The Jewish and Muhammadan Calendars. By the Rev. Sherrard Beaumont
Burnaby. (G. Bell and Sous. 21s. net.)—Mr. Burnaby devotes about two-thirds of his book to an elaborate description of the Jewish Calendar from the earliest times. From this he passes to the Muhammadan Calendar, and he completes his subject by a third part, in which he gives an account of the Julian and Gregorian Calendars. The early reckoning of the Jewish year was of the most primitive kind. The first act of the year was the offering of a sheaf of ripe barley. This was to be done on the sixteenth day of Nisan. If no barley was ripe at that time, it was taken to prove that the reckoning was too early, and a month was intercalated. Little change was made in the system till the time of the Dispersion. After this astronomical calculations were brought into use. It did not assume its present character till far on in the present era. The Muhammadan Calendar is still, we may say, barbarous. It is purely lunar, and consequently every feast migrates, so to speak, through the whole of the year. Ramadan thus moves, and is naturally far more burdensome in the long days than in the short. Mr. Burnaby's collection of facts has been carefully put together.
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