Time-keeping
British time is used in Celephaïs at the order of King Kuranes, but in parallel with the system used in the rest of the Dreamlands, which defines 12 “hours” in a day. Each is split into advancing and retreating halves.
For the Hour of the Rat, for example, from 23:00 to midnight would be the Hour of the Advancing Rat, and the second from midnight to 01:00 the Hour of the Retreating Rat.
| Hour | Span |
| Rat | 23:00–01:00 |
| Ox | 01:00–03:00 |
| Tiger | 03:00–05:00 |
| Hare | 05:00–07:00 |
| Dragon | 07:00–09:00 |
| Snake | 09:00–11:00 |
| Horse | 11:00–13:00 |
| Sheep | 13:00–15:00 |
| Monkey | 15:00–17:00 |
| Cock | 17:00–19:00 |
| Dog | 19:00–21:00 |
| Boar | 21:00–23:00 |
