320 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
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 oriori , 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. Te iria , (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, who were 
always considered as inspired. The tenth was 
Tearii tabu tura , another Mars. These were 
created by Taaroa, and constituted the first order 
of divinities. 
A second class were also created, inferior to 
these, and employed as heralds between the gods 
and men. The third order seems to have been 
the descendants of Raa; these were numerous and 
varied in their character, some being gods of war, 
others among the Esculapiuses of the nation. 
Oro was the first of the fourth class, and seems 
to have been the medium of connexion between 
celestial and terrestrial beings. Taaroa was his 
father. The shadow of a bread-fruit leaf, shaken 
by the power of the arm of Taaroa, passed over 
Hina, and she afterwards became the mother of 
Oro. Hina, it is said, abode in Opoa at the time 
