chilla_ or _chijlla_:

For this I find in the lexicon three principal meanings: One is the
cubical bean (wurfel bohne). "Pichijlla, frisolillos o havas con
que echan las suertes los sortilegos" [beans used by the sorcerers
in casting lots or telling fortunes]; another meaning is "the
ridge" (pichijlla, lechijlla, chijllatani, loma o cordillera de
sierra); another is "the crocodile" (cocodrillo, lagarto grande de
agua); and another "swordfish" (pella-pichijlla-tao, espadarte
pescado). Finally, we have chilla-tao, "the great Chilla," given
again as one of the names of the highest being. Here it seems to me
that the signification "crocodile" is the original one, and thus
far suitable. For the manner in which the first day character is
delineated in Mexican and Zapotec picture writing [our plate LXIV,
16] shows undoubtedly the head of the crocodile with the movable
snapping upper jaw, which is so characteristic of the animal.

Attention is called to the apparently closely related word as given by
Perez--_mech_, _ixmech_, "lagartija."

It will not be out of place here to refer to a superstition pervading
the islands of the Pacific ocean, which seems strangely coincident with
the conception of the physical symbol of this day. This is a
mythological monster known in some sections by the name _Taniwha_, and
in others as _moko_ or _mo'o_.

Dr Edward Tregear[214-1] speaks of it as follows:

Taniwha were water monsters generally. They mostly inhabited lakes
and streams, but sometimes the sea. Sometimes the beast was a land
animal, a lizard, etc, but the true _taniwha_ is a water kelpie.

Mr Kerry Nichols,[214-2] speaking of these monsters, says:

With the other fabulous creations of Maori mythology were the
_taniwhas_ or evil demons, mysterious monsters in the form of
gigantic lizards, who were said to inhabit subterranean caves, the
deep places of lakes and rivers, and to guard tabued districts.
They were on the alert to upset canoes and to devour men. Indeed,
these fabulous monsters not only entered largely into the religious
superstitions, but into the poetry and prose of Maori tradition.

The Hawaiian _Mo'o_ or _Moko_ appears, from the following statement by
Judge Fornander, to have been applied sometimes to this mythological
monster:

The _Mo'o_ or _Moko_ mentioned in tradition--reptiles and