Page:Maori Division of Time.djvu/34

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
30
DOMINION MUSEUM MONOGRAPH NO. 4.

The rest of the names agree pretty well with east-coast lists, save that Oike becomes Ohika, Rongomai replaces Orongonui, and the 15th and 25th nights both appear as Kiokio. Only twenty-nine names are given.

In the following list, collected by the late Judge Fenton, the explanations are of interest:—

No. 8.
1. Whiro The new moon appears.
2. Tirea An unlucky day.
3. Hoata An unlucky day. Moon plainly seen.
4. Oue A lucky day from morn to midday.
5. Okoro A lucky day from noon until evening.
6. Tamatea-ariki An unlucky day. The sea is rough.
7. Tamatea-ananga An unlucky day. The sea is rough.
8. Tamatea-aio A calm day.
9. Tamatea-whakapau A rough and windy day.
10. Huna An unlucky day for obtaining food-supplies.
11. Ari-roa A doubtful day; if good, it is through the influence of the Mawharu.
12. Mawharu A good day.
13. Maurea If a desirable day, it is influenced by the Mawharu; if unpleasant, the Atua has affected it.
14. Atua-whakahaehae An abominable day.
15. Turu Full tides. The moon rises as the sun sets.
16. Rakau-nui Moon appears large and of a red colour.
17. Rakau-matohi The moon is now gapped.
18. Takirau A fair morning.
19. Oika Desirable in the evening, hence the saying: "Hapara o Takirau, ahiahi o Te Oika" (" Morning of Takirau, evening of the Oika").
20. Korekore Unpleasant days.
21. Korekore-turua
22. Korekore-piri ki nga Tangaroa
23. Tangaroa-amua A desirable day.
24. Tangaroa-aroto An excellent day.
25. Tangaroa-kiokio An excellent day, but misty on land.
26. Otane A desirable day.
27. Orongonui A desirable day. Whitebait migrate.
28. Mauri A desirable day. The dark (hinapouri) phase of moon commences; the moon is obscured by the sun.
29. Omutu An undesirable day.
30. Mutuwhenua An undesirable day.

In this list the Maure of No. 3 list becomes Maurea, and moves forward a night. The name Ohua is omitted, and the subsequent names disarranged. As in many other lists, Omutu appears as a name for the 29th night instead of the Mauri of No. 3 list. The six days, 23 to 28, of No. 8 list are said to be extremely lucky. One should be strenuous now in procuring food-supplies by sea and land. Here the Native informant remarked: "Po ngahuru ma rima mai i te kohititanga ka Turu te marama. Po ngahuru ma rima mai i te Turutanga ka Mutuwhenua, ara ka pau te marama i te ra; ka kawhakina e te ra ki roto ki te hinapouri, a ka mahuetia e te ra, ka kohiti mai ano." ("There are fifteen nights from the appearance of the moon to