VOL. LXXXII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 253 



this month was intercalary, and the fortnight which preceded it was called 

 Neeja Sravana vadee, instead of simply Sravana vadee, as it would otherwise 

 have heen named. The first half of the intercalary month was called Adheeka 

 Sravana soodha, and the latter half Adheeka Sravana vadee, and the fortnight 

 after the intercalary month, Neeja Sravana soodha*. It appears therefore, that 

 the 2 parts of the month where the intercalation takes place, are separated from 

 each other by the interval of the whole intercalary month, and have the word 

 Neeja prefixed to them ; and the 2 parts of the intercalary month are called by 

 the same name, but have the word Adheeka prefixed -|-. 



In these almanacs no notice is taken of the solar months, thougli a column 

 is allotted to the day of the Mahometan calendar, which seems to show that, in 

 the countries which use the Benares patra, it is not customary to date by the 

 solar month ; for it is very unlikely that the computers of these almanacs should 

 have given the days of the Mahometan calendar, and yet have omitted days used 

 in their own. 



In those parts of India that use the Nadeea patra, the case is quite different. 

 This almanac contains the name of the solar and lunar month, with the cor- 

 responding days of the week and solar month, and the number of the lunar 

 teethee which ends on those days. It begins with the day after that on which 

 the astronomical year commences. This is marked as the first of the month, 

 the next day is called the 2d, and so on, regularly to the end of the month. In 

 like manner, all the other months begin on the day after the astronomical com- 

 mencement, and the days are continued regularly to the end, so that the number 

 of days in the month varies from IQ to 32 :{:. 



* Adheeka signifies over and above, or intercalary. Neeja prefixed to the name of the month 

 signifies that month itself. — Orig. 



t What has been here said, agrees perfecdy with Mr. Wilkins's almanacs ; the only doubt is, 

 whether there may not be some different method of regulating tlie month, which may also agree 

 with these almanacs, and may be the trae one. It is proper therefore, that I should state my reasons 

 for the account here given. Du Champ, who seems a very accurate writer, says (see Bailly, p 320,) 

 that he was informed by a Hindoo calculator, that whenever the sun enters no sign during a lunar 

 month, that month is doubled. This passage agrees very well with tliese almanacs, if by month be 

 meant the time between 2 new moons ; but disagrees entirely with tliem if we mean by it tlie time 

 between 2 full moons; and further, in Mr. Wilkins's almanac it is the period from one new moon to 

 another which is called Adheeka. It seems certain therefore, that in this passage tlie word montli must 

 mean what I have called the natural month ; and that the rule for intercalation is such as I have men- 

 tioned, namely, that it shall take place whenever the sun enters no sign during the natural month. It 

 is certain also that the ordinary civil month begins at the day after the full moon ; and granting these 

 2 points, I cannot see any way in which the months can be regulated so as to differ in substance from 

 what I have said. — Orig. 



t Perhaps I do not express myself accurately in saying that the civil month begins at the day after 

 the commencement of the astronomical. It is true, that in this almanac it is the day after the cora- 

 niencemtnt of the astronomical month, which i« marked by the number 1 ; but it must be observed 



