Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/114

106 known as "Buddha's rays"; while in the Harvey Islands, between Fiji and Tahiti, they are called "the ropes of Maui."

The following beautiful story of Maui, the great hero of the Paciiic, is a typical specimen of a folk-lore story, where some of the imagery has been suggested by appearances in the sky.

.

Maui was the great hero of the Pacific, and had already not only discovered the secret of fire for the use of mortals, but had elevated the sky above the earth: the sun, however, had a trick of setting every now and then, so that it was impossible to get through any work, even an oven of food could not be prepared and cooked before the sun had set; nor could an incantation to the gods be chaunted through, ere the world was overtaken by darkness.

Now Ra, or the Sun, is a living creature and divine; in form resembling a man, and possessed of fearful energy. His golden locks are displayed morning and evening to mankind. But Tatanga advised her son not to have anything to do with Ra; as many had at different times endeavoured to regulate his movements, and had all signally failed. But the redoubtable Maui was not to be discouraged, and resolved to capture the sun god Ra.

Maui now plaited six great ropes of strong cocoa-nut fibre, each of four strands, and of a great length. He started off with his ropes to the distant aperture through which the sun climbs up from Avaiki, or the land of ghosts, into the heavens, and there laid a slip-noose for him. Further on in the Sun's path a second trap was laid; in fact all the six ropes were placed at distant intervals along the accustomed route of Ra.

Very early in the morning the unsuspecting Sun clambered up from Avaiki to perform his usual journey through the heavens. Maui was lying in wait near the first noose and exultingly pulled it; but it slipped down the Sun's body and only caught his feet. Maui ran forward to look after the second noose, but that likewise slipped, though luckily it closed round the Sun's knees; the third caught him round the hips; the fourth round the waist; the fifth under the arms. Still the Sun went tearing on his path, scarcely heeding the contrivances of Maui, but happily for Maui's designs the sixth and last