Polynesian Mythology:

The Myths, Legends, Songs and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealanders and Pacific Islanders

Sir George J Grey

• Publisher: Porirua Publishing
• Year: 2024
• ISBN:
  9781991305121
• Topic: Storia
• Subtopic: Storia dell'Australia e dell'Oceania

"Sir George Grey was among the first chroniclers to explore Hawaii and the South Sea Isles with an aim of writing down the local legends and myths - this collection contains the amazing results of his journey.It was not the author's original plan to record the myths and legends of the Polynesian people - a government posting in New Zealand, and his subsequent encounters with natives and their chieftains, spurred an interest in the region's rich storytelling history. Many chieftains would quote different proverbs and narratives in common, summarizing the deeds of heroes such as Maui and Tawhaki. Many of the myths and legends reflected the Polynesian society's maritime nature - prowess upon the seas, be it in intrepid sailing or hunting great beasts of the deep, is a recurring theme.The peoples of Polynesia were spread over thousands of miles of island chains in the Pacific Ocean, and were mindful of the great distances their boats had covered. The discovery of New Zealand itself was subject to a legendary story; it being an island far greater in size than any discovered before. Tales of rituals and magic connected with nature leads Sir Grey to speculate about some arcane link between Polynesia and ancient Mexico - at the time, the supernatural qualities found in this lore were considered barbarous, and ignoble in the face of the Christianity of Western explorers."-Print ed.

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• PREFACE.
• LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
• THE CHILDREN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
• THE LEGEND OF MAUI.
• THE LEGEND OF TAWHAKI.
• THE LEGEND OF RUPE. — HIS ASCENT INTO HEAVEN.
• THE LEGEND OF KAE’S THEFT OF THE WHALE.
• THE LEGEND OF TUWHAKARARO, — HOW HE WAS MURDERED AND AVENGED.
• THE LEGEND OF RATA, — HIS ADVENTURES WITH THE ENCHANTED TREE AND REVENGE OF HIS FATHER’S MURDER.
• THE LEGEND OF TOI-TE-HUATAHI AND TAMA-TE-KAPUA. — THE DISSENSIONS WHICH LED TO THE MIGRATIONS FROM HAWAIKI.
• THE LEGEND OF POUTINI AND WHAIAPU
• THE CURSE OF MANAIA. — (KO MANAIA, KO KUIWAI.)
• THE LEGEND OF HATUPATU AND HIS BROTHERS.
• LEGEND OF THE EMIGRATION OF TURI, — (THE PROGENITOR OF THE WHANGANUI TRIBES.)
• LEGEND OF THE EMIGRATION OF MANAIA, — (THE PROGENITOR OF THE NGATI-AWA TRIBES).
• THE STORY OF HINE-MOA, — (THE MAIDEN OF ROTORUA).
• THE STORY OF MARU-TUAHU, THE SON OF HOTUNUI, AND OF KAHURARE-MOA, THE DAUGHTER OF PAKA.
• THE TWO SORCERERS — (KO TE MATENGA O KIKI.)
• THE MAGICAL WOODEN HEAD, — (KON GA PUHI A PUARATA RAUA KO TAUTOHITO.)
• THE ART OF NETTING LEARNED BY KAHUKURA FROM THE FAIRIES, — (KO TE KORERO MO NGA PATUPAIAREHE.)
• TE KANAWA’S ADVENTURE WITH A TROOP OF FAIRIES.
• THE LOVES OF TAKARANGI AND RAU-MAHORA.
• STRATAGEM OF PUHIHUIA’S ELOPEMENT WITH TE PONGA.
• APPENDIX.