The tapa mea ('red cloth') glyphs indicate the opposite of the 'black cloth' (night = death). The colour red (suggesting light and life) is expressed by 'feather' marks, which should be oriented to the right. If they are oriented backwards (to the left), the glyph meaning is negated - it becomes equal to darkness. The example below illustrates growing (because of kai) darkness:

Ga5-27

Another interpretation of a reversed tapa mea sign can be that the 'piece of cloth' has ended (reached its border), as for instance where the 'noon cloth' ends and the 'p.m. cloth' continues:

Aa1-27

Tapa will here mean 'border'. Notice how 27 is used both at Ga5-27 and Aa1-27, a hint of the meaning of 27.

When the 'feathers' are at right but the right side is concave, tapa mea functions as a more definite end. The idea seems to be to show a red mouth ready to swallow the sun - his 300 days are over:


Gb3-9	Pb11-42	Hb10-32