In the picture you can see Miria going through the first stage of the process, and judging by the tension of the muscles, and the compressed lips, he finds it none too easy.
The story of the origin of fire varies in different parts of the country, but as far as I know, man is always indebted to the dog for procuring it. The Motu people say he got it by swimming out to sea, but at Delena the story is that he had to go inland for it.
Haiavaha was a great creature with long reaching arms, who lived in the hills where he jealously guarded the fire. The men living on the coast knew they could not steal the fire for themselves so called a meeting of the animals. Who the spokesman was is not known, but he first addressed himself to the pig—
“Will you go and steal some of Haiavaha’s fire?”
“It is no good my going. You know I always grunt when I find a root fit to eat as I am walking through the bush.”
“Will you try, wallaby? You can jump well, and when Haiavaha tries to catch you you can jump over his arms.”
“I cannot go, for he would hear me long before I got near the fire. Each time I jump I come down with a thud on the ground. I cannot go quietly.”
“Cassowary, can you help us?”
“No, I cannot, for I stand so high that Haiavaha would see my head above the grass long before I got to the fire.”
As a last hope the spokesman turned to the dog, and appealed to him to make the attempt.