LEGEND OF THE CREATION. 325 
way, namely, by the god Taaroa looking at the 
goddess his wife, who afterwards became the 
mother of his children. 
Raa was also ranked among the principal deities; 
although inferior to Taaroa and Oro, and he was sup¬ 
posed to be an independent being ; but nothing of 
consequence is ascribed to him in the native fables. 
His wife, Otupapa, who was also a divinity, bore 
him three sons and two daughters. Tane, the 
tutelar idol of Huahine, was also numbered among 
the uncreated gods, considered as having pro¬ 
ceeded from the state of Night, or Chaos. His 
goddess was called Taufairei. They were the 
parents of eight sons, who were all classed with 
the most powerful gods, and received the highest 
honours. Among the sons of Tane was Temeharo, 
the tutelar deity of Pomare’s family. 
The most popular traditions in the Leeward 
Islands differed in several minor points from the 
above, which 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 invi¬ 
sible to mortals. After innumerable seasons had 
passed away, he cast his pact, 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 
