name apparently than as a month-name. It is quite probable that Hiringa is a more correct form than Whiringa.
The Maori year may be compared to that of the Sanscrit-speaking sun-worshippers of India, a year that was divided into twelve thirty-day months; it began in April-May or May-June; this system is traced to Chaldea.
To reconcile the year of twelve lunar months with the solar or sidereal year has ever been a puzzling task to barbaric man, and many schemes have been employed whereby to effect it. The year of twelve synodical months of 29½ days each would give 354 days, thus leaving eleven days to be made up—a serious deficiency. Yet if the Maori clung to his thirty-day month he would find that the commencement of his tale of thirty nights did not coincide with the new moon, hence some regulation would be necessary. We have several remarks on record that point to some such system of regulation.
According to the list given by the Rev. W. Gill, the natives of Mangaia employed thirteen month-names, though no explanation is given as to how the thirteenth month was fitted into the scheme. A few of the month-names of this list are recognizable from the Maori point of view, as Akau or Aka'au (Maori Whakaahu), and Pipiri for April-May, while Ma'u (Mahu) is probably a star-name.
Of the thirteen month-names employed by Tahitian we recognize two as Maori, Fa'aahu (Whakaahu) and Pipiri. Ellis explains that the thirteenth month was not always employed.
At Futuna or Home Island some of the months bear star-names, and here again we recognize Fakaafu (Whakaahu) and Mataliki (The Pleiades).
The following list of Samoan month-names is given by Fornander:
Utuva-mua (December–January).
Utuva-muli.
Fa'aafu (Maori Whakaahu).
Lo.
Aununu.
Oloamanu.
Palolo-mua.
Palolo-muli.
Mulifa.
Lotuanga.
Taumafa-mua.
Toe-taumafa.
At the far Hawaiian Isles we encounter familiar star-names in the list of months. These are Makali'i (Matariki), Ka'elo (Takero), Ka'ulua (Takurua), and Welo (Wero). The Hawaiian month-names are as follows:—
Makali'i (December–January).
Ka'elo.
Ka'ulua.
Nana.
Welo.
Ikiiki.
Kaaona.
Hinaiaeleele (The Hina of Maori myth).
Hilinehu.
Hilinama.
Ikuwa.
Welehu.
Fornander states that the thirteenth month of the Tahitian year was generally omitted. With a system of twelve thirty-day months that extra month would be needed about once in six years.
In his account of the Moriori folk of the Chatham Isles Mr. Shand gives the names of thirteen months, not one of which names appears in any Maori list known to me. The fact that one
