“The better informed Malays acknowledge the solar year of 365 days, which
they term the toun (tahun) shemsiah, but in obedience to their Mohammedan
instructors, adopt the lunar year (toun kumriah) of 354 days.”^239
This remark is still true, no doubt, of the up-country Malays on the West Coast,
but in most districts, and to an extent commensurate with European influence,
the solar year is now being gradually introduced.
The same remark applies to the method of reckoning months, a dual system
being now in vogue in many places where there is most contact with Europeans.
Regarding the native methods the following quotation is to the point:—
“There are three ways of reckoning the months. First, the Arabian, computing
thirty days to the first month, and twenty-nine to the second month, and so on
alternately to the end of the year.
“Second, the Persian mode, viz. thirty days to each month; and, thirdly, that of
Rum, i.e. thirty-one days to the month. The first is in general use. Some few,
with greater accuracy, calculate their year at 354 days eight hours, intercalating
every three years twenty-four hours, or one day to make up the deficiency, and
thirty-three days for the difference between the solar and lunar years.
“But the majority of the lower classes estimate their year by the fruit seasons and
by their crops of rice only. Many, however, obstinately adhere to the lunar
months, and plant their paddy at the annual return of the lunar month.”
“The Malay months have been divided into weeks of seven days, marked by the
return of the Mohammedan Sabbath. Natives who have had intercourse with
Europeans divide the day and night into twenty-four parts, but the majority
measure the day by the sun’s apparent progress through the heavens, the crow of
the cock, etc. The religious day commences at sunset, like that of the Arabs and
Hebrews.”
“There are two cycles borrowed from the Arabs, and known only to a few, viz.
one of 120 years, the dour^240 besar, and the other of eight, dour kechil. The
latter is sometimes seen in dates of letters, and resembles the mode adopted by
us of distinguishing by letters the different days of the week, substituting eight
years for the seven days. The order of the letters is as follows: Alif-ha-jim-za-