56 METHOD OF EECKONING TIME. 



The only method of reckoning that came under my notice was in 

 the instance of a Treasury native, who, whilst serving as interpreter 

 on board the " Lark," kept a register of tlie time he was away from 

 his island by tying a knot daily on a cord and marking Sunday by a 

 piece of paper, the knots being about an inch apart. I learned from 

 a Faro man that this is the method of recording days which is 

 commonly employed by the inhabitants of Bougainville Straits, the 

 " moons " or montlis being alone distinguished by a piece of native 

 tobacco tied in the knot. Such a practice, however, would appear 

 to be followed only during the temporary absences from their islands, 

 as when they are away on canoe expeditions. A native, cayjtured in 

 1769 by Surville, whilst at Port Praslin, in Isabel, kept count of the 

 days of absence from his country by tying knots in a " lacet." ^ It is 

 scarcely necessary for me to point out that in the " knotted cord " of 

 the Solomon Islanders we have the elementary form of the " quipu " 

 of the Incas. 



Amongst the constellations, the Pleiades and Orion's Belt seem to 

 be those which are most familiar to the natives of Bougainville 

 Straits. The former, which they speak of as ])ossessing six stars, 

 they name " Vuhu ; " the latter, " Matatala." They have also names 

 for a few other stars. As in the case of many other savage races, 

 the Pleiades is a constellation of crreat significance with the inhabi- 

 tants of these straits. The Treasury Islanders hold a great feast to- 

 wards the end of October, to celebrate, as far as I could learn, the 

 approaching ap|)earance^ of this constellation above the eastern 

 horizon soon after sunset. Probably, as in many of the Pacific 

 Islands, this event marks the beginning of their year. I learned 

 from Mr. Stephens that, in Ugi, where of all the constellations the 

 Pleiades alone receives a name, the natives are guided by it in 

 selecting the times for planting and taking up their yams. 



^ P'rom an extract of this voyage given in "Voyage de Marion." Paris, 17S3: p. 274, 

 (ircd. 



