2IO SUTO ASTRONOMY. 



shield," and known to us as the large and small Magellanic 

 Clouds. 



Of the constellations which bear a name in Suto, the best 

 known is that of the Pleiades. They call it " selemela," that is, 

 the " ploughing constellation," corresponding to " isilimela " in 

 Zulu, because its rising in the early morning of July or August 

 tells the Mosuto that ploughing-time is at hand. 



Another constellation known to the 'Basuto is called 

 " thutlwa,' that is, the " giraffe." It is composed of two stars 

 of the Southern Cross (x\lpha and Beta Crucis), and the two 

 pointers to the cross (Alpha and Beta Centauri) ; the former 

 ones are called the '" male " ones ("tshe di-tona ") ; the other 

 two the "female" ones ( " tshe di-thsadi"). If seen low down 

 close to the south-western "horizon" ("mo-napi"), just after 

 sunset, it tells the Mosuto the same thing as the Pleiades, namely, 

 that he must, soon start ploughing. 



" Ma-gakgala " is another constellation known to the Basuto. 

 It is Composed of Alpha and Beta Orionis (Rigel and Betelgeux), 

 and Alpha Canis (Sirius), and Alpha Canis Minoris (Procyon). 



Orion's belt is named " makolobe," that is, the " pigs." 



The twins, Castor and Pollux, bear the name of " ma- 

 selatheko." 



The Milky Way is known, as " mo-lalatladi," that is, the 

 place where the " tladi " bird, " lala " ("rests"). This 

 " tladi " bird is said to cause lightning. 



Comets are called " naledi tsha mesela," that is, " stars with 

 tails." When they appear they mean the death of a great chief. 



