Page:Maori Division of Time.djvu/39

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THE MAORI DIVISION OF TIME
35

Herein we find, as in the Tahitian and Cook Islands lists, three Rakau nights against two in Maori lists, also the two series of Korekore nights. The three to four Tamatea nights of the Maori are represented by two in the Cook Islands list, and one at Tahiti; at Hawaii they disappear. It is quite possible that nights 3 to 6, inclusive, of the Hawaiian list are, properly speaking, Tamatea nights, of which only the terminal qualifying expressions remain. These latter, as meaning first, second, &c., have assuredly formed a secondary part of the name in past times, so that the only new term here is No. 16, Mahealani.

In Fornander's list of these names there are marked four series of tapu nights (days), each composed of two nights; these are Nos. 2 and 3, 12 and 13, 23 and 24, and 27 and 28. The last two are the names, Tane and Kongo, of two of the most important of Polynesian gods. These tapu days were quite apart from the five intercalary days added to the lunar month Welehu.


Marquesan Nights of the Moon.

In this list, as given by Fornander, we at length find a number of strange names, but at least ten of them are Maori forms. The lack of the letter r in the Marquesan dialect is a well-known letter-change; others are given in Tregear's Dictionary. The following names in the Marquesan list are easily recognized:—

No. 13.
3. Hoaka Hoata.
6. Ko'eko'e-kahi Korekore-tahi.
7. Ko'eko'e-waena Korekore-waenga.
9. Huna.
10. A'i Ari.
12. Meha'u Meharu. Mawharu.
13. Hua.
14. Akua Atua.
17. Ku'u Turu.
28. Kane Tane.

The 29th and 30th nights are Ona-nui and Ona-mate in the Marquesan list. Tregear states that Ona represents Rongo, though one would expect to meet it in the form of Ono.


Mangareva Nights of the Moon.

Of the thirty names in the Mangareva list we can safely say that nineteen are Maori. Nos. 1 to 4 are non-Maori, but evidently allied to the two Maheama nights (4 and 5) of the Marquesan list. They bear but a faint resemblance to the Amiama names of the Mangaia list, but occupy the same position. Nos. 23 to 26 are new forms, and the prefixed O is a common feature.

No. 14.
1. Maema-tai Tai = tahi.
2. Maema-rua.
3. Maema-toru.
4. Maema-riro.
5. Korekore-tai.
6. Korekore-rua.
7. Korekore-toru.