The description of Mercury according to the Polynesians:
The Tuamotuan names for Mercury, Fatu-ngarue ('Weave-to-and-fro') and Fatu-nga-rue ('Lord of the Earthquake'), are two views of the same characteristic: Instability. In the Society Islands they regarded Mercury as showing the undignified behavior of some-body close to the Sun. Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun, it is difficult to observe and its orbit appears to be without any order whatsoever. Like a thief the planet hides and sneaks around. Its strange orbit is like sea-weed or intestines, like a winding (sea) snake. |