nders
regularly made fire.[96] Maui was also supposed to be the cause of
earthquakes.[97] In Tahiti a curious image of Maui was seen and
described by Captain Cook. "It was the figure of a man, constructed of
basket-work, rudely made, but not ill-designed; it was something more
than seven feet high, and rather too bulky in proportion to its height.
The wicker skeleton was completely covered with feathers, which were
white where the skin was to appear, and black in the parts which it is
their custom to paint or stain, and upon the head, where there was to be
a representation of hair: upon the head also were four protuberances,
three in front and one behind, which we should have called horns, but
which the Indians dignified with the name of _Tate Ete_, little men. The
image was called Manioe, and was said to be the only one in Otaheite.
They attempted to give us an explanation of its use and design, but we
had not then acquired enough of their language to understand them. We
learnt, however, afterwards that it was a representation of Mauwe, one
of their _Eatuas_, or gods of the second class."[98]

[91] D. Tyerman and G. Bennet, _op. cit._ i. 526.

[92] J. A. Moerenhout, _op. cit._ i. 449 _sq._

[93] J. Wilson, _op. cit._ p. 167.

[94] D. Tyerman and G. Bennet, _op. cit._ ii. 40 _sq._; W.
Ellis, _op. cit._ ii. 170 _sq._

[95] D. Tyerman and G. Bennet, _op. cit._ i. 526.

[96] D. Tyerman and G. Bennet, _op. cit._ i. 141; J. Wilson,
_op. cit._ p. 357; J. Turnbull, _Voyage round the World_, p.
349; Wallis, in R. Kerr's _General History and Collection of
Voyages and Travels_, xii. 212; _id._, in J. Hawkesworth's
_Voyages_, i. (London, 1773) p. 483.

[97] J. R. Forster, _Observations_, p. 540; G. Forster, _Voyage
round the World_, ii. 151. These writers spell his name O-Maouwe
and O-mauwee.

[98] J. Cook, _Voyages_, i. 156 _sq._

Besides the high primaeval deities, born of the Night, the Society
Islanders believed in a host of inferior divinities, many of whom were
said to have been created by Taaroa, the supreme god. Thus, between the
high gods and the deities of particular places or of particular
professions, there was a class of intermediate deities, who were not
supposed to have existed from the beginning or to have been born of
Night. Their origin was veiled in obscurity, but they were often
described as having been renowned men, who, after death, were d