Rest Days; A Sociological Study 65 



ancient times and still survive with almost undiminished vigor 

 amongst the superstitious classes of to-day.^^ 



The doctrine of lunar sympathy, by a natural extension, may 

 also account for the common belief that " the same things which 

 grow with the waxing, dwindle with the waning moon,"^" and 

 therefore that all business done in the latter half of a lunation is 

 doomed to failure. Thus the Todas appear to regard the first 

 half of the month as the most auspicious for their numerous 

 ceremonies. Usually the first appropriate day of the week after 

 the new moon is the day for nearly every Toda rite. " I met with 

 no case," says Mr. Rivers, " in which any ceremony was ap- 

 pointed for the period of the full moon or for the second half 

 of the moon's period. "^^ The Andaman Islanders abstain from 

 work during the first few evenings of the third quarter of the 

 moon.^^ The Buriats are said never to undertake anything of 

 importance between the full and the new moon.-° The Man- 

 dingoes of Senegambia, who paid great attention to the changes 

 of the moon, thought it "very unlucky to begin a journey or 

 any other work of consequence in the last quarter.-^ The Hovas 

 and other tribes of Madagascar regard the waning of the moon 

 as " an unfavorable time for any important undertaking."^- 

 Similar beliefs were held by the early Germans whq, according 

 to Caesar, despaired of victory if they engaged in battle be- 

 fore the new moon.-^ Tacitus, with fuller knowledge, declares 

 that the Germans considered the new and the full moon as the 



'®For many illustrations see Frazer, Adonis, Attis, Osiris!' 361 sqq., 

 369 sq. 



"Aulus Gellius, Nodes Atticae, xx. 8. 



"^^The Todas, 411. 



"Man, in Journal of the Anthropological Institute, 1883, xii. 152. 



^ Peter Dobell, Travels in Kanitchatka and Siberia, London, 1830, ii. 16. 



" M. Park, " Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa." in Pinkerton's 

 Voyages and Travels, xvi. 875. 



""J. Sibree, "Malagas}' Folk-Lore and Popular Superstitions," Folk- 

 Lore Record, 1879, ii. 32. 



'^De bello Gal.ico, i. 50. 



65 



