298 CUSTOMS OF THE KAR NICOBARESE 



This day is one of much rejoicing, for the natives consider 

 the kiisuhu one of their greatest deHcacies. 



Next day is called Anoi-ila — day of rest for the people. 



Then, the eighth after Kewi-apa, comes the day Ha-chu, on 

 which they take back the devil to the jungle with more ceremony. 

 Having returned from this, they engage in a hunt, with the aid 

 of dogs, for jungle pigs. 



The day following is Anoi-ila ; on the next, a second pig hunt 

 takes place ; and finally, one more " day of rest " ends the festival. 



Maya, or Vani-el-kui, means " top decoration," and for this, long 

 green bamboos are brought from the jungle and encircled with 

 leaves from top to bottom. They are then fixed round the grave- 

 yard at Elpanam, to the accompaniment of ceremonies led by 

 the tamiluatias, with spirit exorcising paraphernalia. 



During the three days following, the people prepare two large 

 rafts, of canoe shape, and equip them with sails of palm 

 leaf, dry palm leaf torches, and bunches of "devil-expelling" 

 leaves. This work is done by the young men and women, the 

 tamiluanas and other elderly people being engaged, meanwhile, 

 in singing by turns, through night and day, in one of the houses 

 at Elpanam. The tamiluanas frequently come down and walk 

 along the beach with their exorcising rods, and forbid the devil 

 to enter the village. 



The fourth day is called Yintovna Siya — expelling the devil 

 by sails. In the evening, the whole of the village assembles at 

 Elpanam with bunches of " devil-expelling " leaves, the women 

 with baskets of ashes in addition. 



A number of men, with an escort of tamiluanas, carry one of 

 the floats to the sea, on the right side of the cemetery, and propel 

 it some distance from the shore ; when they return, another body 

 of men despatches the other craft from the left side of the grave- 

 yard. The bearers, on reaching shore, are supplied with bundles 

 of leaves, and as soon as the vessels reach deep water, the women 

 throw ashes from the shore, and the whole crowd shouts, " Fly 

 away, devil, fly away, never come again." Then all the decorated 



