Page:The Burmese & Arakanese calendars (IA burmesearakanese00irwiiala).pdf/51



135. Table I exhibits all the essential elements of the calendar as actually observed in Burma Proper for the last 170 years. The years 1909 and 1910 are added because the calendars of those years have been officially promulgated.

136. The day of the week on which the luni-solar year begins is shown in column 5, and its date by the English calendar in columns 6 and 7. The time of mean new moon obtained from European sources (Guinness's tables) is shown in columns 2 to 4 for comparison with the Lagwè of Tabaung, the last day of the expired luni-solar year.

137. The day, hour, minute, and second at which the solar year begins (Thingyan Tet, or Mean Mesha Sankranti) are shown in columns 8 to 14, English date, week day and Burmese date. The time of Thingyan Kya, or apparent Mesha Sankranti, can be found from this by subtracting 2 days, 4 hours, 1 minute, 12 seconds.

138. Columns 18 and 19 give the watat years; 18 shows whether there is an intercalary day or not; 19 shows the day of July on which the full moon of the intercalary month falls. An examination of column 19 is the easiest way of ascertaining whether Lent is maintaining its place among the seasons or moving forward or backward.

139. Table 1 agrees with Moyle's Calendars, so far as they go, except in the period from 9th June, 1877, to 5th June, 1880. Mr. Moyle makes 1239 ( 1877) a wa-gyi-tat, and  1242 ( 1880) a wa-ngè-tat. All the other authorities I have been able to consult agree in making 1239 a wa-ngè-tat and 1242 a wa-gyi-tat. This is confirmed by notes of certain new and full moons in my own diary for 1878. For this period, therefore, I think Mr. Moyle has an error of one day.

140. Table II is in the same form, and gives the elements of the Burmese calendar compiled by Thandeikta methods for the next 92 years. The wa-tat are regulated by the yet-lun as described in paragraph 85. It is not absolutely certain that this rule will be followed in future. There is also some uncertainty about the yet-ngin in the years 1291, 1307, 1337 and 1348, as indicated in paragraphs 97 to 99. Each of these years and the next following watat year must be, one a wagyitat and the other a wangètat. The uncertainty is whether the wagyitat will precede or follow the wangetat. In the uncertain, years the yet