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water be allowed to lie, the crops turn yellow, and even if they do 

 not rot, yield a much smaller harvest. 



7. MuGHA.— From about the 16th to the 29th A^ugust. This is 

 considered the most critical time of the year, and good rains are 

 devoutly prayed for. The people say : — 



" Mugha ke burse, 

 Mata ke purse " : 



" The rains of Mugha are like mother's milk." 



Not only does the Tcharif or autumn crop greatly depend on 

 good rains at this time, but many of the rabi or spring staples, 

 and most especially gram, are thought to be materially influenced 

 for the better by really good heavy rain. At this time good 

 rains in this nakhat make up for most previous shortcomings ; as 

 the people say " Chhoot khet ootur jata hai," " The failings of the 

 fields disappear." The only exceptions are, til (Sesamum orien- 

 tale) and other oil seeds ; in their case it is asserted that if it rains 

 without stopping during the first five days of Mugha, insects are 

 sure later to attack the plants. The water of this naJchat, unlike 

 that of the preceding one, is commonly allowed to lie in the fields, 

 and is said to be specially beneficial to many of the millets and 

 pulses. On the whole this is the period on which, according to 

 the cultivators, most depends : — 



" Jo kahin Mugha burse Jul, 

 Sub najon men honge phul " : 



" If only Mugha gives us rain, 

 Every field will teem with grain." 



8. PooEBA. — From about the 30th August to the 11th Sep- 

 tember. Eain at this time is considered injurious ; if the weather 

 is clear, blight and insects rarely do much harm, but if there is 

 much rain, they make sad havoc of the crops : — 



" Jo kahin Poorba pani dewen, 

 Jinson sub ko keera khawen " : 



" Whenever Poorba brings us rain. 

 In every crop, worms mar the grain." 



9. OoTTEA.— From about the 12th to the 25th September. Eain 

 during this period is most desirable ; the crops make great pro- 

 gress, and where insects have attacked the plants, they dis- 

 appear. The legend goes that if there is good rain at this time, 

 the harvest will be so plentiful that even the dogs will be too 

 satiated with grain to eat it. 



" Jub bursenga Oottra 

 Naj na^^khawen^kootra " ; 



