authority, by the promulgation of such simple rules that any educated man may be able to construct a calendar of any year for himself. The author claims that the rules proposed in paragraph 127 fulfil this condition.
133. No doubt it would be possible without the promulgation of any rules to fix the watat and yet-ngin in advance for a long series of years by notification. If it be conceded that Government should do this, it may be asked what is there to choose between adopting Table II which is the result of Thandeikta methods and adopting Table III which is compiled in accordance with the rules proposed for a reformed calendar in paragraph 127. The answer is that so far as results in the near future are concerned there is very little to choose. In 24 years out of 82 the Lagwè is nearer to the real new moon in table III than in table II, and table III makes 18 out of every 19 solar years begin in Tagu, whereas table II makes 22 of the 82 years begin in Kason. But table III has this advantage, that it is based on simple rules by which the whole of it could be reconstructed at any time in an hour or two, given the details for any one year; and the same rules would carry it on for ever; whereas if table II be adopted the rules of Thandeikta will in 1266 B. E. create a serious departure from correct principles by placing lent later than ever in the season, and further errors will be introduced at intervals of 130 years or less. Long and tedious calculations are required to determine the watat and yet-ngin by Thandeikta; these are all abolished by the proposed rules for a reformed calendar.
134. The Arakanese calendar, it is believed, has never been officially notified by Government since the annexation of that part of the Province. There was apparently no need to do so, because the calendar had been fixed for 2000 years at once, and no controversy about the correctness of it seems to have arisen. Lent is falling later in the season than it used to be, but the Arakanese calendar would go on for about 1400 years more before the average lent would get so late as the average lent by Thandeikta is now. Therefore there seems to be no reason why the Arakanese calendar should be interfered with. Its chief defect is the error of the solar year. That could be corrected, if so desired, without any interference with the luni-solar year.
