exadly 29 days for a month, they would Toon fall ihort o f the
new-moon, and then it could not be with propriety faid o f the two
laft days o f the month, marama-matter the moon is dead; by
which expreihon they intend to fay, that during thefe two days,
the moon cannot be feen. Though I could not learn the meaning,
o f any o f the names o f the days o f the month, I will however give
them here for the gratification o f my readers. .
1. Tirreo. , 16. Otooroo.
2. Tirrohkldee. (Iloce-rohicldct) * 17 . Ra-ou.
3. O-hatta. (Ha-otta) 18. Ra-ou-hoy. {.ratto)
4. Ammee-amma. 19. Ra-ou haddee. {whaddee)
5. Ammee-amma-hoy.^Azir/ff) 20. Ororo-tai. (tahai)
6. Orre-brre.
21. Ororo-rotto.
7 . Orre-orre-hoy. (rotto)
22. Ororo-haddee. (whaddee)
8. Tamatea.
22. Tarrba-tahai.
9. Hoona.
24. Tarroa-rbtto.
10. Oraboo.
25. Tarrba-haddie. (whaddee)
1 1 . Maharroo.
26. Time.
12. Ohooa.
27. Oro-mboa.
13. Mahiddoo.
28. Oro-mooree.|
hbddoo)
(matte marama.)
14. Ohoddoo. (ow 29. Omobddoo.
1 5. Marai.
Each
* The name» included in parenthefifes are the varioti» readings of the preceding name.
Each day is divided into fix hours, and the night into the fame ar ts
number; which they can guefs at very nearly during the day, by SC1ENCES
the height o f the fun : but few can guefs at thefe divifions by the
heighth o f the ftars during night. Thefe hours, which anfwer to
two o f ours, have peculiar names, and are in length fimilar to the
hours o f the Chinefe. Some o f them only I could learn : they
call midnight Otao-rahai-p'o ; from midnight towards day-break is
Oetai yaow; day-break is named Ootaataheita-, and fun rife Era-
ooao; when the fun grows hot, the time is called Era-t-jowbrra ;
when he is in the meridian, they fay Erh-t-ooawatea; the part o f
the evening before funfetting they name ooaheihti; and after funfet,
Era-oo-opo.
Thefe divifions of timeenable thefeiflanders toobferve theheaveniy
bodies with greater accuracy for their feveral purpofes. They know
that the fixed ftars do not change their pofition in regard toone another,
and have by long experience difeovered which ftars rile and fet
at certain feafons of the year; and by their help they determine the
progreffive motion o f the planets, and the points o f the compafs
during night. Tupaia was fo well ikilled in this, that wherever
they came with the ihip during the navigation o f nearly a year,
previous to the arrival o f the Endeavour at Batavia, he could always
point out the diredioain which Taheitee was fituated.
This