SUTO ASTRONOMY. 207 



(^'" ka nia-ntjcboa," i.e., when it is "getting cool" (" tjididi ") 

 " again " (" boa "). 



The summer and winter solstices, though not ruling the Suto 

 year, are noted; the points where the sun "turns" ("boa") in 

 the middle of winter and where in summer are known accurately. 



The Basuto distinguish three different seasons of the year: 



" se-lemo," the " ploughing-time " or spring; 



" le-hlabola," the time when there are plenty of eatables 

 " sweet to the taste," or summer ; and 



" ma-rega," the time when the plants, etc., "rega," i.e., 

 " get dried up." 



The moon is called " kgwedi," or " ngwedi." 



The apparition of the new moon is always received with 

 cheers by the Basuto, especially by the children. The first who 

 sees it shouts : " kgwedi ce !" " there is the moon !" and soon a 

 many-voiced echo: "kgwedi oe!" is heard. 



The day after the new^ moon has made its appearance it is 

 forbidden to till the fields or to cut trees; it is a day of rest. 

 The moon must be left undisturbed to " tiea," i.e., " to become 

 strong," first. 



Tile appearance of the crescent is also carefully examined 

 by the Basuto. If its horns are turned down towards the earth 

 that is regarded as a good omen : " All sickness has been poured 

 out !" ; on the other hand, if the horns are turned towards heaven 

 that is a bad omen : " The moon is full of misfortunes !" 



There is a curious ceremony among the Basuto of present- 

 ing little children to the moon, which is performed when a child 

 enters its "second month" (" mo-kuruetjo "). 



As soon as the new moon appears in the sky plenty of " mo- 

 togo,"^pr 'Might beer," is prepared. The next evening after 

 sunset, when the moon becomes visible, the big girls of the kraal 

 call all children, boys and girls, together, take the child in ques- 

 tion together with the beer and go outside, not far away from 

 the kraal. The girls take hoes with them, the boys small 

 bows and arrows. Then they sit down ; one girl takes the 

 child, turns it towards the moon, and points to it, saying: 

 " Bona, mo-nkane wa gago shu ! " ; that is, " Look, there, 

 that is your friend ! " The girls then make . a little 

 garden for the child, plant, when in summer, some mealies, beans, 

 or monkey-nuts ; in the meantime the boys play with their bows 

 and arrows. When the girls have finished tilling and planting 

 their little piece of ground, then all sit down, enjoy their beer, 

 and afterwards go home. 



Each " moon " or month is considered as being a new one ; 

 the old one having "died" ("e huile"), a new one "sets" 

 ("e dutshe"). 



When the first quarter appears the moon is said to " file 

 off its horns" (" e ritela dinaka ") ; when it is full moon: "it 

 has filed ofif its horns" (" e ritetshe dinaka"), or "e tolokile," 



