44 
MYTHOLOGY. 
turn as gods, and heal the sick who come to them. Some 
years ago, a child named Mati was said to have thus reappeared ; 
numbers went and carried their sick to him ; he always told 
them he knew what was the matter with them—they had a 
After some general conversation, the young chief made her acquainted with 
the object of their visit, telling her that their companion, the European, did 
not believe in the existence of native gods, or that they could hold inter¬ 
course with men, and therefore he wished her to show him that such was 
really the case, by giving him an actual proof. For some time she hesitated, 
stating that she had given up such things, and had become a praying woman ; 
at last, however, after much entreaty, she consented, and bid one of the 
party take away some of the brands from the fire, and throw them outside, 
as the gods did not like too much light, (which was doubtless very true.) 
This was accordingly done. The old woman sat crouched down by the fire, 
with her head concealed in her blanket, swaying her body to and fro. The 
young chief laid himself full length on the ground, with his face downwards; 
he began by calling on the different gods by name, who were considered to 
be his relatives, addressing them as though present; his being the eldest son 
of the eldest branch of his family, was supposed to confer this privilege upon 
him. At first, they appeared to pay no attention to their relative, he there¬ 
upon spoke to them in a louder tone, but still without success; at last, he called 
to them in an angry tone, telling them if they did not speak, the European 
would go away and disbelieve in their existence; the old woman sat still, and 
appeared to take no notice of any thing. The European kept his eye steadily 
fixed upon her, and went and sat by her side; suddenly he heard a scratching 
as of a rat running up the raupo, and along the roof of the house, until the 
sound seemed to come from the spot exactly over their heads; he thought 
it was done by some accomplice outside, but he was not aware of any one being 
there, besides the party in the house; he detected no movement of the old 
woman, beyond that of rocking her body to and fro. Then he heard a low 
whistle, and could distinguish the inquiry, what did they want with him ? The 
Maori gods always speak in a whistling tone. The young chief replied, that 
they wanted him to come and shew himself to the European ; he said he should 
kill him if he came; the chief insisted that he should render himself visible; 
the god held back, but the chief would not allow his divine relative to escape; 
at last, he consented to assume the form of a spider, and alight on his head. 
The European said, if he descended straight on his head, he would believe he 
was actually present; but if he only saw a spider on his side or legs, he should 
not be satisfied. The old woman then got up, and went to the other side of 
the hut, and fumbled about in the thatch of the house, as though she was 
searching for a spider, to act the god, but her search was vain, she only found 
a little beetle, which consumes the raupo. She then came and sat by his side, 
but he narrowly watched her. The chief reproached the god for not 
descending at once upon his head; the god replied it was from an unwilling¬ 
ness to injure the European. He demanded a blanket for having spoken to him, 
