Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-11-05
THE FLOWING SEASON
Ancient Superstitions of the Till
ers of the Soil.
SACRIFICES TO THE GODS.
Customs That Were In Vogue Among
the Romans of Old Ceremonies
That Are Observed In India and
china-Rites of the Siamese Farmers


That Are Observed In India and
china--Rites of the Siamese Farmers
The formal Inauguration of the plow-
ing season is very ancient and still is
observed in some parts of the world.
Among the Romans by the institution
of various religious festivals connect
ed With agriculture the seasons came
to be regarded with a sort of sacred
reverence. Before the old Roman put
the plow into the ground he went to
the temple of the goddess of earth,
Tellus, one of whose priests performed
certain propitiatory rites. Virgil in his
"Georgics" advises the Roman hus-
bandman to observe the signs on heav-
en- according to the crop he desires to
produce. The time to plow for fax,
barley and the sacred poppy was when
balance has equalized the hours of
day and sleep and halves the world
exactly between light and shade. When
Taurus ushers in the year with his
gilded horns and Sirius sits facing the
threatening bull is time for beans. For
wheat and spelt the Pleiades should
hide themselves from your eyes with
the dawn. Many have begun before
Maria sets. but the desired crop has
bafIled them with empty ears" But
first of all the poet admonishes the
farmer to "honor the gods and offer
sacrifices to Ceres"
In India there are certain days when
1t is unlawful to plow. Mother Earth
is supposed TO sleep six days in every
month, and on such days she refuses
to be disturbed in her slumber
In northwest India the cultlvator
cious time for the commencement OF
plowing. Great secrecy is observed In
some places the time selected is in the
night: In others daybreak is the Gus
tomary time.
The pundit goes to n field, taking
brass drinking vessel and a branch of
the sacred mango tree, which is efiica-
cious in frightening away evil spirits
that may haunt the field Prithivi. the
broad world. and Sesha Naga, the
great snakes which support the world
are supposed to be propitated and
reconciled by this ceremony. The pun
dit satisfies himself as to the direction
in which the great snake is lying, for
1t occasionally moves about little to
ease itself of the great burden of the
broad world which 1t carries The
pundlt then marks off an imaginary
line. Five "a lucky numbeJ clols Of
earth are thrown up, and water is
sprinkled in the trench five times with
the sacred mango bush to insure pro-
ductiveness. Caution must be exercised
lest the charm be broken and prospec-
tive fortune imperiled. The farmer
must remain secluded during the fol-
lowing day; no salt must be eaten, no
money. grain or fire given away.
Among the Karnas before plowing
the farmer makes a burnt offering of
butter and molasses In his own field
and again at the village shrine.
The Chinese begin plowing on the
first day of their solar year. Anciently
the rites which were celebrated by the
Chinese at plowing time were elabo
rate. but rationalistic sovereigns elm
mated one expensive religious rite aft
er another until nothing was left ex-
cept the imperial act of homage to
heaven and earth and agriculture in
the ceremonial plowing.
The Siamese observe a rite called
Raakua about the middle of May.
which is preliminary to the plowing
season. and 1t is not proper for any
one to plow until the ceremony is
over. The court astrologers determine
the time for 1t. On the day fixed by
them the minister of agriculture. who
is always q 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 a
pair of buffaloes are yoked. Is in readi,
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 o. dry, are to be predicted
from these as ne follows the ploI. II
the robe rises from his knee there will
be disastrous rains. If it falls below
his ankles there will be a drought. If
the folds reach midway between knee
and ankle the season will be prosper
Gus.
After proper number of burrows
have been turned old women strew
grain of different kinds in them and
bulls are released from the yoke and
allowed to feast upon the seeds. The
grain which the animals eat most free
ly will be scarce next harvest and that
which they refuse to take will be abun
dant
In Yorkshire it was considered un
wise TO disturb the earth with plow or
spade on Good Friday. Exchange
A Shipwreck.
Muggins, gazing intently at a dead
dog. in resigned tone ut last said: