4. Using the Moriori myth of creation we can guess the
meaning of manu rere in Eb7-6:
The beak of this bird is abnormal, it has not the form of
toki:
The normal manu rere presumably represents the 'spirit of living breath' which departs from the body at the moment of death, rising up towards heaven. However, in the Moriori myth the reverse is happening - it comes down to enter the body: ... Then the spirit was gathered in. And this was the chant for that work: Let the spirit of the man be gathered to the world of being, the world of light. / Then see. Placed in the body is the flying bird, the spirit-breath. / Then breathe! / Sneeze, living spirit, to the world of being, the world of light. / Then see. Placed in the body is the flying bird, the breath. / Be breathing then, great Tu. Now live! Then man existed, and the progeny of Tu increased ... When 'land' is rising above the level of the 'sea', life is re-turning. |
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