Singhalese Chronology. 185 



The length of a year is 365 days, 15 pseyas, 31 winadies, 

 and 15 tatparas. The commencement of the Singhalese 

 year falls generally about the 11th of April. To find the 

 exact moment at which any given year commences, or the 

 moment at which the Sim enters into Mesa Rasi, the follow- 

 ing is the rule. Subtract 1244 from the Saka sera, and by 

 the remainder multiply 365 d. 15 p. 31 w. 15 tat. ; and to 

 the product add 1615536 days 59 p. 45 w. 30 tat. ; and then 

 throw off as many 7 days as possible from the sum. The 

 commencement of the year or the Sun's entering into Mesa 

 Rasi is so many days after Friday, as appears in the re- 

 mainder of days prey as winadies and tatparas. If there 

 is no remainder in the place of days, the commencement of 

 the year is on Friday ; if one, on Saturday, and so forth. 

 Thus, to find the commencement of the present Singhalese 

 year, the year of Saka 1777 (A. D. 1855), subtract 1244 

 from 1777 which leaves a remainder 533, by this multi- 

 ply 365 d. 15 p. 31 w. 15 tat., which gives a product 

 of 19682 days 52 p e 36 w. 15 tat. ; then add to this product 

 1615536 days, 59 p. 45 w. 30 tat., which vail give a sum 

 of 1810219 days, 52 p. 21 w. 45 tat. ; after this, throw off 

 as many seven days as possible, when there will be 

 a remainder of 5 d. 52 p. 21 w. 45 tat. The commence- 

 ment of the year is thus 5 days after Friday, namely, on 

 Wednesday, at 52 pseyas and 21 w. 45 tat. : which, accord- 

 ing to English calculation, is Thursday 2 h. 56' 42" a. m., 

 or 3 minutes and 18 seconds before 3 a. m. 



Ma&e "the month," is about the 12th part of a year, and 

 is of two kinds, the solar and lunar. The solar month is 

 the time during which the Sun continues in any one of the 

 12 Rasies. 



The moment at which the Sun enters into any one of the 

 twelve Rasies is found by the following rule to the days 



