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JULY, 1924]
THE RELIGIOUS SITUATION OF THE ANDAMANESE
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AKA-JERU-1. Whilst Biliku slept Lirchitno (Kingfisher) stole the fire from her. She threw the pearl shell at him and cut off his head, whereupon fire came out of his neck. From that time mankind had fire.
2. In other versions, other beings discovered fire, but it only reaches mankind through force and cunning.
3. Biliku lived in enmity with mankind, ate up their food and killed them in a variety of ways.
AKA-KEDE-1. Lirtit (Kingfisher) steals the fire from the sleeping Biliku. She throws a pearl shell after him and cuts off his tail and wings. Mite (dove) throws a firebrand into the sky and there it becomes the sun.
2. Biliku (masculine) looks at the people to see if they have eaten his food, which consisted of certain plants, and kills them when they have. The people then get together and kill him and his wife, and drive Mite, his child, towards the North-east. AKA-JOWOI-The imperial pigeon stole a firebrand from the sleeping Bilik and gave it to mankind.
AKA-KOL-Luratut (Kingfisher) steals the fire from the sleeping Bilik.
A-PUCHIKWAR-Luratut steals the fire from sleeping Bilik. She took up a "lighted brand" and threw it at Luratut. She was enraged and went away to live in the sky.
SOUTHERN TRIBES.
AKAR-BALE.-1. Puluga (according to another version: the Skink) gave the fire to the first human beings Da Duku and In Baia.
2. The fish Dim-Dora stole the fire from Puluga's platform (another version : from the land of departed spirits). He threw it at the people who were burnt; they rushed away and became fishes of a red colour.
3. In the old times Puluga lived in Jila (East) and the Andamanese in Pulugu-l'odbaraij. Puluga was always angry with the people and used to destroy their huts and property. So the people sent him out of the world saying: "We do not want you here any longer." He went to the North-east.
AKA-BEA-1. Luratut stole the fire from the sleeping Puluga, but let it fall and burnt Puluga with it. He took the firebrand and burnt Luratut with it. The ancestors received the fire.
2. Puluga gave the fire to the first human being Tomo, after he had created him and taught him how to use it. He himself obtained fire by bidding the sun to come and set fire to a stacked up pile of rood.
3. Puluga let the first human beings themselves prepare a pyre and then struck it, on which the fire was kindled. The spirit Lachi Puna Abolola. who accompanied Puluga, then instructed Tomo how to cook food.
4. The fourth version is substantially like the first, only its taking place is postponed till after the great deluge which extinguished all fires.
The following general conclusions are established:
1. The myth showing that the fire was stolen from Bilik-Puluga, mostly by the Kingfisher, is to be found in all the tribes.
2. In the two Southern tribes, especially in Aka-Bea, an essentially different form is found as well; i.e., that Puluga gave mankind the fire willingly and kindly, and taught them how to use it.
