; it was evidently a meteor, and a 
very bright one, to have been thus apparent at noon. It is remarkable that 
it should have been seen at the very moment the Priest was praying for his 
god to appear, and further that it should have fallen into the veiy pa they 
were attacking. It was natural that it should have been regarded as a favora¬ 
ble omen by one, and as the contrary by tbe others; but had the besieged 
not been intimidated, and fought courageously and conquered, then it would 
doubtless have been considered as a favorable omen for them. It is accoiding 
to the result that these sights are estimated, and as many are seen without 
anything remarkable occurring, so nothing is thought of them, but only of the 
few which are attended with a particular result, as in this instance. A similar 
case occurred to me during a journey into the interior of the Island. I was 
preaching from the words, “ Behold I saw Satan like lightning fall from 
heaven.” I had no sooner concluded, than the chapel, a dark building of 
raupo, with only the door and a small aperture to admit the light, was sud¬ 
denly illuminated; we all rushed out, and saw a splendid meteor, like a drawn 
sword. My congregation, with almost one voice, exclaimed, “ there is Satan 
falling from heaven.” My son once saw a brilliant meteor in the middle of 
the day, he immediately ran into the house to tell us, but we were only just 
in time to see its receding rays. Some few years ago four or five meteoric 
stones were seen at Wanganui, during the day, rushing with great noise and 
brightness through the air; they flew in a crescent form, and appeared to fall 
