Heretofore I have mentioned already that every nation uses a special era of its own. And in the same degree as they differ in the use of the eras, they differ regarding the beginning of the months, regarding the number of days of each of them, and the reasons assigned therefor. Of this subject, I mention what I have learnt, and do not attempt to find out what I do not know for certain, and regarding which I have no information from a trustworthy person. And first we give the months 10 of the Persians.
Months of the Persians.—The number of the months of one year is twelve, as God has said in his book (Sûra ix. 36): "With God the number of the months was twelve months, in the book of God, on the day when God created the heavens and the earth." On this subject there is no difference of opinion between the nations, except in the leap-years. So the Persians have twelve months of the following names:—
| Farwardîn Mâh. | Mihr Mâh. |
| Ardîbahisht Mâh. | Âbân Mâh. |
| Khurdâdh Mâh. | Âdhar Mâh. |
| Tîr Mâh. | Dai Mâh. |
| Murdâdh Mâh. | Bahman Mâh. |
| Shahrêwar Mâh. | Isfandârmadh Mâh. |
I have heard the geometrician 'Abû Sa'îd 'Aḥmad ben Muḥammad ben 'Abd-aljalîl Alsijzî relating of the ancient inhabitants of Sijistân, that they called these months by other names and commenced likewise with Farwardîn Mâh. The names are these—
| I. كواذ | III. اوسال |
| رهو | تير |
