Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 563

BKPTEMBER, 1923)
DICTIONARY OF THE SOUTH ANDAMAN LANGUAGE
199
APPENDIX XIII-contd. The custom of tattooing is not found among the onge-järawa-. The art of producing fire by means of stonos or any other of the recognised primitive methods has never apparently-or at least not from remote times-been known to these Islanders, who consequently exerciso much care and ingenuity in maintaining their hut fires.11 For further particulars regarding the use of chips and flakes, see Journ. R. Anthrop. Inst., Vol. XII, pp. 85-7, 331-2, and 335.
51. Uta-. (PI. D.) Cyrena shell. Great use is made of this and of other varieties of shells of this class, viz., as knives for cutting thatching leaves, leaf wrappers and screens; for making the ornamental incisions on bows, paddles, elc.; for planing purposes; for sharpening the boar's tusk (item 47) and bamboo and cane knives (items 68 and 69); in the manufacture of arrows; for making netting needles (item 67), bamboo tongs (item 80); also the ära. (item 73); and ara-tig-jéralinga- (item 85), aj- (item 76), besides mats (item 23) and various articles of personal attire and adornment (items 24—31); for preparing the fibres obtained from the anodendron paniculatum, gnetum edule and melochia velutina (items 64, 65 and 66): they are also used as spoons in eating the gravy of pork, turtle, etc., and are in fact in such constant demand that a supply is always carried about to be ready for use. [At pp. 86.7 of the Journal above quoted other occasions are mentioned on which this common shell is employed for domestic purposes.)
52. talag- (Pl. D.) Hone or whetstone. When required for use the worker, sitting with knees apart, tailor-fashion, and having a suitable stone between his feet (see Pl. viii), holds the blade or arrow-head firmly on it with his left hand, and proceeds with the tålagin his right hand, to rub briskly the parts in need of sharpening. In order to provide the necessary moisture he now and again licks the metal as well as the hone, with the result that his tongue becomes coated with rust and stone dust, which as a matter of course he swallows.
53. nip-l'âr-bul-. The sharp retrorsely serrate spine near the base of the tail of the sting-ray (trygon bleekeri): in former times their fish-arrows were often pointed with these spines (see item 7 and Pl. E. 4 and 7); it is, therefore, probable that the early reports of their arrows being poisoned are due to this circumstance; certainly serious flesh wounds are caused by them.
54. garen. (dentalium octogonum). These tubular "tooth" (or "tusk ") shells, being fairly common and well adapted for decorative purposes, are extensively used in the manufacture of their personal ornaments and for the adornment of various implements and utensils. (See Pl. B, 9: Pl. D, 29, 34, 42, and 44 ; Pl. E, 45 and 46 ; and Pl. x, figg. 2 and 3.)
55. (rim-) toug- Resin obtained from a species of celtis ; is pale yellow in colour and possesses an agreeable perfume when heated; being only obtainable in comparatively small quantities it is reserved for use in the manufacture of kânga-ta-baj. (item 62).
55-a. (mail) toug- Resin obtained from a large tree, known as mali. (see App. XI) of the sterculia sp.; this is used (a) for caulking canoes and buckets when necessary to render them water-tight, and (b) in the manufacture of torches (item 70) and for lighting the boundary of the balum. (dancing-ground) during an entertainment.
56. âja-pij-. Wax of the golden (or white) honey-comb; it is one of the ingredients in kanga-ta-baj. (item 62), and is also used in the manufacture of certain articles, e.g., the chåpanga- (item 22).
11 Tho doath-dealing properties of fire-arms and the facility with which we are able to produce firu were the two greatest surprises experienced by these islanders after the establishment of the Indian Penal Settlement in 1868, and few gifts have since proved more acceptable than a box of natches.