²⁶ In the _Maori_ MS., of which the above is a translation, the names of the ancestors of the chief of the tribe referred to are given in genealogical order, but are omitted here. Unravel the tangle, unravel the crime, Untie _manuka_, let it be loosed. Distant though Rangi, He is reached. If the child be not now born, Tiki is invoked thus— Tiki of the heap of earth, Tiki scraped together, When hands and feet were formed, First produced at Hawaiki. If the child be a male, it will be born—if a female, the mother’s line of ancestors must be invoked. Intimately connected with the superstition respecting things _tapu_ is the belief as to the cause of disease, namely, that a spirit has taken possession of the body of the sufferer. The belief is that any neglect of the law of _tapu_, either wilful, or accidental, or even brought about by the act of another person, causes the anger of the _Atua_ of the family who punishes the offender by sending some infant spirit to feed on a part of his body—infant spirits being generally selected for this office on account of their love of mischief, and because not having lived long enough on earth to form attachments to their living relatives, they are less likely to show them mercy. When, therefore, a person falls sick, and cannot remember that he has himself broken any law of the _tapu_, he has to consult a _matakite_ (seer) and a _tohunga_ to discover the crime, and use the proper ceremonies to appease the _Atua_; for there is in practice a method of making a person offend against the laws of _tapu_ without his being aware of it. This method is a secret one called _makutu_. It is sufficient for a person who knows this art, if he can obtain a portion of the spittle of his enemy, or some leavings from his food, in order that he may treat it in a manner sure to bring down the resentment of his family _Atua_. For this reason a person would not dare to spit when in the presence of anyone he feared might be disposed to injure him, if he had a reputation for skill in this evil art. With such a belief as to the cause of all disease it will not be wondered at that the treatment of it was confined to the _karakia_ of a _tohunga_ or wise man. One or two examples of such cases will be sufficient to explain this as well as to show the in-rooted superstition of the _Maori_.