TRANSLATIONS

TRANSLATIONS

The parallel between Pb11-42 (much like the 'swallowing mouth' in Gb3-9) and Hb10-32 gives us a clue that a concave (towards right) 'canoe' tapa mea could mean a gaping mouth:


Pb11-39	Pb11-40	Pb11-41	Pb11-42 (1140)	Pb11-43

Hb10-29	Hb10-30	Hb10-31	Hb10-32 (1157)	Hb10-33

To the right then follow 'canoes' (tao) without any 'feather' marks - presumably meaning that darkness (the 'dark cloth') has fallen.

Ordinal number 1140 (counted from Pa1-1) is equal to 19 * 60, and Pb11-40 (as in 1140) is a variant of rau hei, a 'hanging fish'. The parallel glyph Hb10-30 (ika hiku) could allude to day number 10 * 30 = 300 for the sun.

With tao glyphs (without feather marks) following the swallowing type of tapa mea (here meaning 'red border', presumably) the association to 'black cloth' is irresistible. Both P and H are texts which use the 'tao with feathers' tapa mea variant at certain times.

11 * 40 = 440 and 10 * 30 = 300. Therefore I guess that H is referring to the end of sun's journey when he is spreading 'light', while P is referring to either the moon or to sun's night journey. Because 440 - 300 = 140 = 20 weeks.

The bottom of Hb10-30 looks as if truncated, like the top end of the last viri in Tahua:


Hb10-30	Aa8-26

The peculiar oblong head in Pb11-41 looks somewhat like the oblong heads of manu rere at the end of side b in G:


Pb11-41	Gb8-25

The planet Mars is according to all evidence in myths red (as rusty iron). It is therefore not surprising to find tapa mea glyphs in Tuesday (the day of Mars):


Hb9-30	Hb9-31	Hb9-32 (1092)

Mars seems to be a relative of the sun, not only by cause of his colour but also because of his lively behaviour:

"Ancient people were fascinated with the periodic backward loops turned by Mars every two years." (The Skywatchers)

1092 should be of some significance, I think. It is equal to 3 * 364 = 7 * 12 * 13, but I fail to see what that could mean. Maybe we should read 10 * 92 = 920 = 20 * 46 or something else.

In the 20th henua period according to G there is a reversed tapa mea:


Ga5-22	Ga5-23	Ga5-24	Ga5-25	Ga5-26	Ga5-27	Ga5-28	Ga5-29

Its basic meaning should be a negative of the 'red cloth', for instance that the season of the sun is ending. The kai gesture should mean that the 'black cloth' is increasing its power. The period number (20) suggests a limit has been reached, and the straight vertical line at left in Ga5-27 also indicates a limit.

We have, furthermore, evidence that the apex of the sun just has passed away (cfr the excursion at maitaki):

	148			148
Gb8-16 (1)		Ga5-25 (150)	Ga5-26		Gb2-30 (300)
150			150

If sun has 300 days, then Ga5-27 will be located as day number 152 and presumably be meant to determine the character of the preceding henua. Likewise ariki at Ga5-24 could determine the character of henua in Ga5-23 (equal to the preceding season).

The fat honu in Ga5-25 seems to be a further determinant of henua in Ga5-23, to be contrasted with the leaner honu in Ga5-28. When sun declines also growth declines. The change comes with Ga5-26.

The last and summary page:

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