 his saying an appointment with good news means with the heat. and his saying an informant of his soldiers means the insects that appear informing of the approach of the heat. its rising is on the twentyfifth night of february and its falling is on the four nights remaining of august. the rhymer says when sad alakhbiya rises the water skins are worn out the enclosures are lowered and the buildings are brought close together. the water skins are only oiled because in the winter they dry up and become covered with dust due to people not drawing water from them so they are oiled at this time when they are needed.
قوله موعدا بشره ، يريد بالحر. وقوله مخبرة جنوده يعنى الهوام التى تظهر تخبر بأقبال الحر. وطلوعه لخمس وعشرين ليلة تخلو من شباط. وسقوطه لأربع ليال تبقى من آب. يقول الساجع إذا طلع سعد الأخبيه، ذهنت الأسقيه، ونزلت الأحويه، وتجاورت الأبنيه ٣ . وانما تدهن الاسقية لانها فى الشتاء قد يبست وشننت لتركهم الاستقاء فيها، فتدهن فى هذا الوقت عند الحاجة إليها.