The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-18
THE PE0NING SEAS0N
Ancient SuperstItIons Oi the TIlh
ore Ci The son. 'a
SACRIFICES 70 THE GODS.

the Rsmans of Old - Ceremonies
That Are obssfvsa In india end
chiha-- -Esttss of ths elamsss Farmers
The formal inauguration Of the plow'
Ing season II very ancient and still ID
observed In some parts of the world.
Among the Romans BY Tho institution
Of various religious festivals connect.
"a with agriculture the seasons came
70 be regarded With d sort Of sacred
reverence. Before tho old Roman put
tho plow into the ground he went 10
the temple Of the goddess Of earth,
Tellus, one Of whose priests performed
certain propltiatory rites. Virgil In his
"Georgica' advises the Roman hus.
Dandman to observe tho signs On heay.
On according to tho crop he desires %
produce. The time 10 plow for dax,
barley and the sacred poppy was when
"balancc has eQualized the hours Of
day and sleep and halves the world
exactly between light and shade. When
Taurus uhhern IN the year with bis
gilded horns and Sirius sits facing tho
threatening bull Ia time for beans. For
wheat and Hpelt the Pielades should
hide themselves from your eyes with
the dawn. Many have begun before
Maria sets. but tho desired crop has
bafiied them with empty ears" But
first Of all the poet adm0nlshes the
farmer to ''honor the gods and offer
sacrifices 70 Ceres"
In India there age certain days when
II is unlawful to plow. Mother Earth
IA supposed 10 sleep six days IN every,
month, and on such days she refuses
to be disturbed In her slumber.
IN northwest India the cultivator
employs pundit TO select an auspi.
cioua time for the commencement Of
plcwing Great secrecy n observed. In
some places the time selected In IN the
night. IL others daybreak II the Gus
tomary time.
The pundit goos 10 neid, taking a
brass drinking vessel and O branch OF
the sacred mango tree. which is efiica.
cious 10 frightening away evil spirits
that may haunt the Geld. prithiyi. the
broad world. and sesha Naga. the
great snakes which support the world,
are supposed 10 be pFopltiated and
rcconciled BY this ccrcpony. The pun.
an satisfies himself al 10 the direction
IN which the great snaksis lying, for
II occasionally moves about little 70
ease itself Of the great burden OF the
broad world which II carries. The
pundIt then marks Oh an imaginary
line. Five "a lucky numberl clodg lof
earth are thrown up. and water Is
spFinkled insths trench 1Ee timee with.
the sacred mango, husn 70 insure pro
ductiveneaa. Caution must be exercised
lest the charm bc broken and prcspec-
tive fortune imperiled. The farmer
must remain secluded during the fol.
lowing day; no salt must be eaten, no
money. grain or DIRE given away.
Among the Karnas before plowing
the farmer makes burnt offering OF
butter and moiasses In his own field
and again at the village shrine,
The Chinese begin plowiug on the
first day Of their solar year. Anclently
the rites which were celebrated by the
Chinese at plowlng time were elabo.
rate. but rationalIstic sovercigns elm.
mated one expensive religious rite MI.
or another until nothing was left ex
cept the imperial act Of homage to
heaven and earth and agriculture in
the ceremonial piowing.
The Slamese observe a rite called
Raakua about the middle Of May.
which Is preliminary 10 the plowing
season. and II Is not proper FOR any
one to plow until the ceremony is
over The court astrologers determine
the tluie for 1t. On the day llxed By
them the minister of agriculture who
IL always prince or nobleman Of
high rank. goes with a procession TO a
piece Of ground some distance from
the capital. Where the festivities are
to take place a new plow, to which q
pair Of buifaloes are yoked. Is in readl-
ness, decorated with flowers and leaves
The minister guides the plow over
the field, closely watched by the spec
tators who are especially interested
in the length and folds Of the silk OF
his lower garments, because the pros.
perity Of the season and its character
istics, wet or dry. are to DO predicted |
from these az he follows the plo9. II
the robe rises from his knee there will