In the

mythology Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the ...

Mangaia Mangaia (traditionally known as A'ua'u Enua, which means ''terraced'') is the most southerly of the Cook Islands and the second largest, after Rarotonga. It is a roughly circular island, with an area of , from Rarotonga. Originally heavily popul ...

in the Cook Islands, Tikokura is a sea-dwelling

evil Evil, as a concept, is usually defined as profoundly immoral behavior, and it is related to acts that cause unnecessary pain and suffering to others. Evil is commonly seen as the opposite, or sometimes absence, of good. It can be an extreme ...

spirit in the shape of a

storm A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstor ...

wave In physics, mathematics, engineering, and related fields, a wave is a propagating dynamic disturbance (change from List of types of equilibrium, equilibrium) of one or more quantities. ''Periodic waves'' oscillate repeatedly about an equilibrium ...

. Ngaru determined to try his strength against Tikokura and his shark-like companion, Tumuitearetoka. He provided himself with a surfboard named Orua (the two). Ngaru went to the edge of the reef and called out insults against the two demons, who promptly appeared to exact revenge. A huge smashed over the

reef A reef is a ridge or shoal of rock, coral, or similar relatively stable material lying beneath the surface of a natural body of water. Many reefs result from natural, abiotic component, abiotic (non-living) processes such as deposition (geol ...

, and Ngaru let himself be washed out to sea. Tumuitearetoka saw his chance to strike, but Moko, Ngaru's grandfather, was sitting on a high rock and called out "The shark is below you!" The wave and the shark kept attacking, but each time Moko warned his grandson, who was able to outwit them and live on. After eight days and nights, Ngaru threw his surfboard to the monsters, who gladly retired to their home in the deep, while Ngaru went off to find Tongatea, his wife (Gill 1876:225-227).

References

*W.W. Gill, ''Myths and Songs of the South Pacific'' (Henry S. King: London), 1876. Mangaia mythology Polynesian legendary creatures Water spirits