Page:Maori Religion and Mythology.djvu/49

CH. iii. Whiro born of Papa. Snatch, snatch at your own head, Perishing in the Night of Darkness, In the Night of Death—Death.

Is the name given to forms of makutu employed to counteract the curse of some other tohunga, or wiseman; for whoever practises makutu, even though he be skilled in the art, may have to yield to the mana of some other wise-man who can command the assistance of a more powerful Atua. The following is a specimen of this kind of makutu—

Among the Atua much held in awe by the Maori were the Atua noho-whare, or house-dwelling gods—spirits of the germs of unborn infants. They are also known by