Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/309

 The Religion of the Andaman Islanders. 269

out by the ideas regarding the Entada. The seed pods, I was told, must not be cut from the creeper, but it is quite permissible to eat the fallen seeds. Now, though the seed-pods are fully formed in September, the seeds do not fall until well on into the dry season. Similarly, the pith of the Caryota sobolifera palm must not be eaten until December, though some plants are ready for food in October. This theory explains what the natives mean when they say that the yams and these other various jungle products may not be eaten in the wet season, but may be so in the dry season. I was at first puzzled over this by the fact that they are not available for food during the greater part of the wet season, and that the prohibition therefore amounted to nothing. But if we understand that they are not to be eaten during or before November, the month of cyclones, not only has the prohibition some meaning, but it suggests that the explanation I offer may be the true one. The explanation did not, unfortunately, occur to me till after I had left the islands, or I might have been able to test it more fully.

There is an explanation of a similar kind for the beliefs concerning the cicada. But, as the cicada occupies an important place in Andamanese mythology and the discussion of the legends and beliefs about it would take up considerable space, I think it better not to enter upon it here.

Mr. Man says that the Andamanese believe of Puluga : —

"I. Though His appearance is like fire, yet He is (nowadays) invisible.

" 11. He was never born, and is immortal.

" ni. By Him the world and all objects, animate and inanimate, were created, excepting only the powers of evil.

" IV. He is regarded as omniscient while it is day, knowing even the thoughts of their hearts.