206 FUNGUS CAUSING ROOT-DISEASE OF SUGAR-CANE. 



addition to cane, it has also been found on a number of grasses, 

 and we, by planting Imperata arundinacca (the um-Tente grass) 

 in tubs to the soil of which was added sterilised maize on which 

 the fungus was growing, have shown it capable of subsisting at 

 the base of this grass. Probably it occurs on this and other 

 grasses in South Africa in the wild state also. Whether the true 

 Marasmius sacchari occurs in South Africa must remain un-. 

 decided until toadstools of it are collected. 

 Natal Herbarium, 

 Berea, Durban, 

 June, 1919. 



SUTO ASTRONOMY. 



By Rev. G. Beyer. 



With I Fi8[ure. 



Read July 10, 191 9. 



Although the Basuto, from our point of view, possess a more 

 or less limited knowledge of Astronomy, it is, however, interest- 

 ing and worth the trouble to inquire how far this knowledge 

 goes, and what ideas primitive people form of the celestial world. 



The sun is called " le-tjatji," in old Sesuto " le-laka," cor- 

 responding to " i-langa " in Zulu. 



It is considered as a big, burning disc, which passes over 

 the " le-ratadima " (sky) from " bo-hlabatjatji " ("east") to 

 " bo-sobelatjatji " (" west ") . 



Each day, in their ideas, has its own sun ; in the evening 

 the old one, " sobela " (" disappears"), the next morning another 

 sun will " hlaba " ("pierce"), and so on. 



The constant observation of the sun has created a wonder- 

 ful sense of orientation amongst the Basuto. They will never 

 lose sight of "the north" (" le-tzweta ") or "the south" ("bo- 

 rwa," i.e., the country where the " Ba-rwa " ("Bushmen") 

 live; they always know where the sun rises and sets. When 

 travelling with them they will never be in uncertainty about the 

 direction. 



Last, but not least, the sun is for the Mosuto what a watch 

 is for us. If they want to make an arrangement for a rendez- 

 vous at an appointed hour they point to a place in the sky and 

 say : " We shall meet when the sun stands there !" It may be 

 in the morning ("go-sasa" or " bo-sasa," i.e., when "the day 

 is breaking"); at noon (" mo-segare," i.e., when the sun is 

 in "the middle of its orbit") ; in the afternoon ("ka me-riti " 

 i.e., when " the shadows grow longer ") ; or in the. evening 



