PHYSICAL ASTRONOMY. 153 
according to the Gregorian. The Greeks and Russians have, thus, the old 
style reckoning; the other Christians, the new style. 
JEWISH CALENDAR. 
77. The Jewish years are lunar years, counted from Oct. 7th of 3761 B.c. 
The Jews have, according to the improvement of Rabbi Hillel Hanafh, a 
cycle of 19 years, among which 12 are common, and 7 intercalary years. 
One of the former has 354 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes; one of the latter, 383 
days, 21 hours, 48 minutes. To satisfy the priestly arrangement there are 
six different years, namely, three common years of 12 months each, the short 
year having 353, the mean year 354, and the long year 355 days; and three 
intercalary or leap years, of 138 months each, the short year having 383, the 
mean 384, and the long 385 days. The beginning of the year can fall 
neither on Sunday, Wednesday, nor Friday. The months of the civil year 
are in order as follows: Tiscur1, Macuesvan, Kisuev, Tesetu, Scuewar, 
Apar, W’Apar (intercalary month), Nisan, Juar, Sivan, Tuamuz, As, and 
Exut. The religious year begins with the month Nisan, in which the 
principal festival, the Passover (aster), falls, and, indeed, always on the 15th 
Nisan. This Passover, which can never fall on a Monday, Wednesday, or 
Friday, is of the greatest importance in the arrangement of the Jewish 
calendar, and generally occurs in our Passion week. In conclusion, it may 
be stated, that our Saturday is kept under the name of Sabbath (day of rest) 
just as Sunday is with us. 
TURKISH CALENDAR. 
78. The Turks and almost all adherents of Mohammedanism count their 
years from fedschra, or Hegira (July 15, 622 a.v.). They have a cycle 
of 30 years, each consisting of 354 days, except 11, which are leap years of 
355 days. Their year, whose mean length amounts to 354 days, 8 hours, 
48 minutes, is divided into 12 months of 30 and 29 days: Mouarem, 
SepHer, Rasi ev Auwat, Rasi rx Acuar, Dssyommapa et Auwat, Dssom- 
MADA EL Acuar, RapssJeEB, SCHABAN, RAMADAN, ScHAUWAL, DsuLKapeE, and 
Sutuapsse. In the leap year, the last month, Sutuapssr, instead of 29, has 
30 days, the latter being the intercalary day. The festivals of the Turkish 
calendar occur unchangeably on the same day of the month. 
CALENDAR OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. 
79. By a decree of the French National Convention of Oct. 5th, 1793, a 
new reckoning of time was adopted, dating from September 22d, 1792, on 
which day, previously fixed upon, the establishment of the Republic was 
decreed. As this was also the date of the, equinox (at 9/ 18’ 13” of the 
morning) there was an allusion given to equality both of days and rights. 
153 
