Chapter XIV: Appendix: A

THE LHOTA CALENDAR

The Lhota divides the year into twelve lunar months, [228] 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 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.