330 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [Von. VI. 
to pass that ‘e¢ernzty’ or ‘ for-ever’ is expressed by the phrase ‘e vzmua 
ua atu ’—the essential part of which is ‘rimua.’ The idea is of a lofty 
tree covered all over with moss, the growth of untold ages. So that the 
phrase might be rendered, ‘ wnd¢zl covered with the moss of ages, 2.e., for 
ever and ever.” (p. 34.) 
“ A still more interesting plural is ‘vaz,’ ‘leaf. Thus we may speak 
of ‘te rau tangata o te Atua,’ ze, a ‘people xumerous as the leaves of a 
tree, worshipping such and such a god.’ The figure is of a vast tree, the 
growth of ages. The huge trunk represents the god, the branches the 
lesser divinities, the leaves the worshippers—ever dropping off by death 
and ever being renewed by fresh births. This is constantly applied to 
the servants of the true God: Jehovah being the trunk and branches, 
believers the leaves.” (p. 323.) 
“ The last instance of plurals is ‘aru, ‘shadow’ or ‘shade. Thus 
the natives daily speak of ‘te maru tangata o te Atua, ze, ‘the people 
who sit under the shadow of God. The old idea was still of an ancient 
tree overshadowing the marae filled with worshippers. The noblest 
trees affording the best shade were planted in their idol groves, not a 
twig of which might be plucked. As applied to Christian worshippers 
gathering Sabbath after Sabbath under the shadow of the Almighty 
(Ps. xc. 1), the figure is extremely beautiful.” (p. 323.) 
“Tn allusion to the myth of the dwa tree, a person who has been 
very ill and yet has recovered will even now playfully say, ‘ Yes, I have 
set a foot upon a branch of the dva tree, and yet have been sent back (by 
God) to life.” (p. 165.) 
The calendars of savage and barbarous peoples are full of interest 
from the point of view of nature-study, the names of the seasons and the 
months (where such exist), evincing not seldom penetrating knowledge 
of environment, keen observation of atmospheric and celestial phenomena, 
deep acquaintance with processes of vegetable life, and the instincts and 
habits of animals, birds, fishes, insects, etc. 
For our Aryan ancestors spring was “ the time of the springing of 
young shoots out of the ground” (English spring ), “the lengthening 
of the days” (German Lenz), “the time of increasing brightness” (Latin 
ver); Summer was “the warming up season,” “the time of burning 
heat” (Latin @stas); Autumn was “the season of increase” (Latin 
autumnus), “the harvesting time” (German /ferdst), “the time of the 
falling leaves” (English fal/); Wenter was “the white season” (English 
zwinter), “the snowy (stormy) season” (Latin Azems). These terms can 
