Note 26 — Chapter III · RELIGIOUS AND MAGICAL BELIEFS

The Hibiscus tiliaceus is a small tree from which the natives obtain the fibre which they make into rope, used now for harpoon lines and in former times for turtle-nets. The leaves of this tree are believed to have the power of keeping away the spirits of the sea. They have no efficacy, however, against the spirits of the forest. Leaves of the Hibiscus tiliaceus are used in the turtle-eating ceremony described in the last chapter. For cooking turtle the only wood that may be used is the Hibiscus. If any other wood were used the meat would not be good. In this connection it is necessary to point out an error in the statements of Mr Man. He says that the wood of the alaba must never be used for cooking turtle, though it may be used for cooking pig, and that Puluga is angry if this commandment is not observed and sends either the sun or moon to punish the offender26. There is evidently an error here. The alaba is the Hibiscus tiliaceus. Mr Man identifies it with the Melochia velutina, but this is an error. Now the custom in connection with the Hibiscus (alaba) is not that it may not be used for cooking turtle, but that no other kind of wood must be used. It is difficult to see how Mr Man fell into the error, unless he mistook a statement regarding the yo̱lba (Anadendron paniculatum) for a statement relating to alaba (Hibiscus tiliaceus). We have just seen that if the Anadendron comes in contact with turtle meat the meat will be bad, and that if it is burnt there will be a storm.