So long as the Etruscan calendar remained in use in civil life also, the nundines, on which the country people came to the city, were at the same time the days, on which the kings gave judges and administered justice, and on which business could be transacted before them according to the law. These nundines were thirty-eight in number, which always fell on the same day of the month every year. But when the twelve months' year was introduced, and it was at the same time found advisable to separate the nundines from the court-days, the number of the latter, the dies fasti, remained unaltered, thirty-eight: which is by the way a clear proof, that what I have said respecting the civil use of the ten months' year is not a mere fancy. But these thirty-eight days were now distributed among all the twelve months, without any perceptible rule being observed in the distribution: and as business increast, justice was administered on the comitial days also, when no comitia were held, and the pontiffs granted for the transaction of business even some hours of many dies nefasti, before the religious obstacle commenced or when it was over. It was therefore now a matter of importance to know, in order that time might not be lost by coming for no purpose, nor the proper times be neglected, which days were entirely nefasti and which only half and during what hours: and this every one was obliged to learn from the pontiffs as often as he wanted to know it.