[N OF TIIK CALENDAR. Um^o 



\u or 



UJfiY 



l<liases of tlie iiuioii; tliat the. mathematical basis was the ((uuit by the 

 tiugers, five beiug' the primary week or j)eiiod; and that a mystical 

 reference to the (;ardiual points played a prominent part in its forma- 

 tion. The want of conformity of this isystem to the return of the sea- 

 sons and the rising of certaiu constellatious becoming- apparent, the 

 year of definite or approximately definite length, determined chiefiy 

 by the stars, came into use. 



The religious festivals and ceremonies being governed chiefly by the 

 phases of the moon, the eftbrt properly to adjust the lunar and sidereal 

 periods has given rise to different calendar systems, the approach to 

 accuracy depending largely on the advance in culture and reliance on 

 the sidereal measure. 



Although the references to the calendars in use among the Polynesians 

 and Melauesians are brief and incomplete, and generally confused from 

 a lack on the part of writers of a correct knowledge of the system, 

 yet, when carefully studied, they seem to furnish a clue to the origin 

 of the Mexican and Central American calendar. As proof of this state- 

 ment we present here some references, culled from the voluminous 

 literature relating to the Pacific islands and their inhabitants, 



Eev. Sheldon Dibble, who was the teacher of history in the Mission 

 Seminary at Lahainaluna, writes as follows in his "History of the 

 Sandwich Islands":* 



Before proceeding further with the narrative it raay be proper liere to notice their 

 ancient division of time and some few ancient traditions. 



It is said that their division of time was made by their first progenitor, Wakea, 

 at the time of his domestic quarrel, to which we have already alluded. Be this 

 ■ true or false, the tradition shows that their division of time was very ancient. 



In their reckoning, there were two seasons, summer and winter. When the sun was 

 perpendicular and moved toward the north, and the days were long, and the trees 

 l)ore fruit, and the heat was prevalent — that was summer. But when the sun was 

 perpendicular and moved toward the south, and the nights were lengthened, and the 

 trees without fruit, and the cold came — that was winter. There Avere also six months 

 in each season. Those of the summer were : Ikilci, kaaona, Hinaiaeleele, Kamalioemna, 

 Kamahoehopo, and Ikua. The winter mouths were : Welehu, Makalii, Kaelo, Kaulua, 

 Nana, and Welo. These twelve months united constituted one year. Welehu was 

 the completion of the year, and from Makalii the new year was reckoned. In one year 

 there were nine times forty nights. The nights were counted by the moon. There 

 were thirty nights in each month, seventeen of which were not very light, and thirteen 

 were; the different nights (and days) deriving their names from the different aspects 

 of the moon, while increasing, at the full, and waning. Tiie tirst night was called 

 Hilo (to twist), because the part thou seen was a mere thread; the next, a little 

 more plain, Hoaka (crescent) ; then Kukahi, Knlua, Kukolu, Kupua, Olekukahi, 

 Olekulua, 01ekuk<dn, Olekupau. W^hen the sharp points were lost in the moon's 

 tirst quarter, the name of that night was Huna (to conceal); the next, on its becom- 

 ing gibbous, Molialu, then Una; and when its roundness was (piite obvious, Akua. 

 The nights in which the moon was full or nearly so, were Hoku, Mahealani, and 

 Kolu. Laaukukahi was the nam<; of the night in which the moon's decrease became 

 perceptil)le. As it continued to diminish the nights were called Olaauicnlua, Laau- 

 pau, Olekukahi, Olekulua, Olepau, Kaloakukahi, Kaloaknlna, Kaloapau. When the 



Edition of 1843, pp, 24-26. 



