390 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
corals at the bottom. The hooks became entangled 
in the hair of the sleeping god. After remaining 
some time, the fisherman endeavoured to pull up 
his hooks, but was for a long period unable to move 
them. At length they were suddenly disentangled, 
and he began to draw them towards the surface. 
In an instant, however, the god, whom he had 
aroused from his slumbers, appeared at the surface 
of the water, and, after upbraiding him for his 
impiety, declared, that the land was criminal, or 
convicted of guilt, and should be destroyed. 
The affrighted fisherman prostrated himself be¬ 
fore the god of the sea, confessed his sorrow for 
what he had done, and implored his forgiveness, 
beseeching him that the judgment denounced 
might be averted, or that he might escape. Rua- 
hatu, moved by his penitence and importunity, 
directed him to return home for his wife and child, 
and then proceed to a small island called Toa- 
marama, which is situated within the reefs on the 
eastern side of Raiatea. Here he was promised 
security, amid the destruction of the surrounding 
islands. The man hastened to his residence, and 
proceeded with his wife and child to the place ap¬ 
pointed. Some say he took with him a friend who 
was residing under his roof, with a dog, a pig, and 
a pair of fowls, so that the party consisted of four 
individuals, besides the only domesticated animals 
known in the islands. 
They reached the refuge appointed, before the 
close of the day; and as the sun approached the hori¬ 
zon, the waters of the ocean began to rise, the im 
habitants of the adjacent shore left their dwellings 
on the beach, and fled to the mountains. The 
waters continued to rise during the night, and the 
next morning the tops of the mountains only 
