THE MYTH

The myth says that after Make-Make had created the Earth, he felt that something was missing. But one day he took a gourd that contained water, and with astonishment he realized that when he looked into the water, he saw his face reflected in it. Make-Make greeted his own image while observing that in it he could see a beak, wings and feathers. So it was that while he was looking at his reflection, at that very moment a bird landed on his shoulder. Observing the great similarity between his image and the bird, he proceeded to take his reflection and united it with that of the bird, thus giving birth to his firstborn. But despite this, Make-Make also thought of creating a being that had his image, which would speak and think as he wished. First he fertilized the waters of the sea, and as a result of this, fish appeared in the waters. But as the result of this was not what was expected, later he proceeded to fertilize a stone in which there was red earth, and from it man emerged. Make-Make was very happy to have created man, as the creature he desired; and as he observed that he looked very lonely, he would later create woman as well. Much later, Make-Make would appear to Hau-Maka in a dream, and would show him and explain how to reach an uninhabited island (Easter Island), so that King Hotu Matu'a and his people could have their new home there. Later, Make Make and Haua would take the birds to the motu (islets) in front of Rano Kau ; so that he could be worshipped through the annual ceremony of Tangata Manu (the bird-man).