Tane took some earth and made the body of a woman. It was the red earth
that is found at Kurakawa, red with the blood of the sinews that once joined
Rangi and Papa. Tane fashioned the form of woman from this earth and breathed
life into its nostrils. She was Hine ahu one, the Earth-formed Maid. She bore
Tane a daughter, whose name was Hine titama, the Dawn Maid. And Hine titama grew
up, and was beautiful, and in the course of time she also bore several
daughters, who were the daughters of Tane.
One day Hine titama asked Tane who her father was. For
answer he told her: 'Ask the posts of the house', and then she knew the truth.
The man she thought of as her husband was her father. When she knew this, Hine
titama was overwhelmed with shame. She resolved at once to leave the world of
light, Te Ao, and retire to Te Po, the world below.
'0 Tane, it is clear to me now,' she said. 'It is you who have brought me
to this shame. I shall go and take refuge with my grandmother, Papa. The path I
take shall be laid down for all time as the path to the underworld and I shall
live there for ever.
And so she went to Rarohenga, and the path of death was created, which
since that time mankind has trodden ceaselessly. By means of powerful
incantations Hine caused her children to go into a deep sleep, and, having
weakened Tane so that he could not follow her, she went to the entrance of the
world below. There she found Kuwatawata, the guardian of the entrance, who asked
her where she was going. When she told him he said: 'Turn back, before it is too
late. All light and all pleasure lie behind you, the spirit world is before
you.' But Hine replied: 'No, I go to Rarohenga, the realm of the unknown, so
that I can protect the welfare of my children of the upper world.'
