Elements of the Jewish and Muhammadan Calendars: With Rules and Tables and Explanatory Notes on the Julian and Gregorian Calenders

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About the Book This book is contained Excerpt from Elements of the Jewish and Muhammadan Calendars: With Rules and Tables and Explanatory Notes on the Julian and Gregorian Calendars The following treatises on the Jewish and Muhammadan Calendars were not originally intended for separate publication. They were first written as part of a more comprehensive book containing an account of other Calendars and Eras to which reference was frequently made. He found it possible to publish this portion of the work, gladly availed myself of the opportunity, and rearranged the MS. in such a manner that it assumed its present form.

About the Author Burnaby, Sherrard Beaumont (1732-1812) vicar of Hampstead and famous author. He was an Angliean clergyman who had visited Mount Vernon in 1759 and 1760. At this time he was vicar of Greenwich. In 1762 Burnaby was appointed Chaplain to the English factory at Leghorn in Tuscan and he remained there until about 1767 Anna Edwyn Burnaby, whom he married in 1770. He published an account Travels through the Middle Settlement in North America at London in 1775.

Preface Tuz following treatises on the Jewish and Muhammadan Calendars were not originally intended for separate publication. They were first written as part of a more comprehensive book containing an account of other Calendars and Eras to which reference was frequently made. When, through the kindness of friends among my parishioners at Hampstead, I found it possible to publish this portion of the work, I gladly availed myself of the opportunity, and rearranged the MS. in such a manner that it assumed its present form. This, I thought, rendered it necessary to add some brief explanatory notes on the Julian and Gregorian Calendars, such as might take the place of references made to Articles in the larger work.

A work of this kind must, of necessity, partake more or less of the nature of a compilation. Without claim to originality, I have endeavoured to bring to a focus materials gleaned from many various sources, as indicated by the list of books which I have consulted. There will, consequently, be found herein little, perhaps, which may not be read elsewhere; but many of the books and pamphlets which have been written on these Calendars are not easily accessible to the general reader, and in many, though rules are given and legal enactments respecting them are stated, the reasons for these rules and enactments are not fully and clearly described. This is particularly the case with respect to the Jewish Calendar; while, with regard to the Muhammadan, the rules for the reduction of Hijra dates to the Christian Era are generally of such a nature that implicit reliance cannot be placed upon them.

I have endeavoured to simplify the rules for both Calendars, and to explain the reasons for them in such a manner that a student who will take the trouble to read this book may not have to encounter the same difficulties which I myself experienced when I commenced the study of the subject. I have perhaps used too much freedom in my criticisms; if that be the case, I can only express the hope that others may be more lenient with respect to errors and imperfections which they may detect in my own work.

I have spared no pains in trying to render the Chronological Tables as accurate as possible by careful revision. The Christian dates corresponding to Tishrt 1, Nisin 15, and Muharram 1 are not usually given beyond A.D. 2000 or thereabouts. I have computed them for an additional thousand years.

I am much indebted to the Rev. Dr. Lowy and to the Very Rev. Dr. Gaster for valuable assistance afforded me with respect to the Jewish Calendar, and particularly to Mr. James Kennedy, of H.M. Bengal Civil Service, in the first place for the suggestion by which the publication of the work has been made possible, and, again, for bringing to may notice many of the books which I have found useful. I have also, through Mr. Kennedy, become indebted to Mr. A. G. Ellis, Curator of Oriental MSS. in the British Museum, who was good enough to correct my transliteration of Arabic words and names. It must not, however, be supposed that any of these gentlemen is answerable for errors or misprints, for none of them has seen either my MS. or the proof sheets.

**Contents and Sample Pages**