86 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
their methods of computing time as their northern 
neighbours, if not more so. One mode of reckon- 
Ing time was by w2’s, or generations; but the most 
general calculation was by the year, which they call 
matahiti, and which consisted of twelve or thirteen 
lunar months, by the tau or matarii, season or half- 
year, by the month of thirty days, and by the day 
or night. They had distinct names for each month; 
and though they all agreed about the length of the 
year, they were not unanimous as to the beginning 
of it, or the names of the months, each island hay- 
ing a computation peculiar to itself. | 
The following is a statement of their divisions of 
time, copied from a small book on arithmetic, &c. 
prepared by Mr. Davies, which I printed at Hua- 
hme in 1819. It is the method of computation 
adopted by the late Pomare and the reigning 
family. 
1. Avarehn . . . Thenewmoonthat appears about the 
summer solstice of Tahiti, and 
generally answers to the last ten 
days of December or the begin- 
ning of January. 
Faaahu . . . January, and part of February— 
The season of plenty. 
Pipiri. . . . February, and part of March. 
Taaoa. . . - March, and part of April—The sea- 
son of scarcity. 
5. Aununu .. . April, and part of May. 
6. Apaapa 2 « May, and a part of June. 
7. Paroro mua - »« June, anda part of July. 
8 
z 
Se 
be Fo 
. Paroromuri. . July, anda part of August. 
. Muriaha. . . August, anda part of September. 
10. Hiaia . . . » September, and part of October. 
11. Tema . . . - October, and part of November 
| The season of scarcity. 
42. Te-eri. . . The whole, or a part of, November 
—The uru, or young bread-fruit, 
begins to flower. 
