1769 MEASURES OF TIME, ETC. 163 



I was not able to get a complete idea of their method of 

 dividing time. I shall, however, set down what little I know. 

 In speaking of time either past or to come, they never use 

 any term but moons, of which they count thirteen, and then 

 begin again : this of itself sufficiently shows that they have 

 some idea of the solar year, but how they manage to make 

 their thirteen months agree with it I never could find out. 

 That they do, however, I believe, because in mentioning the 

 names of months they very frequently told us the fruits that 

 would be in season in each of them, etc. They also have a 

 name for the thirteen months collectively, but they never use 

 it in speaking of time ; it is employed only in explaining the 

 mysteries of their religion. In their metaphorical year they 

 say that the year Tettowma ta tayo was the daughter of the 

 chief divinity Taroataihetoomoo, and that she in time brought 

 forth the months, who in their turn produced the days, of 

 which they count twenty-nine in every month, including 

 one in which the moon is invisible. Every one of these has 

 its respective name, and is again subdivided into twelve 

 parts, containing about two hours each, six for the day 

 and six for the night, each of which has likewise its re- 

 spective name. In the day-time they guess the divisions 

 of these parts very well, but in the night, though they have 

 the same number of divisions as in the day, seem very little 

 able to tell at any time which hour it is, except the cleverest 

 among them who know the stars. 



In counting they proceed from one to ten, having a 

 different name for each number ; from thence they say one 

 more, two more, etc., up to twenty, which after being called 

 in the general count ten more, acquires a new name as we 

 say a score : by these scores they count till they have got 

 ten of them, which again acquires a new name, 200 ; these 

 again are counted till they get ten of them, 2000 ; which 

 is the largest denomination I have ever heard them make 

 use of, and I suppose is as large as they can ever have 

 occasion for, as they can count ten of these (i.e. up to 

 20,000) without any new term. 



In measures of space they are very poor indeed : one 



