Note 9 — Chapter III · RELIGIOUS AND MAGICAL BELIEFS

Mr Portman translates the Aka-Bea term Puluga ta as “God’s wind,” and he adds, in explanation, “Puluga ta means ‘God’s wind,’ and the reason for the name is not known. Some vague ideas regarding the direction of God’s dwelling in the sky are the probable origin of the term9.” As regards the translation of the Andamanese name Puluga by the English “God” more will be said later. Leaving that aside, it is important to note that Puluga ta does not mean “Puluga’s wind.” The word for wind in Aka-Bea is given by Mr Portman himself as wul-ŋa, and the Akar-Bale and A-Pučikwar equivalents are poat-ŋa and po̱te, being forms of the same stem as the Northern bo̱to. The translation of “Puluga’s wind” in A-Pučikwar would be Bilik l’iye po̱te, but this is not a phrase that the natives ever use. It is not possible to translate “Puluga’s wind” accurately in Akar-Bale. Puluga poat-ŋa would mean “Puluga blowing” the -ŋa being a verbal ending. In any case Bilik to̱, and Puluga toa are not to be translated as meaning “Puluga’s wind.”