n the
religion of the Society Islanders, whereas there is little or nothing to
show that they adored either the sun, or any other of the heavenly
bodies, with the possible exception of the moon.[135] This did not,
however, prevent them from entertaining absurd notions concerning these
great luminaries. At an eclipse they imagined that the moon or the sun
was being swallowed by some god whom they had offended; and on such
occasions they repaired to the temple and offered prayers and liberal
presents to the deity for the purpose of inducing him to disgorge the
luminary.[136]

[125] A. Baessler, _Neue Suedsee-Bilder_, pp. 116 _sq._, 127
_sq._, 144 _sq._

[126] A. Baessler, _op. cit._ pp. 130, 131.

[127] A. Baessler, _op. cit._ p. 119.

[128] A. Baessler, _op. cit._ pp. 117 _sq._

[129] A. Baessler, _op. cit._ pp. 130 _sq._

[130] A. Baessler, _op. cit._ p. 140.

[131] A. Baessler, _op. cit._ p. 127.

[132] A. Baessler, _op. cit._ pp. 124, 141.

[133] A. Baessler, _op. cit._ pp. 127 _sq._, 144 _sq._

[134] See below, p. 311.

[135] Ellis says, "I am not aware that they rendered divine
homage either to the sun or moon" (_Polynesian Researches_, iii.
171). Speaking of the Areois, Moerenhout says that "it seems to
me clear that though they did not adore directly the sun and the
other stars, nevertheless their worship was little else than
sabeism or the adoration of the visible and animated universe"
(_op. cit._ i. 503). He interpreted both Oro and Maui or Mahoui
(as he spells the name) as the sun-god (_op. cit._ i. 484, 502,
503, 560 _sq._); but these interpretations appear to be his own
guesses, unsupported by any statement of the natives. Maui was
the great Polynesian hero, one of whose most famous exploits was
catching the sun in a snare and compelling him to move more
slowly (E. Tregear, _Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary_,
pp. 234 _sqq._, _s.v._ "Maui"; see above, p. 275); but this
story, far from favouring the identification of Maui with the
sun, seems fatal to it. According to J. R. Forster, the great
god Taroa (Taaroa) was thought to have created the sun and to
dwell in it (_Observations_, p. 540); but even if this statement
is correct, it hardly implies a worship of the sun. With regard
to the moon, the same writer tells us (_l.c._) that it was
supposed to be procreated