TIME-RECKONING. 101 



the Saturday was found to be the Sunday of the old residents. For 

 ordinary business purposes a change became necessary, and a dispen- 

 sation was granted in 1871 by the dignitaries of the Greek Church 

 in Russia, authorizing their missionaries and adherents in Alaska to 

 eelebrate Sunday a day later, or on Monday, according to the old 

 reckoning. 



The reverse has been met in another qxiarter of the globe. The 

 Philippine Islands, lying between Australia and Asia, and about 100 

 degrees of longitude to the west of Alaska, were discovered in 1521 

 by the illustrious Magellan in his memorable first circumnavigation 

 of the globe. That navigator followed the sun in his path around 

 the world. Legaspi succeeded him and took possession of these 

 important Islands in the name of Philip II., king of Spain. The 

 Philippine Islands extend for a thousand miles from north to south, 

 they embrace Manilla, one of the oldest cities of the Indies, and they 

 contain a population of 5,000,000. They were colonized, as well as 

 discovered, by Spaniards coming from the east ; and as a consequence 

 the reckoning of the inhabitants has for more than three centuries 

 remained a day behind the day in British India and the neighbouring 

 countries in Asia. 



Travellers who arrive at New Zealand or the Australian colonies, 

 by the San Francisco route, meet the same diffei-ence, owing fco the 

 fact that the countries in the South Pacific were colonized from the 

 west. The day of the week and of the month carried from San 

 Francisco, never agrees with the day and date reckoned by the in- 

 habitants at the destination of the steamer. 



All travellers who have made the voyage between America and 

 Asia have experienced the difiiculty in reckoning referred to. Those 

 who have proceeded westward have lost, while those who have 

 travelled eastward have gained a day. In Mrs. Brassey's " Around 

 the World in the Yacht ' Sunbeam,' " this experience is recorded. 

 The journal of that lady passes from Wednesday, January 10th, 

 directly to Friday, January 12th — Thui'sday, January 11th, having 

 no existence with the travellers. 



In sailing across the Pacific from west to east, one day has to be 

 repeated before landing on the American coast. If, for example, the 

 correction be made on Wednesday, 1st July, there will be two 

 Wednesdays in the one week, and two days of the month dated 

 July 1st. 



