474 ASTRONOMY.
öf many of thjpir superstitions to those of continental India, it seems probable
that ifthèyéver possessed an astronomical system; it was derived
from that quarter. Thus when an eclipse takes place, the people shout
and make all the Poise they can, to prevent the sun or moon- from being
devoured by the great ndga or-dragon, which they supposé to - be xrivàding
it. Some of the better inforinéd have-derived a fèw'nôtions' of astronomy
from the Arabs ; but their knowledge, in this respect, is at best extremely
imperfect, and it is rather to the ;traces, which are- tor be found in the
ancient manuscripts, and to the remains of what they knew iii fofrner days,
that- it is-interesting to refer. - ’
The Javans,» in common with other- Mahometans,V'have for upwards of
two centuries, if ’nót- for a longer period,« adopted'-thé lunar year-of ^Kh
- Arabs ; but they still retain their own era, -and seldom adopt that of the
-Hejira., ,The Javan era is -called that of A ji Sâka, on,-whose arrival in
Java it is supposed to have commenced ; but as sâka is a Sanscrit term, variously
applied1," as connected with the- establishments of- ari era,-'if was
probably adopted by the Javans at the period of the introduction-of the era
itself',* which corresponds almost exactly -with the Hindit'rer&?Q&?Sala,va-
hama, being-'seventy-four years short- of the • Christian era. The present’is
accordingly the-year 1744 of the Javan era, or era «öf A ji 'Sdka-. <On BdU,
where tira same era is likewise adopted, there is a difference of about 'sdfteti
years, the- Bali year-being 1737. This difference is .supposed^ tu have
arisen from the people o t Bali, who are still unconvèftedtb' thé Mahomèi
tan faith, continuing fo use the solar year.
The Javans usually divide the day and night each into fivè'portions,- as
follow :
Division of- the Day.
The period from six o’dock in the morning till eightdacalled 'ésuk ;. -
That from eight till noon,-----—~~~~— — teng’ang’i
That from noma till one o’clock, : bedftg ;.
1 That from one till three, -llngsir Mlon
That from‘'three’’ till six, ' dsar ?
Division of the Nigfg.,
The period from six o^cfock in the, evening till-eight. is.called, sop# $ ,
That from« eight till -eleven o’clock, drapwmg ;
That from midnight till one o’clock, — teng’à’iüéng’i;
That
• See Chapter on History.