Note 20 — PREFACE. (continued 3)

A weather prophet’s interpretation of the omens for a land tempest was different from the omens for a tempest at sea. If there was general calmness on the ocean sometimes, the sea simply quiet, and if the weather prophet found that the clouds were hinano20 white, and the borders of heaven21 seemed to heave tumultuously, the evening clouds vying with each other, and the dark clouds gathered at the top of the mountains, then the weather prophet would say: “There will soon be high surf, because the clouds vie with each other.” In case the weather prophet saw that these premonitions as mentioned above, were apparent in the clouds, and ocean-going canoes were to leave at that time, then the prophet could forewarn the ocean-going people to wait, and those who were familiar with the customs of the order of priesthood would abide by the instructions of the weather prophet.