Page:Maori Division of Time.djvu/25

Rh bears the name of Rongo is interesting. Mr. Shand tells us that the Moriori year began with the reappearance of Puanga (Rigel) in the east early in June, then a morning star. The months are as follows:—

Presumably the Orion year was taken to the Chathams by emigrants from New Zealand, and this makes it probable that this system was that of the original inhabitants of these isles.

The reappearance of the Pleiades or of Rigel as a morning star can scarcely be said to be the commencement of the Maori year; it was the tohu or sign of it. The year really began with the first new moon after such reappearance, hence the beginning of the year was not a fixed time, but varied considerably. Not withstanding his inferior system of measuring time, the Maori had many checks available in the reappearance of the heavenly bodies, the blossoming of trees, &c. Mr. White states that the third month was marked by the star Kerekere (not identified), the fourth by the stars Wero-i-te-ninihi and Wero-i-te-kokota, and the fifth by the star Wero-i-te-ao-marino [? marie].

The most important task of the Maori was the cultivation of food products, and the two periods during which he had to devote the most attention to that task were those of planting and crop-lifting. These were both said to be marked by stars; but unquestionably other factors would enter into the deliberations of the crop-grower, such as the aspect of the season, the flowering of trees, &c. The statements made by natives anent the different months being marked by certain stars simply mean that during those months such stars are visible in the heavens, not that their reappearance coincides with the commencement of the month. In some cases it appears that the morning and evening risings of stars were both considered, and hence we have stars mentioned as marking both winter and summer months.

The star Ruhi, already mentioned as marking the ninth month, is also known as Peke-hawani. This star and another called Whakaonge-kai are seen one on either side of Rehua (Antares), and are said to be his wives. These are prominent summer stars in Maori story. The task of Whakaonge-kai is to make food scarce, as her name signifies.

The flowering and fruiting of trees, the dying-away of annual plants, the fall of leaves of deciduous trees, &c., are utilized by the Maori in denoting time. A native who had given me the names of kopurehe and kouwha as those of the male and female tui added: "These names are applied to them from the flowering