The Rising Of The

Palolo

What Happens in N. Hebrides

r THE “rising of the palolo”—an edible ■*- coral-reef sea-worm which appears at a particular time each year, and is one of Polynesia’s choicest foods —has been described often by residents of the Central Pacific, especially Samoa. Here is a description by Laurie Walker, in “Sydney Morning Herald” of June 26, of what happens in the New Hebrides.

BEATRICE Grimshaw’s article on “Meat from the Ocean” was most interesting and entertaining. Here are some additional facts about the strange edible sea-worm she mentions.

In the New Hebrides (South Santo) there is this strange *:ea-worm which appears only once a year. It is called “Ale” (A-le) and is anything from two to three feet long, but thin and with numerous legs like a centipede. The natives consider it a great delicacy, and after grating yams, they cut the “Ale” into pieces about four inches in length, mix with the grated yam, and cook in their ovens. It has the flavour of crab, but the whites do not eat it here.

In the New Hebrides there are dozens of different languages, hence this worm is known by various names throughout the islands. In North Malekula it is “Palolo,” but its habits are the same.

The natives know to the hour when it will appear, and for a couple of days before become restless and excited. You cannot get any real work out of them

and the mission school closes for a couple of days until the “Ale” has disappeared.

The strangest thing, however, is the way in which the natives, in this locality, know when it will rise to the surface.

A planter friend, who wished to give me the most reliable information possible, sent for the old man of a nearby village, who gave the following particulars—of course, the explanation was in Pidgin- English—but this is really what he said.

“When the Corotas (an edible nut) comes into flower (October), then four days after the full moon the small ‘Ale’ appear. The day before this (three days after the full moon) a small red sea-ant puts in an appearance, also a small fish resembling a lizard (which the natives call sea-lizard). Both disappear with the ‘Ale.’ The large ‘Ale’ appear six nights after the following full moon (November).” They rise to the surface among the rocks in untold millions, but disappear the next night, and not one is to be found after that until the same time next year.

I understand that the natives never miscalculate as to the time of its appearance.

Mr. L. J, Warren, for six years mana ger for the Union Steamship Company at Rarotonga, has been transferred to Auckland office, and left with Mrs. War ren in April.