Page:Maori Religion and Mythology.djvu/24

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The Maori had no tradition of the Creation. The great mysterious Cause of all things existing in the Cosmos was, as he conceived it, the generative Power. Commencing with a primitive state of Darkness, he conceived Po (= Night) as a person capable of begetting a race of beings resembling itself. After a succession of several generations of the race of Po, Te Ata (= Morn) was given birth to. Then followed certain beings existing when Cosmos was without form, and void. Afterwards came Rangi (= Heaven), Papa (= Earth), the Winds, and other Sky powers, as are recorded in the genealogical traditions preserved to the present time.

We have reason to consider the mythological traditions of the Maori as dating from a very antient period. They are held to be very sacred, and not to be repeated except in places set apart as sacred.

The Genealogies recorded hereafter are divisible into three distinct epochs:—

I. That comprising the personified Powers of Nature preceding the existence of man, which Powers are regarded by the Maori as their own primitive ancestors, and are invoked in their karakia by all the Maori race;