sea, deepening the first slight channels into watercourses, then into ravines, then into wide valleys. Only the summit of the highest peak, “the Centre of the Universe” was left uncovered.
Rangi, the King of Mangaia, had been warned beforehand of the war about to take place, with his realm as the field of battle, between the elemental deities, and had retreated with his people to the peak of the central hill. Thence in horror he viewed the steady approach of the foaming angry sea, and the mountain torrents rushing down to conflict with ocean. Water was everywhere; only the little portion of earth on which he stood with his subjects was not submerged. The tide rose to their feet and was still advancing. Then Rangi cried aloud in agonized prayer to the great god Rongo to come to his assistance, to save his people and his island from being overwhelmed in the deep. Rongo looked from the abode of the gods, and pitied the anguish of his worshipper; looked on the floods from the hills meeting and raging against the billows of the ocean, and Rongo cried “It is enough.” The eye of the Sun too looked down in pity upon the poor remnant of the human race. The ocean was compelled to withdraw to its old limits, and
