Te Tohunga: The ancient legends and traditions of the Maoris

This collection assembles orally transmitted Māori legends, chants, and rituals presented as narrative retellings with accompanying illustrations. It ranges from cosmogonic accounts of sky and earth and the shaping of the natural world by gods to the exploits and death of a central culture-hero who brings islands into being and confronts the sun. Also included are origin stories for stars and dances, ritual chants and burial customs, encounters with otherworldly beings, migration and tribal traditions, and intimate love legends; chapters are supplemented by explanatory notes and a glossary to clarify pronunciation and cultural terms.