Wi

"Ironstone nodules." A personage of pre-diluvian times, he who had great power to expound all the laws promulgated by Tāne, and for this derived the wisdom and power from God to conduct Tupu-nui-a-uta and his children on the face of the waters when they went in a covered raft. Wi spoke to Wa (space), and Miru (threads), and all the tribes, and said, "O friends! hearken to the words by which we may be saved: Live peaceably, do not work evil, do not be disobedient, do not be intemperate, do not offer false, lying worship, but let worship be true." But these people and their leaders resisted.

Wi spoke privately to Wa and Miru, and said, "O young people! you two hearken to my word which I now utter: When you eat give thanks. Educate and build up the soul that it may go correctly to the world of spirits. Believe what I now tell you, as this is the truth of the world." They did not hearken. Wi thus preached for two years to that unbelieving people. He then called to them, and said, "Friends, hearken. Soon on the morrow (a time not far distant) the land will he overturned by God." And when the days were fulfilled he prayed to God; and the pa of Wa and the pa of Miru were overturned, and thousands of their people were killed in the overturning.

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