330 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
brother and sister to the children of Taaroa, their 
dwelling was near the great rock, which was the 
foundation of the world. Hurricanes, tempests, 
and all destructive winds, were supposed to be 
confined within them, and were employed by 
them to punish such as neglected the worship 
of the gods. In stormy weather their com¬ 
passion was sought by the tempest-driven mari¬ 
ner at sea, or the friends of such on shore. 
Liberal presents, it was supposed, would at any 
time purchase a calm. If the first failed, subse¬ 
quent ones were certain of success. The same 
means were resorted to for procuring a storm, but 
with less certainty. Whenever the inhabitants of 
one island heard of invasion from those of another, 
they immediately carried large offerings to these 
deities, and besought them to destroy by tempest 
the hostile fleet whenever it might put to sea. 
Some of the most intelligent people still think evil 
spirits had formerly great power over the winds, 
as they say there have been no such fearful storms 
since they abolished idolatry, as there were before. 
There were also gods of the peho te moua te pari 
e te faa , the valleys, the mountains, the preci¬ 
pices, and the dells or ravines. The names of 
twelve of the principal of these are preserved by 
the Missionaries; but as few of them are indi¬ 
cative of the character or attributes of these gods, 
their insertion is unnecessary. 
I have often thought, when listening to their 
fabulous accounts of the adventures of their gods, 
which, when prosecuting our researches in their 
language, manners, customs, &c. we have some¬ 
times with difficulty induced them to repeat, that, 
had they been acquainted with letters, these would 
have furnished ample materials for legends rival- 
