POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
55 
roared, and the destroying demon slew, with instanta¬ 
neous but invisible strokes, the most daring and valiant 
of their warriors. But when they afterwards went 
alongside, or ventured on board, and saw that they 
were floating fabrics of timber, borne on the surface 
of the waters, and propelled by the winds of heaven, 
they unanimously declared that the prediction of Maui 
was accomplished, and the canoes without outriggers 
had arrived. They were confirmed in this interpreta¬ 
tion, when they saw the small boats belonging to the 
ships employed in passing to and fro between the 
vessel and the shore. These being simple in their 
structure, and approaching their own canoes in size, 
yet conveying in perfect safety those by whom they 
were manned, excited their astonishment, and con¬ 
firmed their convictions that Maui was a prophet. 
When a boat or a vessel has been sailing in or out 
of the harbour, I have often heard the natives, while 
gazing at the stately motion, exclaim, Te vaa a Maui 
e ! Ta vaa ama ore, Oh the canoe of Maui 1 the out¬ 
riggerless canoe!’' They have frequently asked us how 
he could have known such a vessel would arrive, since 
it was at that time considered by all besides as an 
impossibility. We have told them it was probable 
he had observed the steadiness with which his umete, or 
other hollow wooden vessels, floated on the water, and 
had thence inferred that at some future period they 
might behold larger vessels equally destitute of any 
exterior balancing power. They in general consider 
the use of boats and shipping among them as an 
accomplishment of his prediction. 
' The islanders also state, that there is another pre¬ 
diction, still to be fulfilled; and although it appears 
