PROVERBS. 



175 



roz. On the eightieth (some say the ninetieth) 

 day are expected thunder, lightning, and heavy 

 rains at the meeting of the monsoons (mid- 

 Xovemher), and so forth. Possibly this may he 

 a reflection of the Hindu idea which represents 

 the Garhhas to be the fetuses of the clouds, and 

 born 195 days after conception. With us the 

 people mark the periods by saints' days. The 

 Bernais say — 



Apres le jour de la Sainte Luce, 



Les jours s'allongent le saut d'une puce. 



The Escuara proverb declares — 



Sauct Seimon etu Juda, 

 Xegua eldu da. 

 (' At St Siruon and St Jude, water may be viewed.') 



The basis of the following calculation is 

 thoroughly Kisawahili — 



S'el pleut le jour de Saint Medard, (June 8) 

 II pleut quarante jours plus tard. 



Nor is our popular doggrel less so — 



Saint Swithin's Day, if thou dost rain, 

 For forty days it will remain. 

 Saint Swithin's Day, if thou be fair, 

 For forty days 'twill rain nae mair. 



The Wasawahili also calculate their agricul- 

 tural seasons from the stars called Kilimia, a 

 name probably derived from Ku lima, to plough. 



