494 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. IV., No. 95. 



Sondaye pryme, drye wether. 

 Mondaye pryme, moyst wether. 

 Teusdaye pryme, cold and wynde. 

 Wenesdaye pryme, mervelous. 



Thursdaye pryme, Sonne and clere. 

 Frydaye pryme, fayre and fowle. 

 Saturdaye pryme, rayne." 



of the almanac are those who thumb them over with 

 the expectation of finding similar guidance. When 

 criticised, they reply that it is just as well to be on 

 the safe side. 



One of the earliest American almanacs, which also 

 served as an altar upon which to offer human sacri- 

 fices, and which has given rise to such lively dis- 



THE MEXICAN CALENDAR-STONE. 



It will be seen that superstition has largely entered 

 in keeping alive the interest in almanacs. The first 

 object in their publication was that men might save 

 their souls by knowing their church days; and the 

 second, that they might sow their seed and take their 

 physic to the best advantage. Of course, all this wis- 

 dom of our greatest grandfathers was often scoffed 

 at by the unbelievers; but it will probably be found, 

 that, even at the present day, the most constant users 



cussion among the antiquarians, was the Mexican 

 calendar-stone. 



The e Mexican year was a solar year of three hundred 

 and sixty-five days. Their old calendar consisted 

 of three hundred and sixty days, to which they finally 

 added five. Each day had a name except the added 

 five. The year was divided into two parts, — one of 

 two hundred and sixty days, called meztli pohualli 

 or ' moon-reckoning ; ' and a smaller portion of a hun 



