Maori Religion and Mythology Part 3

GENEALOGICAL DESCENT FROM RANGI-POTIKI.

Rangi-potiki had three wives, the first of which was Hine-ahu-papa; from her descended:-

| Tu-nuku.

Sky | Tu-rangi.

Powers. | Tama-i-koropao.

| Haronga.

Haronga took to wife Tongo-tongo. Their children were a son and daughter, Te Ra (=The Sun) and Marama (=The Moon). Haronga perceiving that there was no light for his daughter Marama, gave Te Kohu in marriage to Te Ikaroa, and the Stars were born to give light for the sister of Te Ra, for the child of Tongo-tongo. "_Nga tokorua a Tongo-tongo_" (=the two children of Tongotongo) is a proverbial term for the Sun and Moon at the present day.

Rangi-potiki's second wife was Papatuanuku. She gave birth to the following children:-

Rehua (a star).

Rongo.

Tangaroa.

Tahu.

Punga and Here, twins.

Hua and Ari, do.

Nuk.u.mera } twins.

Rango-maraeroa }

Marere-o-tonga } do.

Takataka-putea }

Tu-matauenga } do.

Tu-potiki }

_Rongo_ was _atua_ of the _k.u.mara_.

_Tangaroa_ was ancestor of Fish and the _Pounamu_, which is cla.s.sed with fish by the _Maori_. Tangaroa took to wife Te Anu-matao (=the chilly cold): from which union descended.

All | Te Whata-uira-a-tangaroa.

of the | Te Whatukura.

Fish | Poutini.

Cla.s.s. | Te Pounamu.

_Tahu_ was _atua_ presiding over peace and feasts.

_Punga_ was ancestor of the lizard, shark, and ill-favoured creatures: hence the proverb "_aitanga-a-Punga_" (=child of Punga) to denote an ugly fellow.

_Tu-matauenga_ was the _Maori_ war G.o.d.

Rangi-potiki's third wife was Papa (=Earth). Tangaroa was accused of having committed adultery with Papa, and Rangipotiki, armed with his spear, went to obtain satisfaction. He found Tangaroa seated by the door of his house, who, when he saw Rangi thus coming towards him, began the following _karakia_, at the same time striking his right shoulder with his left hand:-

Tangaroa, Tangaroa, Tangaroa, unravel; Unravel the tangle, Unravel, untwist.

Though Rangi is distant, He is to be reached.

Some darkness for above, Some light for below Freely give For bright Day?

? This _karakia_ is the most antient example of the kind. It is now applied as suggestive of a peaceable settlement of a quarrel.

This invocation of Tangaroa was scarce ended when Rangi made a thrust at him. Tangaroa warded it off, and it missed him. Then Tangaroa made a thrust at Rangi, and pierced him quite through the thigh, and he fell.

While Rangi lay wounded he begat his child Kueo (=Moist). The cause of this name was Rangi's wetting his couch while he lay ill of his wound.

After Kueo, he begat Mimi-ahi, so-called from his making water by the fireside. Next he begat Tane-tuturi (=straight-leg-Tane), so-called because Rangi could now stretch his legs. Afterwards he begat Tane-pepeki (=bent-leg-Tane), so-called because Rangi could sit with his knees bent. The next child was Tane-ua-tika (=straight-neck-Tane), for Rangi's neck was now straight, and he could hold up his head. The next child born was called Tane-ua-ha (=strong-neck-Tane), for Rangi's neck was strong. Then was born Tane-te-waiora (=lively Tane), so called because Rangi was quite recovered. Then was born Tane-nui-a-Rangi (=Tane great son of Rangi). And last of all was born Paea, a daughter. She was the last of Rangi's children. With Paea they came to an end, so she was named Paea, which signifies 'closed.'

Ha=kaha.

Some time after the birth of these children the thought came to Tane-nui-a-Rangi to separate their father from them. Tane had seen the light of the Sun s.h.i.+ning under the armpit of Rangi; so he consulted with his elder brothers what they should do. They all said, "Let us kill our father, because he has shut us up in darkness, and let us leave our mother for our parent." But Tane advised, "Do not let us kill our father, but rather let us raise him up above, so that there may be light." To this they consented; so they prepared ropes, and when Rangi was sound asleep they rolled him over on the ropes, and Paea took him on her back. Two props were also placed under Rangi. The names of the props were Tokohurunuku, and Tokohururangi. Then lifting him with the aid of these two props, they shoved him upwards. Then Papa thus uttered her farewell to Rangi.

"_Haera ra, e Rangi, e! ko te wehenga taua i a Rangi._"

"Go, O Rangi, alas! for my separation from Rangi."

And Rangi answered from above:

"_Heikona ra, e Papa, e! ko te wehenga taua i a Papa._"

"Remain there, O Papa. Alas! for my separation from Papa."

So Rangi dwelt above, and Tane and his brothers dwelt below with their mother, Papa.

Some time after this Tane desired to have his mother Papa for his wife.

But Papa said, "Do not turn your inclination towards me, for evil will come to you. Go to your ancestor Mumuhango." So Tane took Mumuhango to wife, who brought forth the _totara_ tree. Tane returned to his mother dissatisfied, and his mother said, "Go to your ancestor Hine-tu-a-maunga (=the mountain maid)." So Tane took Hine-tu-a-maunga to wife, who conceived, but did not bring forth a child. Her offspring was the rusty water of mountains, and the monster reptiles common to mountains. Tane was displeased, and returned to his mother. Papa said to him "Go to your ancestor Rangah.o.r.e." So Tane went, and took that female for a wife, who brought forth stone. This greatly displeased Tane, who again went back to Papa. Then Papa said "Go to your ancestor Ngaore (=the tender one)."

Tane took Ngaore to wife. And Ngaore gave birth to the _toetoe_ (a species of rush-like gra.s.s). Tane returned to his mother in displeasure.

She next advised him, "Go to your ancestor Pakoti." Tane did as he was bid, but Pakoti only brought forth _harakeke_ (=phormium tenax). Tane had a great many other wives at his mother's bidding, but none of them pleased him, and his heart was greatly troubled, because no child was born to give birth to Man; so he thus addressed his mother-"Old lady, there will never be any progeny for me." Thereupon Papa said, "Go to your ancestor, Ocean, who is grumbling there in the distance. When you reach the beach at Kura-waka, gather up the earth in the form of man."

So Tane went and sc.r.a.ped up the earth at Kura-waka. He gathered up the earth, the body was formed, and then the head, and the arms; then he joined on the legs, and patted down the surface of the belly, so as to give the form of man; and when he had done this, he returned to his mother and said, "The whole body of the man is finished." Thereupon his mother said, "Go to your ancestor Mauhi, she will give the _raho_. Go to your ancestor Whete, she will give the _timutimu_. Go to your ancestor Taua-ki-te-marangai, she will give the _paraheka_. Go to your ancestor Pungaheko, she has the _huruhuru_." So Tane went to these female ancestors, who gave him the things asked for. He then went to Kura-waka. Katahi ka whakanoho ia i nga raho ki roto i nga kuwha o te wahine i hanga ki te one: Ka mau era. Muri atu ka whakanoho ia ko te timutimu na Whete i homai ki waenga i nga raho; muri atu ko te paraheka na Taua-ki-te-marangai i homai ka whakanoho ki te take o te timutimu: muri iho ko te huruhuru na Pungaheko i homai ka whakanoho ki runga i te puke. Ka oti, katahi ka tapa ko Hineahuone. Then he named this female form Hine-ahu-one (=The earth formed maid).

Quaedam partes corporis genitales.

Tane took Hine-ahu-one to wife. She first gave birth to Tiki-tohua-the egg of a bird from which have sprung all the birds of the air. After that, Tiki-kapakapa was born-a female. Then first was born for Tane a human child. Tane took great care of Tiki-kapakapa, and when she grew up he gave her a new name, Hine-a-tauira (=the pattern maid). Then he took her to wife, and she bore a female child who was named Hine-t.i.tamauri.

One day Hine-a-tauira said to Tane, "Who is my father?" Tane laughed. A second time Hine-a-tauira asked the same question. Then Tane made a sign: and the woman understood, and her heart was dark, and she gave herself up to mourning, and fled away to Rikiriki, and to Naonao, to Rekoreko, to Waewae-te-Po, and to Po. The woman fled away, hanging down her head.4 Then she took the name of Hine-nui-te-Po (=great woman of Night). Her farewell words to Tane were-"Remain, O Tane, to pull up our offspring to Day; while I go below to drag down our offspring to Night."5

_Katahi ka tohungia e Tane ki tona ure._

These were all ancestors of the race of Powers of Night.

4 _He oti, ka rere te wahine: ka anga ko te pane ki raro, tuwhera tonu nga kuwha, hamama tonu te puapua._

5 "_Heikona, e Tane, hei kuk.u.me ake i a taua hua ki te Ao; kia haere au ki raro hei kuk.u.me iho i a taua hua ki te Po._"

Tane sorrowed for his daughter-wife, and cherished his daughter Hinet.i.tamauri; and when she grew up he gave her to Tiki to be his wife, and their first-born child was Tiki-te-pou-mua.6

6 Vid. Genealogical Table.

The following narrative is a continuation of the history of Hinenuitepo from another source:-

After Hinenuitepo fled away to her ancestors in the realms of Night, she gave birth to Te Po-uriuri (=The Dark one), and to Te Po-tangotango (=The very dark), and afterwards to Pare-koritawa, who married Tawaki, one of the race of Rangi. Hence the proverb when the sky is seen covered with small clouds "_Parekoritawa is tilling her garden._" When Tawaki climbed to Heaven with Parekoritawa, he repeated this _karakia_:-