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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(MAY, 1995.
134.
235.
136.
137.
138.
139.
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14. Articles of Shells and Fibres. Ck-kanlai (C. N. Ko-niat). Capsu rugosa, Arca, or Anatinide shells, used for scraping the kernel of the ripe cocoanut in order to form paste. When so employed it is styled kanchūat-ngoat, lit., scratch-cocoanat (vide No. 41). Ok-kaniahan (C. N. Kannih). Cardium and similar shells, used in the same way and for the same purpose as the ok-kanlai (vide No. 134). Ok heõu. Shell of the genus Mytilus. Is used for removing the pellicle of Pandanus drupes, by scraping with the sharp edge of the shell, and prior to using the Cyrena shell (vide No. 137). Ok-hangai (C. N. Konfūat or Tenkön). Cyrena shell, used for removing the pulp from partially boiled Pandanus drupes when preparing the paste : also at Chowra, when pot-moulding, in order to remove particles of stone, etc., from the clay surfaces of the utensil in process of manufacture. Small specimens are sometimes used by old persons as spoons, when eating the soft fruit of the unripe cocoanut. For this purpose, however, it is more usual to improvise a spoon by cutting off with a dáo a small portion of the outer husk of the nut. Ok-pūka. Cypraea shell, used at Chowra for smoothing the surfaces of a newly-moulded pot, prior to baking. Ok-dēgà (C. N. Ok-mopiat). Dried ray-fish hide, used as a grater in preparing an ointment called Kala-fēna (composed of the powder of a certain jungle-seed mixed with cocoanut-oil), which is applied to the temples as a cure for head-ache. Also employed, like emery-cloth, or sand-paper, for smoothing surfaces of wood
and cocoanut-shells. (1) Ok-ho. Bark-cloth, prepared from the bark of the Ficus brevicwspis, chiefly by
the women of the coast and inland tribes of Great Nicobar. It is worn, in the form of skirts, by the coast-women of Great Nicobar when mourning. Many of the Shom Pen women wear it continually, when unable to procure calico from their coast neighbours. The process of manufacture is simply soaking a piece of the bark of the requisite dimensions in a fresh-water stream till the pulpy substance can be readily extracted by pounding the material between large smooth stones. When only the fibrous substance remains the piece is spread,
or suspended, in the sun to dry. . Ii. Fibre obtained from the bark of the Anodendrum paniculatum. It was
formerly used for providing thread for sewing, bat cotton thread, parchased from ship-traders, is now in common use. It is sometimes used for cleaning Pandanus paste, when hennoat fibre is not at hand (vide No. 144). The Andamanese regard this as the most valuable fibre obtainable on their islands; their bow-strings, arrow
fastenings, fine-nets, etc., are made of it. (). Ii-dai-shuru. Fibre of the pineapple-leaf. It has at times been used for sewing
purposes, and also for cleaning Pandanns-paste (vide No. 144). (f). Paiyua. Fibre of the Gnetum edule. Althongh known to the Nicobarese, their
wants being better supplied by other plants or means, they have apparently never had recourse to this fibre, which is extensively used by Andamanese in the manufacture of their hand-fishing-nets, sleeping-mats, and occasionally for arrow
fastenings. (f). Hennoat (C. N. Hanau). Fibre obtained from the Melochia velutina (Nic.
Henpoan). One of these fibres serves the useful purpose of removing the fine filaments from a loaf of freshly prepared Pandanus-pa ste. This work is performed
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