HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
31 
causing of the thunder, begins when heavy showers of rain 
fall, accompanied usually by thunder and lightning. Fara- 
rano, (end of rain) includes the whole season of cutting and 
gathering in the rice, which, with some, commences before 
the Fahavaratra has strictly ceased, and may not, in some 
cases, terminate with others till the Ririnano is far ad¬ 
vanced. Ririnano, the name given to the winter season, is 
highly expressive; it is a passive participle, from the neuter 
verb mariry, the root of which is riry, “ all cleaned off,” 
nothing growing, or found verdant.” # On an average, the 
Lohataona lasts . . one month and a half. 
Fahavaratra .... five months. 
Fararano.one month and a half. 
Ririnano.five months. 
making a total of thirteen lunar months. The Malagasy 
year, however, contains but twelve months; and those 
making a total of about 354 days. Ten parts out of the 
354 days are taken up with the summer and winter 
seasons, during five of which the rain falls almost every day, 
and during the other five scarcely any. Of the remaining 
three parts, one and a half, or about six weeks, precedes 
the rain, and is the time of planting the rice, &c.; the 
other half, an equal period of about six weeks, following the 
heavy rains, forms the autumnal season, and is succeeded by 
the dry and cold weather. 
The rain, during its season, usually commences every day 
at from two to four or six o’clock in the afternoon, and conti- 
* Hence the expressions, Mariry ny zavatra, “ the things are all cleaned 
off—property all gone Mariry ny tany, *• the country is swept of people, 
cattle, produce, &c.,” as after a desolating war; Mariry ny loha , “ the head 
is cleaned offas when the head is shaved. 
