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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



the karanam* Viddi, and the ilakkinams Medam, Karkkadakam, 

 Tulam, and Makaram, are the best times for buying and selling 

 paddy. 



Lucky hours are also given for commencing the following 

 agricultural operations, which form a large part of the occupation 

 of a Jaffna peasant : — 



(1) Digging wells or tanks, and making embankments — every 



month in the year, except September, December, and 

 February. 



(2) Planting young plantain trees — every month. 



(3) Do. young arekanut trees — September to March. 



(4) Do. cocoanuts —every month. 



(5) Do. creepers, &c. — no month specified. 



(6) Do. betel — April, May, September, June. 



(7) Sowing and transplanting brinjals, chillies, &c. — every 



month. 



(8) Planting yams— no particular month. 



(9) Tethering cattle and making pinfolds in tobacco gardens 



— August, ISovember, 



(10) Digging tobacco gardens — October to December. 



(11) Sowing and transplanting tobacco — August to March. 



(12) Cutting tobacco plants, putting kudils, and drying tobacco 



leaves in the sun— March to June. 



(13) Buying and selling tobacco — March to July. 



* Karanas are eleven in number, and divided into variable and 

 invariable. They answer successively to half a tithi or lunar-day, 

 Kimstughna being always assigned to the first half of the first tithi, 

 and the variable Karanas, succeeding each other regularly through 

 eight repetitions. They are followed by the three remaining invari- 

 able Karanas which conclude the month ; Ehatuspad and Naga 

 appertaining to Amavasya, or the new moon, and Sakuni being appro- 

 priated to the latter half of the preceding tithi," (Colebrooke, quoted 

 in Ind. Ant., loc. lit.) 



The Tamil names of the Karanams are : — 



1 Pavam 



2 Palavam 



3 Kaulavam 



4 Taitilam 



5 Karasam 



6 Vanisam 



i. e., Lion 

 „ Tiger 



„ Pig 



„ Ass 



„ Elephant 



„ Ox 



7 Viddi ... i.e., Cock 



8 Sakunam ... ,, Owl 

 92Saturppatam ... „ Dog 



10 Nakavam ... „ Snake 



11 Kimastukkinam „ Worm 



