Matau

• #2201
•  Maori (culture)
•  Giant (attribute)
•  Sorcery and Medicinal (attribute)
•  Cave Dweller (attribute)
•  Troublesome (behaviour)

A Giant from the south of New Zealand that preyed on humans. Matau stole a beautiful girl called Manata from a village. She was locked away in the mountains chained by magical bonds. Her lover, Matakauri went in search for her. At last he found Manata and tried to break her free, but all his efforts were in vain. Manata began to cry out of despair, but when her tears touched the chains, the magical bonds broke and she was free. The two fled and hid from Matau but the Giant quickly found out their whereabouts. They hid again and again but were always discovered by the Matau. Eventually Matakauri went to slay the Giant and found him sleeping among bracken in the hollow of the mountains. He set fire to the grass and bracken which swiftly caught fire. Before Matau could wake up and become aware what was happening to him, he was caught in the smoke and flames. The Giant died and his body melted but his supernatural heart remained beating in the hollow. The fissure that had been created by the raging fire filled up with water to form a lake where the heart still beats, pumping the waters.

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