TRANSLATIONS

next page previous page up home

The kuhane stations in Tahua, from Te Pei to Tama as defined by counting from Aa1-1:

 

Te Pei   -  8 * 29.5 = 236
8 44
Aa6-55 Aa6-56 Aa6-65 Aa6-66 Aa6-67 Aa6-68 Aa6-69 Aa6-70
236 4 241 242 243 22
30
Te Pou  -  9 * 29.5 = 265.5
50
Aa7-31 Aa7-32 Aa7-33 Aa7-34 Aa7-85 Aa8-1 Aa8-2 Aa8-3
266 267 25 293 294
29

Once again day 294 suggests the beginning of Hua Reva (here via rau hei - a person hanging with head down - in Aa8-3). Gb3-3 obviously refers to Gb3-6:

Te Pou 24
Gb2-10 Gb2-11 Gb2-12 Gb3-2 Gb3-3 (294)
Hua Reva 25
Gb3-4 Gb3-5 Gb3-6 Gb4-2 Gb4-3
Hua Reva  -  10 * 29.5 = 295
52
Aa8-4 Aa8-5 Aa8-6 Aa8-7 Aa8-60 Aa8-61 Aa8-62 Aa8-63
295 296 26 323 324
30

The elbow ornament in Aa8-5 (tagata) could show a full cycle formed like a drop of water (which may be confirmed by vai in the preceding glyph). Henua ora in Aa8-62 marks the 'recycling station', and Aa8-63 connects Hua Reva with Akahanga (cfr Aa8-65):

Akahanga  -  11 * 29.5 = 324.5
50
Aa8-64 Aa8-65 Aa8-66 Aa8-67 Ab1-33 Ab1-34 Ab1-35 Ab1-36
325 326 25 352 353
29

In Aa8-65 ordinal number 65 agrees with 2 * 325 = 650, and 65 = 13 * 5. Possibly there is a suggestion of a connection with Aa8-5, sixtio glyphs earlier. The two following glyphs are of the same general kind, confirming a connection.

Hatinga Te Kohe  -  12 * 29.5 = 354
52
Ab1-37 Ab1-38 Ab1-39 Ab1-40 Ab2-11 Ab2-12 Ab2-13 Ab2-14
354 355 26 382 383
30
Roto Iri Are  -  13 * 29.5 = 383.5
50
Ab2-15 Ab2-16 Ab2-17 Ab2-18 Ab2-69 Ab2-70 Ab2-71 Ab2-72
384 385 25 411 412
29
Tama  -  14 * 29.5 = 413
52
Ab2-73 Ab2-74 Ab3-42 Ab3-43 Ab3-44 Ab3-45 Ab3-46 Ab3-47
413 26 440 441 442
30

Possibly the little 4-feather tapa mea at bottom right in Ab2-73 indicates the new cycle of the sun. From the top of the head henua ora emerges (Ab3-43 and Ab3-47), but if the head is turned upright it becomes a sign of reversed henua ora - of birth.

Two questions hover above us: Is the Tahua text really describing all the kuhane stations in their proper order and in parallel with G? And if so, how can we be sure the number of glyphs (days) really change in the ordered pattern suggested?

The first question cannot be answered more than tentatively, by referring to some key facts:

 

Te Pei Aa6-55, the first glyph, seems to illustrate the death (ihe tau) of the 1st half of the year (a sign like half a hura at left). A rising fish is being devoured in Aa6-67. In Aa6-69 a 'person' is falling head down. The first 15 glyphs constitute one group, the second another group.
Te Pou  
Hua Reva The first glyph, Aa8-4, is vai, and 58 glyphs later (Aa8-62) comes henua ora. It and the following (last) glyph (Aa8-63) belong to day 324, and should therefore be regarded as the first two glyphs of Akahanga. The 'cut-off' viri is in Aa8-26.
Akahanga In Aa8-80 a vertical break is illustrated, 6 glyphs before the end of side a.
Hatinga Te Kohe Ab1-37, the first glyph, unquestionably describes the split between an old 'dead' season and a newborn one. From Aa8-80 to Ab1-37 there are 6 + 36 = 42 glyphs. 670 - 6 = 664 = the number of glyphs on side b. 664 - 36 = 628 = 200π. I.e., 1334 = 400π + 36 + 42.
Roto Iri Are  
Tama  

The second question possibly should be answered by denying the pattern 30 / 29. If we refer the last two glyphs of Hua Reva (Aa8-62--63) to Akahanga, then the number of days will change. Not only do the glyphs (Aa8-62--63) indicate they belong to Akahanga, but also - logically - they should do so, because 324.5 needs day number 324. Instead of 30 - 29 - 30 - 29 etc, the pattern should be 29 - 30 - 29 - 30 etc:

 

Te Pei 30 236 29 236
Te Pou 29 265 30
Hua Reva 30 295 29
Akahanga 29 324 30
Hatinga Te Kohe 30 354 29
Roto Iri Are 29 383 30
Tama 30 413 29
One Tea 29 442 30