Note 31 — Chapter VI · THE INTERPRETATION OF ANDAMANESE CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS: MYTHS AND LEGENDS

I was told of a ceremony that was held at the end of the Kimil season in the Akar-Bale tribe (and possibly in other tribes also) the purpose of which was said to be to ensure fine weather for some months and which is called “Killing the cicada.” The ceremony consists of doing the very thing that is believed to produce storms, viz., making a noise while the cicada is singing in the evening. As soon as the cicadæ begin to sing all the persons in camp make as much noise as they can by banging bamboos on the ground, striking the sounding-board, or hammering on the sides of canoes, thus making just the kinds of noise that are said to be most disliked by the cicada. According to the statement of my informant this ceremony results in “killing” all the cicadæ so that they are not heard again for many weeks, and while this silence lasts fine weather is assured. The meaning of this little ceremony is plain when we recall the fact that though the digging up of yams and the cutting down of the Caryota palm anger Biliku and result in storms yet sufficient persistence in these actions, and therefore in any others that are displeasing to Biliku, results in dispelling the bad weather. Thus it is seen that although the matter is a little more complicated, yet the belief in the connection of the cicada with Biliku and with bad weather can be explained on exactly the same lines as the beliefs about bees’-wax and vegetable foods. The fact that the same explanation can be given of the three most important prohibitions connected with Biliku gives a high degree of probability to the interpretation here offered. These three beliefs are the only ones of real importance. I am unable to explain the connection of Biliku with the species of fish, the bird and the two kinds of wood mentioned on page 156. In the North Andaman there is a definite association between Biliku and spiders, the generic name for “spider” being biliku. I believe that this could be explained on the same basis as the connection with the cicada, i.e., through the connection of spiders with the changes of the seasons, but as I unfortunately neglected to take note of the habits of the spiders of the Andamans I cannot speak with any certainty and therefore prefer not to enter into a discussion of the subject31.