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 O Te Ika a Maui—The Fish!

But turn now your eyes on those worthy, wise Brothers of Maui,— With grimaces nibbling their faces, with eyes and with mouths round as sea-eggs, They squat on their haunches, stuck still: Dumb as heads in the old days held fast in the mouth of the oven, Dumb as fish,—who would ever have thought it? But hear now their guile!

“O my Brothers,” said Maui, Meet is it I go with thank-offermgs to thank Tangaroa— Tangaroa, who gave me this fish: Rangi also, and Tawhiri-matea, who hid it below. But abide till I come!” he besought them with earnest persuasions, “Till these gods are bespoken, with hand or with foot, O defile not my Fish! When I come, I will portion it all.” So he went. But what then said these Brothers? Aha! As the kotare, perched and asleep, hears the fish-rippled water, and straightway awakes, They awoke! “Who is Maui?” said they “who that babe, with his portion, and portion?