"KIALA" 295 



Silence has now to be observed for a month ; no fire or light 

 may be seen, and no cheroot smoked in the place : women and 

 children are interdicted from entering, but should they be com- 

 pelled to do so, they must make no noise, and if at night, must 

 leave their light at the entrance. 



The people can give no account of the origin of this 

 observance. Some allude to "custom," and others say that it 

 is because so many spirits visit the place at this season. 



Thirty days after the festival concludes, a great feast is given 

 to the spirits, and they are sent back to the jungle. 



Canoes are kept beneath the houses for several months, 

 until the festival of Kiala, or fetching food, when they are brought 

 to the beach at Elpanam, caulked, and made ready for use. 



On the day of Kiala the men are out all day, with hook 

 and line, fishing. When they return in the evening with their 

 catch, each immediately offers as a sacrifice to the canoe a 

 mixture of chopped fish and other materials, which are made 

 into a paste and applied to the vessel. The fish they have 

 caught are skewered on bamboo and roasted. Those unable 

 to go during the day set out at night with torches prepared for 

 the occasion. 



Next day is Ajioi-ila, a holiday, and in the morning all 

 assemble in the houses at Elpanam and partake collectively 

 of the roasted fish with other things. Then they sleep till 

 evening, and do no work. 



A day following closely is called Enwan-n'gi (fishing again 

 for the children). As a rule, the fish caught on the first expedition 

 is all consumed at the general banquet, but this is taken 

 to the houses and eaten there. A holiday again follows. 



To attract fish to their shores it is customary for the villages 

 to erect on the beach at Elpanam, when the sea is calm, a 

 number of long bamboos decorated with leaves, etc. This 

 practice is called Ma-ya-kuv-ka-ma-ka — Papa is going this way 

 to fetch fish. The poles remain for four days, and after they 

 are removed, the large canoes obtained at Chaura are fed {Ngya 

 dp), and fowls are offered to them in sacrifice. 



