Indian Antiquary Vol 53

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

Page 167

JULY, 1924)
THE RELIGIOUS SITUATION OF THE ANDAMANESE
159
MIDDLE TRIBES. AKA-KEDE-A bird who had had no honey given it, made a noise at night whilst the cicadæ were singing, and disturbed their song. A great storm arose; it rained heavily, and the sea rose over the land. The people took refuge in the top of a Dipterocarpus tree (the highest tree in the Andaman Islands). Mima Mite (dove) saved the fire under a cooking pot. AKA-KOL--The ancestors were playing one evening and making & noise while the cicada was singing. Then Bilik got angry and sent a great oyclone. All the people were turned into animals. A-PUCHIKWAR-AKA-BALE—Da Kolwot (tree-lizard) got furious whilst dancing and drove the people violently away, so that they were turned into all sorts of animals. Berep (& small crab) in the end held him tightly by the arm.
SOUTHERN TRIBES. AKAR-BEDE-Da Kwokol becomes furious whilst dancing and drives the people into the sea and bushes, so that they turned into animals there. Da Berag bit hard into his arm, so that he died. At that his mother was furious and cut down the plant tokoul, at which Poluga became so angry that he sent a great storm which killed the mother and all the people in that place. AKAR-BALE-AKA-BEA-Kolwot gets furious at a dance and drives the people in all directions, so that they turned into animals. Berebi comes and bites deep into his arm; he dies. At that his mother becomes so furious that in her pain she asks the people to do things that would enrage Puluga : " Burn the wax, grind the seed of the Entadu ; destroy the Caryota; dig up the various yams; destroy everything." At that Puluga became extremely angry and sent the flood which killed all living things with the exception of two men and two women. AKAR-BALE-In a great storm and mighty deluge Da Duku (monitor-lizard), the first man, tried to save the fire by climbing a tree, but he could not climb with it. . Then In Baia (the civet-cat) took the fire up a hill and saved it. AKA-BEA-After the death of Kolwot, who was the first to spear and catch turtles, the people grew inore disobedient, and as Puluga ceased to visit them, they became more remiss in the observance of his commands. Then Puluga's wrath burst forth, and without warning he suddenly sent a great flood that covered the whole land and destroyed all living. Only two men and two women, who happened to be in a boat, saved themselves and landed in Wota-emi. When the flood subsided, Paluga recreated everything
The characteristic differences between the Andamanese myths of the deluge can be summarized as follows:
1. Everywhere the violation of Bilik Puluga's commands is the cause of the great flood. 2. In the North taking in the Aka-Kede se well, it is the disturbing of the Cicada song. 3. In the South, beginning with the A-Puchikwar, it is an incident connected with Kolwot, at whose death his mother destroyed the plants protected by Puluga, and incited others to do so as well.