Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/61

Rh Atalanga was out walking and met in the road a woman named Fuiloa, who was crawling along with water from the well called Tofoa. Maui stopped the woman and asked her for water to drink; a request which she refused. Maui again asked her, adding the promise that after drinking he would shove the sky so high that she would be able to stand upright, for at that time earth and sky were so close that man had to crawl about on all fours. Fuiloa was at first sceptical of the god's good faith, but on his repeating his assurances she at length complied. After he had drunk Atalanga gave the sky a great heave. "How's that?" he asked the woman. "Further yet," she replied. So he heaved again. "How's that?" "Further yet; put your strength into it, and get it a long way up." So Maui heaved again with all his force, and with a tremendous shove got the sky into its present position. From that time man has been able to stand and walk upright, and not go on all fours like the dog and pig and other four-footed animals, as he formerly did. The place where this beneficent deed was accomplished is a road called Tekenakilagi (Pushed to the sky).

Time went on and Maui Atalanga and his son heard stories of ravenous animals and trees, and the numerous people whom they slew. They discussed the situation, and determined to hunt the destroyers. They set out, and went first to Haalaufuli, and then to Taanea, both places being in Vavau. In Taanea dwelt a fierce rat in a burrow. When they reached the place the rat, who was walking about at the mouth of his burrow, at once rushed at them, but they struck it, and it fled and took refuge in the hole. Now this voracious rodent had eaten so many people that nobody could live in its vicinity, and the Mauis resolved to dig it out and slay it; but there was little unanimity as to how they should set about the task. Atalanga suggested that his son should dig at the mouth of the hole, whilst he went and waited at the breathing-vent. Maui Kijikiji preferred that his father do the digging whilst he awaited the animal's emergence at the back door. The dispute waxed warmer and