Pawa

A priest who, in ancient days, had charge of the oracles. Mahi-rua, the servant of Ue-nuku, found Pawa roasting a barracouta fish. He bowed himself before Pawa, and as he advanced he went into a crouching attitude. Pawa held up the fish towards Mahi-rua, and he fell prostrate. The people called and said, "O Pawa! the man is dead." Pawa answered, "Let him lie there till the power of the god has abated." When Pawa had finished eating his fish, he took the tail of it and laid it on the body of Mahi-rua, and restored him to life.

❧

References

Source

  • White, John. (1887). Ancient History of the Maori. 6 vols. Wellington: G. Didsbury, Government Printer, p. 3:7.

This article incorporates text from Ancient History of the Maori (1887) by John White, which is in the public domain.