PART VII
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
THE LHOTA CALENDAR
The Lhota divides the year into twelve lunar months,[1] which are named as follows:—
- Ndri (February). “The month of the ndri flower.”
- Emhu (March). “The blowing month.”
- Ephi (April). “The dry month.”
- Cheshi (May). “The watching month,” i.e. all watch to see if the crops will sprout well.
- Oten (June). “The month of millet” (teni).
- Nnung (July). Derivation unknown.
- Chikanika (August). “The month of quarrels,” because poor men have come to the end of their resources and try to borrow from rich men, who refuse to lend.
- Ndrangtso (September). “The bursting month,” because the pots are bursting with new rice.
- Rongorongyi (October). “The going backwards and forwards month,” i.e. carrying the crop up to the village.
- Chopuk (November). “The month of ease.”
- Shotokuk (December). “The month of ceremonies.”
- Echon (January). “The spreading month,” i.e. the rats scatter the straw about the abandoned fields.
In order to correct the calendar an extra month or part of a month called Chotantsu is put in after Echon whenever [[227]]necessary. The months being periods of the agricultural year the whole Lhota country is not in the same month at the same time. The inhabitants of a cold village where the crops are late may be struggling through Chikanika while those of a warm village are enjoying the peace and plenty of Ndrangtso. [[228]]