Collectanea. 177
is the IMotusia (the first day of appearing) ; and the tenth day after is Tatelenga (the great day for getting the Palolo). The fifth time of re-cooking the land crabs which were obtained on the second night of their appearance is the Motusia, that is the first appearance of the Palolo. But this counting of the time for the Palolo is a difficult matter, because the opinion of wise men about the matter is drawn hither and thither. One count is right, another count is wrong. Is it like the days which go along regularly as we see them in the almanack ?
It is very surprising the signs (portents) which are connected with Palolo. Their coming is accompanied with (or causes) hurricanes, rains, many troublesome contrary winds and heavy breakers. The influence continues until they have entered into hiding. Then there is quiet. The calm only comes when the Palolo has escaped into hiding again. Behold this little fish, how surpris- ing it is that it should have such influence as to cause the heavens to shake with thunder and also the lightning. It is just like a chief. It is seldom seen in the sea or the ocean, but only on the eighth, ninth, and tenth day (after the moon being visible at dawn) in the month of October and then it goes away, for it is only known yearly, very seldom indeed. Behold, it is just like the conduct of a chief. No one knows its origin, whose child it is. Is it the child or off- spring of the (deposit from the) froth ? That is one opinion, that it is born from the froth of the sea, a thing like salt which settles down in the places where the Palolo is got. This stuff smells of the sea, and, when the time is near for getting Palolo, if there is a strong smell of the sea, men think there will be plenty of Palolo because the sea foam smells so strongly. This is the reason why men think that the Palolo comes from the (deposit from) sea foam. The sea foam (deposit from) is a white stuff like salt, its name is peapia of the sea. That word, peapia, is a bad (obscene) word. When the surf breaks on the reef the froth of the breaker becomes white (milky). What makes the word bad is that it is used to abuse men and women. It is doubtful with regard to Palolo where it comes from, whether from the reef, or a stone, or the evil-smelling Pua like the froth of the sea, or from some other thing. I suppose, however, that it comes from the Pua (peapia, froth) of the sea.
M
