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eludes the periodical* i-ains ; and, indeed, it is only natural that 

 in a country like the plains of the Duab the cultivator's chief 

 source of anxiety should be the rains ; for though the extension 

 of canals is slightly changing the position of affairs, a bad rainy 

 season still means a bad harvest, high prices, and scarcity ; and a 

 good one, plenty and comparative comfort to all classes. 



It is hardly necessary to say that, with so much at stake, an 

 ignorant and superstitious people have recourse to a variety of 

 ceremonies, both to ensure success to their cultivation and to as- 

 certain, beforehand, their prospects. The taking of omens (she- 

 goon) is ^universally practised, the full moon of Asarh (generally 

 in June) being one of the great days for this. The methods 

 adopted are very various, but the most popular are those based 

 on the direction of the wind at the time of the full moon of Asarh, 

 Pun purchutea as it is termed. The cultivators assemble in some 

 open plain, collect a little finely-powdered earth, and throw it up 

 in the air. If the dust drifts northwards, the omen is bad, and 

 insufficient rains are expected ; if southwards, westwards or east- 

 wards, it is favourable. Sometimes, instead of earth, raw cotton is 

 loosely twisted into a thread and tied to the end of a bamboo 

 (this is called Dhttjahundee), and the direction of the wind ascer- 

 tained from this. In all cases, a south, south-east, or south-west 

 wind at this time is considered to indicate bad rains and a poor 

 harvest. This is only one class of omen. All kinds of absurd 

 practices are in vogue ; for instance, at this same full moon, a few 

 ounces of grain are carefully weighed, and are placed in little 

 earthen saucers, in some cfpen and elevated place well away from 

 the village. Next morning the grain (if any remains, my expe- 

 rience being that it is generally eaten during the night) is care- 

 fully weighed ; if it has gained weight the cultivator is sanguine 

 of a good harvest ; if it has lost, then he looks for a poor crop ; 

 if it has disappeared altogether, then the harvest will be as God 

 wills. 



Ridiculous as these superstitions must seem, they deserve notice, 

 because cultivators are often governed in their choice of crops for 

 the coming season by the result of these omens, and because it is 

 impossible to introduce any improved system of agriculture with- 

 out realising the extent to which the present practice of the art is 

 governed by superstition. 



* The periodical rains of the rainy season, which occur between Asarh and 

 Kwar, say from June to October, are called " Chomas," while the cold-weather 

 showers, which ought to occur about Christmas, are known as the " Mahawut." 



