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 Taroatathetoomoo, 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 (de up to 
20,000) without any new term. 
In measures of space they are very poor indeed: one 
