He was nursed by the sea-gods, and will one day bring many blessings to the race of men.” Then Maui’s father held out his arms, and Maui went to him, resuming his human form. The old man recited over his new-found son all the charms and incantations which should preserve Maui’s life in the hour of danger, but once he skipped a word, which made the charm incomplete, and which was a misfortune that in the future ended Maui’s life. This was because the gods were supposed to be angry if prayers or charms were wrongly repeated.
list′-en-er
an′-cient
dis′-ap-pear
po-si′-tion
man′-hood
crev′-ice
mer′-ri-est
for-get′-ful-ness
cu′-ri-ous
mis′-er-a-ble
va′-grant
ad-mir′-ing
es′-ti-ma-tion, valuing; regard for; opinion.
ref′-use, worthless remains; that which is rejected as useless.
waif, goods thrown away or having no known owner.
Un′-der-world, a place supposed by the Natives to be beneath the surface of the earth, and to be inhabited by spirits.
trough, a long hollow vessel; the hollow between waves.
