Unquestionably the moko type of glyph could mean something dark. And therefore, when Metoro pointed out how moko in Ca12-1 was buried (tanu) it could have been a remark connected with the September equinox:
From moko in Ca12-1 and ahed there are 10 moko figures with their mouths closed, and then comes the 11th and last of them on side b with his mouth open:
From moko in Cb7-14 - which numbers could allude to 314 and thus to moko in Ca11-30 - to the 'one more' with his mouth open there are 638 - 550 = 88 days:
From moko in Ca12-1 to moko in Cb7-14 the distance is 233 glyphs but only 232 days because in this interval was April 17 which evidently occurs twice in the text. Although these data as such are far from conclusive I imagine the last of the moko glyphs, which has opened his mouth as a sign of coming alive (breathing, eating, etc), is connected with Mercury, with a synodic cycle of 88 nights. In December 17 the wind (te matagi) was noted as a Sign of change. All, except those who live in the cities, know from their personal experiences that when a low pressure meats a high pressure there is bound to be a confrontation with powerful winds. The solstice was only 4 days ahead, and December 19 - the day before Gregorian 12 * 29˝ - was according to Metoro the time for kava. Mercury is the planet which never strays far away from Mother Earth, most of his time being invisible (in hiding). Yet he is named after the fluid quicksilver which indicates a potent force of life. If the moko tattoes were to be connected with a planet it surely must have been Mercury, which most of his time had his 'face' buried (tanu) in the Underworld. Why did Metoro pick out precisely Cb7-14 for his tanu message? He said tanu only once when reading the tablet, and I think the answer could be the day number for September 21, viz. 264. Not only is this position precisely 100 days earlier than December 30 (364) but also 264 = 3 * 88. We should always count in order to reach for the meaning of the text. And then, we surely must count 4 * 88 = 352 = the day number for the last moko in the text. When Ulu consulted with the noble Mo'o is was because he had to fall on his face and give his life to his son Mokuola: ... When the man, Ulu, returned to his wife from his visit to the temple at Puueo, he said, 'I have heard the voice of the noble Mo'o, and he has told me that tonight, as soon as darkness draws over the sea and the fires of the volcano goddess, Pele, light the clouds over the crater of Mount Kilauea, the black cloth will cover my head. And when the breath has gone from my body and my spirit has departed to the realms of the dead, you are to bury my head carefully near our spring of running water. Plant my heart and entrails near the door of the house. My feet, legs, and arms, hide in the same manner. Then lie down upon the couch where the two of us have reposed so often, listen carefully throughout the night, and do not go forth before the sun has reddened the morning sky. If, in the silence of the night, you should hear noises as of falling leaves and flowers, and afterward as of heavy fruit dropping to the ground, you will know that my prayer has been granted: the life of our little boy will be saved.' And having said that, Ulu fell on his face and died ...
In the Babylonian zodiac Mercury is at the Virgin, between Furrow and Frond, possibly to be understood so that half his time he is down inside and half his time he is in hiding among the bushes:
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