POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
197 
the only fish the Tahitians considered sacred. In addition 
to these^ they had gods who were supposed to preside over 
the fisheries, and to direct to their coasts the various 
shoals by which they were periodically visited. Tahauru 
was the principal among these; but there were five or 
six others, whose aid the fishermen were accustomed 
to invoke, either before launching their canoes, or while 
engaged at sea. Matatini was the god of fishing-net 
makers. 
Next in number and importance to the gods of the sea, 
and the aerial regions, frequently worshipped under the 
figure of a bird, were those of the 'peho te moiia te pari 
e te faa^ the valleys, the mountains, the precipices, and 
the dells or ravines. The names of twelve of the prin¬ 
cipal of these are preserved by the Missionaries—I have 
them by me—^but as few of them are indicative of the 
character or attributes of these gods, their insertion is 
unnecessary. 
I have often thought, when listening to their fabu¬ 
lous accounts of the adventures of their gods, which, 
when prosecuting our researches in their language, man¬ 
ners, customs, &c. we have sometimes with difficulty in¬ 
duced them to repeat, that, had they been acquainted 
with letters, these would have furnished ample materials 
for legends rivalling in splendour of machinery, and 
magnificence of achievement, the dazzling mythology of 
the eastern nations. Rude as their traditions were, 
in the gigantic exploits they detail, and the bold 
and varied imagery they employ, they are often invested 
with an air of romance, which shews that the people 
possessed no inferior powers of imagination. 
By their rude mythology, their lovely islands were 
made a sort of fairy-land, . and all the spells of enchant- 
