by succeeding generations with the miraculous deeds of a god. The Rarotongan story seems rather to bear this out, whilst at the same time relating much of the marvellous. After describing his nurture in a cave and his wonderful uprising therefrom, which reminds us of the Tahitian story of Hono-ura,[1] it then relates his overcoming the sea monster Moko-roa-i-ata to avenge the insult to his father, after which he started on his travels. During this voyage—if it may be so called, but no mention is made of a canoe—he visited and fished up Mani-hiki Island, north of Rarotonga,[2] then went to Tonga-ake, which is the name of the east side of Tonga-tapu, then to Rangi-raro, to Rangi-uru, to Avaiki-runga (the Tahitian group), to Vaii (the Hawaiian group), to Ngangai, Te-aro-maro-o-pipi, then south to the Marquesas, the several islands of which groups are referred to as Iva-nui, Iva-rai, Iva-te-pukenga, Rauao and Iva-kirikiri,[3] then westward to Paumotu, Tahiti, Raiatea, Porapora, to Atiu, Mangaia, and Rarotonga of the Cook group, from whence he returned westward, and finally to Na-vao, the place of departed spirits in Avaiki. It was on this voyage also that he visited U-peru, which on a former page I have suggested may be Peru.
There are some things worthy of note in this expedition. I would particularly call the attention of Hawaiians to the fact that Māui is stated to have called that group Māuiui, in remembrance of his efforts in "lifting up the heavens" and he gave it another name, Vaii (or Vaihi or Waihi,[4] known
- ↑ Journal Polynesian Society, Vol. IV., p. 256.
- ↑ This is an instance of a more modern story incorporated in a very ancient one.
- ↑ Iva is retained still in the present name of Hiva-oa and Nuku. hiva of the Marquesas.
- ↑ It is well known that Captain Cook gives the name of Owyhee to the Sandwich Islands, or Hawaii as they are now called. This name has always been supposed to be a corruption of the proper
