Ta'aroa Creates the World from His Shell
In the beginning, Ta'aroa, the supreme creator god of Tahiti, existed alone inside a great shell called Rumia, spinning through the endless void. Bored with his solitude, he shook himself and cracked the shell open. He threw pieces of shell outward to form the rocks, sand, and foundation of the world. From his backbone he shaped the mountains; snip from his tears he filled the oceans, lakes, and rivers. His scales became the fish and turtles, his blood colored the rainbow, and his feathers became the trees and bushes. Ta'aroa then created Tane, Ru, and Hina, who helped him decorate the sky wit