420 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
The islanders had three seasons besides these. The 
first they called Tetau, autumn^ or season of plenty, the 
harvest of bread-fruit. It commenced with the month 
Tetae, December, and continued till Faahu. This is not 
only the harvest, but the summer of the South Sea 
Islands. It is also the season of most frequent rain. 
The next is Te tau miti rahi^ the season of high sea. 
This commences with Tieri, November, and continues 
until January. The third is the longest, and is called 
the Te tau Poai, the winter, or season of drought and 
scarcity. It generally commences in Paroromua^ July, 
and continues till Tema^ October. 
The natives have distinct names for each day and each 
night of the month or moon. They do not, however, 
reckon time by days, but by nights. Hence, instead of 
saying. How many days since ? they would inquire, 
Rui hia aeneif “^^How many nights?” The following 
are the different nights of each moon. 
The Nights of the Moon. 
1. Ohirohiti. 
2. Hoata. 
3. Hami-ami-mua. 
4. Hami-ami-roto. 
6. Hami-aini-mur6. 
6. Ore-ore-mua. 
7 . Ore-ore-muri. 
8. Tamatea. 
9. Ohuna. 
10. Oari. 
11. Omaharu. 
12. Ohua. 
13. Omaidu. 
14. Ohodu. 
16. Oturu-tea. 
17 . Raau-mua. 
18. Raau-roto. 
19. Raau-muri. 
20. Ore-ore-mua. 
21. Ore-ore-roto. 
22. Ore-ore-muri. 
23. Taaroa-mua. 
24. Taaroa-roto. 
25. Taaroa-muri. 
26. 0-Tane. 
27. O-Roomie. 
28. O-Roomaori. 
29. O-mutu. 
15. Omarae.—Te-maramaati, or the 30. O-Terieo.—This is the night or 
moon with a round and full face. day the moon dies, or is changed. 
