POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
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prevailed in the windward group. According to one, 
for which I am indebted to my friend Mr. Barff, 
Taaroa, who was supreme here as well as in Tahiti, was 
said to be Toivi, or without parents, and to have existed 
from eternity. He was supposed to have a body, but it 
was invisible to mortals, After innumerable seasons 
had passed away, he cast his jsaa, shell or body, as birds 
do their feathers, or serpents their skins \ and by this 
means, after intervals of innumerable seasons, his body 
was renewed. In the reva^ or highest heavens, he dwelt 
alone. His first act was the creation of Hina, who is 
also called his daughter. Countless ages passed away, 
when Taaroa and his daughter made the heavens, the 
earth, and the sea. The foundation of the world was a 
solid rock \ which, with every part of the creation, Taaroa 
was supposed to sustain by his invisible power.—-It is 
stated, that the Friendly Islanders suppose that the earth 
is supported on the shoulders of one of their gods, and 
that when an earthquake takes place, he is transferring 
it from one shoulder to the other. 
Having, with the assistance of Hina, made the heavens, 
earth, and sea, Taaroa onon, or created, the gods. The 
first was Rootane, the god of peace. The second was 
Toahitu, in shape like a dog; he saved such as were in 
danger of falling from rocks and trees. Te fatu (the 
lord) was the third. Teiria^ (the indignant,) a god of 
war, was the fourth. The fifth, who was said to have 
had a bald head, was called Ruanuu, The sixth was a 
god of war. The seventh, Tuaraatai, Mr. Barff thinks 
was the Polynesian Neptune. The eighth was Rimaroa, 
(long arms,) a god of war. The ninth in order were the 
gods of idiots, vdio were always considered as inspired. 
The tenth was Tearii tabu tura^ another Mars. These 
n. 2 c 
