Note 44 — Chapter XV · NATIVE CULTURE IN PRE-CHRISTIAN TIMES

Of these clan names, “Raa” means the sun and “Marama” the light. The signification of the others is not equally clear, and the natives could give no assistance; but Mr. Ray gives the following interesting information from other Polynesian sources. “Haumoana” means the sea-breeze; “Hitiuira” is probably “hiti-ra” or sunrise; and “Ureohei” another version of “ura-o-hehe,” or red of sundown. “Koro-orongo” is doubtless from “Koro-o-Rongo,” or the ring of Rongo (a well-known Polynesian deity), that is the rainbow. “Kotuu” appears to be a contraction of “Ko Otuu,” meaning “The Hill”; the name “Otuu” is used alternatively for the same district. “Hotu” is another form of the word for hill and “Iti” signifies small, it presumably refers to Rano Raraku.