French Polynesia · Folktales and oral traditions
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French Polynesia
- Tales
- 1
- Dated records
- 1
- Tales linked to multiple countries
- 1
Counts reflect the Atlas catalogue. A link may represent a recording, a publication or an association with a local tradition.
In Westervelt’s Society Islands account, Māui becomes a dragonfly and rides a red pigeon through black rock into the underworld. There he learns which woods can be used to make fire. The pigeon makes the journey possible, while knowing the right wood makes it possible to start a fire again.
Tales in the Atlas
How Fire Came to the Surface
1910 · W. D. Westervelt · Society Islands · Maui and the Fire-Goddess
Tales found across countries
| Tales | Countries and regions |
|---|---|
| How Fire Came to the Surface | Samoa Niue French Polynesia Tokelau |