Incomplete House and Goat – Bintoéng bola képpang and bembé
REGION
Bugis / Indo-Malay
Bugis / Indo-Malay
OBJECT
Crux / Southern Cross, Coalsack Nebula
Crux / Southern Cross, Coalsack Nebula
SOURCE
Adapted from Gene Ammarell, Astronomy in the Indo‐Malay Archipelago (2008).
Adapted from Gene Ammarell, Astronomy in the Indo‐Malay Archipelago (2008).
The Southern Cross (B) is one of the asterisms used by Bugis sailors for navigation, called bintoéng bola képpang, meaning "incomplete house star".
Visualized as an "incomplete house of which one post is shorter than the other and, therefore, appears to be limping", Crux is used in conjunction with Alpha and Beta Centauri to navigate along southerly routes; like Alpha and Beta Centauri, it is known to set "southwest." Interestingly, it was emphasised that Crux is also used to help in predicting the weather.
On the eastern side of the house, however, there is a small dark patch totally devoid of light which is seen as a bembé 'goat' (Coalsack Nebula - B.1). Between the squall clouds of the rainy season the goat in the sky may be seen standing, as goats are wont to do, outside the house trying to get in out of the rain. There are nights, however, when the goat is gone from the protection of the house. Hidden by haze, the missing goat portends a period of calm air and little rain.