SUTO ASTRONOMY. 



209 



" naledi ea masa," that is, the " morning star." It tells people 

 that the dawn will soon be there! 



Of the fixed stars are known Canopus (Alpha Argi) ; it is 

 called " naka/' or "horn," and Achernar (Alpha Eridani), 

 which is called " se-nakane," or " hornlet," diminutive of " naka." 



Both stars play an important part amongst the Basuto, as 

 regards the computation of their calendar, especially the former 

 one (Canopus). "E a dishwa," that means: "It is carefully 

 watched " during the time it is expected to become visible (about 



The Constellations of the southern sky in the middle of summer, as 

 known to the Basuto. 



the end of May). The person who first informs the chief of its 

 appearance gets a gift from him; in olden times he got a heifer 

 as a present. On the very same day the chief calls all his witch- 

 doctors together at his head-kraal ; each one has to ask his 

 bone-dice what the new year will bring, good or bad luck, because 

 the old year has passed now and a new one has begun. 



Both stars (Canopus and Achernar), in the ideas of the 

 Basuto, have their " shield," which accompanies each of them 

 on its course over the sky. They call it " se-thlako sa naka," or 

 " Canopus' shield," and " se-thlako sa se-nakane," or " Achernar's 



