1. The constellation Canis Major (the Greater Dog) has Sirus as its lucida. "Canis Major, the Greater Dog of the southern heavens, and thus Canis Australis, lies immediately to the southeast of Orion, cut through its centre by the Tropic of Capricorn, and with its eastern edge on the Milky Way. It is Cane Maggiore in Italy; Cães in Portugal; Grand Chien in France; and Grosse Hund in Germany." (Allen)
Sirius is not the eye of the Dog but its nose - perhaps because canines are more interested in using their noses than their eyes. But, we remember, the Great Face resting on the true Rudder also has its star (ν Puppis) at the nose:
Maybe this Great Face represents Sun and his nose the high point of midsummer. A star at midsummer would then be at his nose, from where the association to the dog's marvellous organ for smelling will be natural. I remember the dream soul at the edge or Rano Kau: ... The dream soul climbed up and reached the rim of the crater. As soon as the dream soul looked into the crater, she felt a gentle breeze coming toward her. She named the place 'Poko Uri A Hau Maka O Hiva' ...
And Makoi too had use for his nose: "Makoi got up and began to familiarize himself with the (new) land. (This took place) on the fifteenth day of the month of June ('Maro'). He went toward the sheer face of the rocks (titi o te opata), was astonished (aaa), came up to the middle (of the outer rim of the crater), and stood at the very edge. He looked down and saw the 'Pu Mahore of Hau Maka' (on the coast) and said, 'There it is, the hole of the mahore fish of Hau Maka!' He turned his face and looked toward the back (i.e., in the direction of the crater). No sooner had he seen how the dark abyss opened up (below him), when a fragrant breeze came drifting by. Again Makoi said, 'This is the dark abyss of Hau Maka'. He turned around, walked on in utter amazement, and arrived at the house. He spoke to Ira, 'Hey you, my friends! How forgetful we (truly) are. This place is adequate (? tau or 'beautiful'), the dark abyss lies there peacefully!' Ira replied, 'And what should that remind us of up here?' All arose and climbed up. They went on and arrived; they all had a good look (at the inside of the crater). They returned home and sat down. Night fell, and they went to sleep." (Manuscript E according to The Eighth Island) The contrast between the high dry rim of the crater on one hand and the low dark watery bottom inside the crater is similar to that between Te Pou and Te Pei - although in opposite order. Beyond midsummer Sun moves in the opposite direction, as if in a mirror. |