1834] 



History of the Mamoossies, 



308 



nature^ of the Zodiacal signs, and Lunar days, follows, termed the 

 punchuk, (unpropitious.) 



They have it that the twelve Zodiacal signs, or lug-g-uns, corres- 

 ponding with the twelve months of the year, are divided off into an 

 allotment of six signs during the day, and six during the night ; 

 and that the sun always sets during the continuance of the seventh 

 sign— for they allow an unequ-d number of Ghutkab to the dura- 

 tion of each sign, and determine the sign tlie sun sets in fram the 

 one in which he happens to be in any particular month, as he is 

 said to rise in that sign each morning. Then they always count up 

 how far this sign (in which he sets) is from Aries, (mesh)— for Aries 

 is invariably tlie sign employed in this calculation— and if they find 

 it stands eight, they go on with their calculation, which they do by 

 adding the number of the preceding lunar day (the Teeth) of the 

 month fixed on for the ceremony, to the number obtained by the 

 previous calculation, and this total they divide by 9, and if there 

 should be a remainder of one, they call it the Mieurty Punchuk, or 

 certain death. 



If after this division by 9 a balance of two remains, it is termed 

 the Aggny Punchuk, (fire destroying.) If 4 remains, we have the 

 Raj Punchuk. If 6, we have the Chor Punchuk. If 8, we have 

 the Rogh Punchuk. 



Now should the Rogh Punchuk prevail during a Sunday night, 

 the ceremony cannot take place, but it may be celebrated during 

 the day. 



If on a thursday the Chor Punchuk takes place, going out dur- 

 ing the night to any distance is to be avoided. 



When the Mieurty Punchuk happens, no ceremony takes place 

 during the day or night. 



Yet they say that should there be a pressing necessity for con- 

 summating the ceremony on the wished for day, that the evil conse- 

 quences of the Punchuk will be removed by certain stars proving 

 auspicious at the time. 



For instance, if the four benign planets be in the named luggun, 

 no evil consequences are to be apprehended. Besides, it is wriiien 

 in the Jattuk Shaster, that if the Swamy or Regent of the particu- 

 lar sign or luggun is visible to the planet Venus, and if both be in 

 the same constellation at the time, no danger is to be apprehended. 



If at the fixed time for the ceremony, the moon l)e in the 2d, 3d, 

 or 4th constellation from the named luggun, matters will be cons-- 

 dered fortunate. 



