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SEASONS NGA TAKAPOU. 
mati dead leaves, as all the trees with one exception are 
evergreen, and only shed their leaves in summer. Ho tohe , 
or winter, the season when the moist earth gives forth her 
worms. 
The different seasons of the year are marked by the rising 
of stars, and counted by the moons. The year commences 
with the first new moon, after the star Puanga is seen in the 
morning, which is in June : — 
Moon. 
1. June. — Puanga ; this is the great winter star. Matariki, 
Tapuapua, Waka ahu Te Ra o Tainui, these also are in 
the ascendant. The shortest day ; Matariki is also one 
of the great winter stars. 
2. July. — Wakaau, Wakaahu nuku, Wakaahu rangi, Waka- 
ahu papa, Wakaahu kerekere, Kopu and Tautoru. 
8. August. — Taka-pou-poto, Mangere, Kaiwaka. Spring com- 
mences. The Karaka and Hou flower. 
4. September. — Takapou-tawahi. It begins to be warm ; cul- 
tivation commences ; the Kowai, Kotuku tuku, and 
Rangiora flower ; a rainy month. 
5. October. — The kumara is planted ; the tawera is ripe ; the 
cuckoo Koekoea arrives ; the windy month, correspond- 
ing with our March, hence the saying, te rakihi, the noisy 
or windy period. 
6. November. — Te Wakumu ; the Rewarewa flowers. 
7. December. — Nga Tapuae ; the Rata flowers. 
8. January. — Uruao Rangawhenua ; Rehua is the great sum- 
mer star ; the star Rangawhenua, an ancestor, is said to 
rule the days, and Uruao the nights of this month ; the 
Karaka flowers. 
9. February. — Rehua, Ko Ruruau ; the dry and scarce month. 
10. March. — Rehua, Matiti, Ngahuru ; the harvest month for 
the kumara. 
11. April. — Te Kahui-rua-mahu ; the days grow cold, the cuckoo 
leaves. 
