________________
272
[OCTOBER, 1897.
the cast during the heavy squally weather of May, June, July and August is attributable to the violence of the S.-W. gales driving it towards that position (!); while the fact of its appearing south of the east during the rest of the year is, on the same principle, ascribed to the force of the N.-E. winds, then prevailing, which prevent the dawn from breaking uniformly in the same point of the horizon.
The property of the sun-dial is unknown to the Nicobarese. From the following list of terms used by them to indicate the various hours of the day and night it will be seen that their day is divided with regard to the position of the sun at different hours until sunset, while the period between sunset and sunrise is in like manner divided in reference to increasing darkness, supper-time, approach of midnight, midnight, deep sleep, approach of dawn, and
dawn:
(1) Forenoon, Sun-rise, danâkla-heng; hen-nela-heng,) About 7 a. m., enhla-kōi-hindōaha, köi-hindōaha-ka, köi-hindīaha-chòng. enhla-kamheng.
8
""
33
33
33
33
29
About noon, kâm-heng.
9
""
101 or 11
93
5
5-30
,,
19
39
33
39
17
33
33
19
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
1 p. m., shariala-heng (or shadiaha-heng).
2
3
3-30
4
Sunset, shup-heng.
99
shortly after, ladiaya. Twilight, enhshe-puyue. Dusk, payue.
دو
39
(2) Afternoon,-la-hanga-heng.
chin-faicha-chòng,
chin-faicha-ka.
(4) Night.
About 7 p. m., payue-tuchul; puyue-pòt; also faneämla-kamòish (roosting time).
7-30
**
hen-mokngôk (supper-time). hei-mokngôk-ka.
hen-mokngôk-chiyàu.
Midnight, yuang-hatom.
99
Abont 1 a, m., hen-chatnga.
2
3
4
-
la-hala-heng.
chin-faicha-enhshe.
heng-imat-mitus.
heng-imat-enhshe; also heng-kamôt (tári-tapping time). enhshe-shup-heng.
(3) Evening.
8
9
33
10 and 11 p. m., enhshe-yuang-hatòm.
oal-haki (morning).
ha-haka-chiyaa.
ha-hōaka-ka. ha-hōaka.
Dawn, shortly before, enhla-püyü.
Dawn, püyü.
Sunrise, shortly before, chang-i-oal.
In order to particularise a certain hour of the day to an alien unacquainted with their terms, a native will, by protruding his lips or by stretching out his hand, point to the position of the sun at the hour in question, and say, "dahtare heng, thither sun."
