According to Manuscript E the explorers under Ira's leadership landed at Haga Te Pau at the beginning of the month He Maro (June, the winter solstice month on Easter Island). They began at once to construct a house and to plant yams.

"Hanga Te Pau lies halfway between the places Kioe Uri and Piringa Aniva, both of which are also designations for the month of June. In this sense, Hanga Te Pau occupies the correct position in the time-space scheme. Instead of turning to the right (facing the land) in their search for the residence of the king, the explorers turn in the opposite direction. From a chronological point of view, this turning to the left signifies a going back to the two winter months that have passed. Considering the condition in the new land, building a house on the rim of the crater and establishing a yam plantation are indeed suitable activities for the new settlers." (Barthel 2)

If ragi is type of glyph representing pillars for a sky 'house', then also the house of the explorers - according to myth - should be ready for occupying in December (Ko Koró), half a year later. Going back in time should not be necessary, because the two main ragi 'beams' are to be raised at winter solstice.

Planting yams should be done in September (Hora nui), at the end of winter, i.e. the explorers ought to move forward in time, not backwards. Barthel's idea of a coordination between activities (moving left, constructing a house, planting yam) and a 'time travel' (from midwinter to early winter) does not agree with his description of when activities happen.

The 'clock' maybe needed to be re-turned to winter solstice of the old year in order to raise its 'house pillars', but that would be an impossibility, because at autumn equinox old sun 'disappeared'. Planting yams is an activity coordinated with the arrival of summer sun (the opposite of when he 'falls on his face').