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GD73 toga The sign which made Metoro say toga probably is the form at right in the glyph type.
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A few preliminary remarks and imaginations:

1. Manuscript E (according to Barthel 2) begins with a list headed by Ko Oto Uta:

ko oto uta 1 ko ataranga.a tuu kumā 6
ko tangaroa.a oto uta 2 ko harai.a ataranga 7
ko tiki hati.a tangaroa 3 ko taana.a harai 8
ko roroi.a tiki hati 4 ko matua.a taana 9
ko tuu kumā.a roroi 5 ko hotu.a matua 10

I imagine this king has his name and position in the list in order to define the beginning.

Fornander has informed us that toga means the setting of the sun:

... Etymologically 'Tonga', 'Kona', contracted from 'To-anga' or 'Ko-ana', signifies 'the setting' ... of the sun ...

... Tonga, Kona, Toa (Sam., Haw., Tah.)... the quarter of an island or of the wind, between the south and west ...

In a cycle the end is equal to the beginning. Therefore it is logical to place the 'setting' (o to) in the first place of the list.