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Overview

In Gill’s spirit-world chapter, a flowering bua tree rises from Avaiki to receive departing human spirits at the western cliff. Its branches correspond to the island’s principal divine affiliations. When it lowers its burden, Akaanga and assistants hold a great net at its roots. A captured spirit is submerged in Vai-roto-ariki, the royal freshwater lake, and exhausts itself struggling before the net is drawn up and the captives enter Miru’s presence. The passage does not describe Akaanga’s size, species or visible face.

Akaanga remains subordinate to Miru and her family. After the spirits are stupefied and consumed, he and other servants receive the remains. A footnote supplies a proverb about being caught in the many-meshed net, while a later comparison depicts captive spirits vainly attempting to escape it. Gill records disagreement about whether the eaten spirits are annihilated or live again after passing through their consumers. That disagreement concerns their ultimate fate; it does not supply an independent death or liberation scene for Akaanga himself.

Net at descending treeAssistant captorsRoyal freshwater lakeServant of MiruProverbial many-meshed net
01

Origins & earliest records

William Wyatt Gill, Myths and Songs from the South Pacific (London: Henry S. King, 1876), preserves this particular account. The introduction names major contributors but does not provide a named narrator for this passage.

02

Records & interpretation

The selected chapter VIII: Hades; or, The Doctrine of Spirit-World, pp. 160–164, supplies the being’s actions and context. Gill’s explanatory judgments are attributed separately from the narrated or reported beliefs.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Myths and Songs from the South Pacific: VIII: Hades; or, The Doctrine of Spirit-World

    William Wyatt Gill, collector and translator · 1876

    pp. 160–164; complete selected prose and associated ending read.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical collected primary witnessGill 1876: VIII: Hades; or, The Doctrine of Spirit-WorldResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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