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andamanese varnamaala

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Place names used by the Great Andamanese

Great Andamanese Place Names

Great Andamanese Place names in IPA

Gloss

Post Colonial Names

Khringkosho

kHriN kS

A Pujjukar name

Strait Island

Phoco Toye

pHocoÖÿe

A place where Phoco flower is found

Islet in front of Strait Island

Siampsu

siampsu

A Pujjukar name

An islet by the side of Strait Island

JiroTauro

jirÿr

Place where Jiro tree is found

An islet near Strait Island’s light house

Kachawa

kacawa

A Pujjukar name

An islet behind Strait Island

Ilumu Tauro

ilumuÿr

An island of Onges

Little Andaman

Thi Lar Siro

ÿHi larsiro

Land near the open sea

Havelock island

Kokolot Barach

kokolot barac

A Pujjukar name

An islet near Havelock Island’s jetty

Bilikhu Taraphong

bilikHuÖtaraÖpHoN

Cave of Bilikhu, the supernatural in Great Andamanese

Interview Island

Tebi Shiro

tebiSiro

Shore of open sea

Neil Island  as well as for an Island near Maya Bander

Boa

boa

 land

Baratang Island

Lurua

lurua

The first fire/flame was found here

Bluff  Island

RaiT Phor

rEÿpHr

Named after the two kinds of bamboos, RaiT and Phor found here

Maya Bander

Mauntenga

mnteNa

Land fall Island

*Sorobul

 

sorobul

Dangerous area

Jarawa areas (south Andaman)

Marakele

marakele

Present Great Andamanese still use this name

Andaman archipelago

Boing Talnga

boinÿaløa

An island of Jarawas near Bluff Island

Mara Tong

maraÿoN

 Place where Mar tree is found

A place in Maya Bander where Great Andamanese used to live (Now a helipad area)

GopTa Pelang

gopÿapelaN

A Pujjukar name. Where animals were killed and cut

Name for Chouldari in Pujjukar

Laotara Nyo

laoÖtaraÖøo

House of spirits

Port Blair

Jirikta Phong

jirikÖtaÖpHoN

A place where Jirik lives

English Island

Thitaumul

ÿHitmul

A place with lots of undergrowth

Diglipur

* Great Andamanese always considered Jarawas dangerous.

Note: 1. These are the names from the present language spoken by Great Andamanese.
        2. Pujjukar is an extinct language once spoken in these islands.
       3. Capital letters signify retroflex sounds used in Indian languages. Thus T is as in Indian English ‘table’ while t is as the    last sound in word ‘bharat’

 

Indigenous Knowledge 

Reptiles {From Nao Jr. December 2006}

1.  baralo N a kind of smooth, shiny, non-poisonous green snake that lives in the coconut tree. The snake was known for its beneficial oily secretions that were supposedly very good for the skin. Girls would catch it to rub it on their bodies as a moisturizer. Generally, while one girl held the mouth, another would rub the struggling snake against her body and face. Apparently, the struggle increased and enhanced the secretion.

Leaves {from Boa Sr. 20.01.06}

2.  /e:n/ ‘a creeper that grows on the top of a hill’. Is used to put in the water to make fish senseless/intoxicated. If eaten, produces rash all over the body. Bitter in taste.

3.  /jin-tεc/ ~ /jin-tεic/  ‘leaf that is rubbed on the lactating mother’s breast to produce milk’

4.  /jira-bal/ ‘a creeper used to produce cool air’. If the leaves of this creeper are put in the sea, the halfa [high wave/tide] reduces in intensity.

5. /pharako/ ‘a creeper’ is used for making rope to hunt turtles and dugong. It is believed that if a pregnant woman crosses over a creeper she will have miscarriage. The milk emitted by the leaf of the creeper is potent enough to blind a person if it touches eyes.

6. bɛcikluye N tonsure, equivalent of the Hindu mundan or the head-shaving ceremony, performed on a 14-day old, newborn baby. The present day use of the blade was preceded by a glass piece for the purpose in days gone by. The investigators were present for the ceremony of Jirake Jr. It was noticed that the ceremony has imbibed many traditional Hindu rituals, reflecting the influence of the mainstream culture on them. But the Hindu custom of the barber performing the rituals is replaced by the community members themselves take part in the shaving of the head. In this case, it was done by Reya and Prem Devi, the non-tribal wife of Loka.

7.   jirmu N mythic cow-like animal  Supposed to be as big as a cow and a mythical inhabitant  of Mayabander, North Andaman. It was supposed to have sticky hair because of which anyone who touched it would get stuck to it. It was supposed to produce the tinkle of bells when it walked.

 

Boa Sr.

Boro

Noa Jr.


   

 



 
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