An example search has returned 100 entries

actak

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adj. happy

ade

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v. go down

ahtowan

v. to weed

aijujai

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v.a. to go up, or go east

ataka

v.n. sail without making headway

ecetaig an moije

v.n. to go on to a reef with a canoe or boat

ecetaig jai

v. to come out, as banana fruit

ehnat aiek

v.n. go before

ehteleceinayi

n. full moon

ero

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[eroʊ] num. two

eucenwaig nieg

v. to sharpen the point of a reed like a spear

idahod

v. to sprout largely; also "ujipsotan"

imehei

n. pandanus leaf

inara

Gliciphila notabilis
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[iɲara] n. Honeyeater, grey and orange (Vanuatu Honeyeater)

incaceñ upni

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n. "good" (domesticated) kava (RPV #133)

incet edwa

Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.
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n. type of seashell

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.

indal elwa

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n. multicolored taro, fancy-leaved caladium (RPV #146)

indruwp̃at

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n. kind of crab

ingitjiñat

1. This plant is used as firewood, but also the heartwood is sold. 2. In 2016, the first grade wood was 2500 VT per kilo, the second grade wood was 2000 VT per kilo. 3. The ancestors  used to take the oil or wood chips from this tree and bathe with it to keep away evil spirits of the forest. It is currently planted on Aneityum for commerce. Scrape bark of sandalwood into coconut oil in same wat as GMP 3513 (gardenia) boil and take out the bark. 4. The leaves can be fed to pigs to make them strong and heavy.
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n. small tree, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3528)

Example: 1. This plant is used as firewood, but also the heartwood is sold. 2. In 2016, the first grade wood was 2500 VT per kilo, the second grade wood was 2000 VT per kilo. 3. The ancestors used to take the oil or wood chips from this tree and bathe with it to keep away evil spirits of the forest. It is currently planted on Aneityum for commerce. Scrape bark of sandalwood into coconut oil in same wat as GMP 3513 (gardenia) boil and take out the bark. 4. The leaves can be fed to pigs to make them strong and heavy.

inhosumeljag ~ nu inhosumeljag

Pachycephala melanura
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[inhosumeljaŋ] n. Black-tailed whistler

Example: Photo by Lip Kee, License: CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr

inhubou

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[inhuboʊ] n. shell (helical shell, white with purple spots)

inhulec ~ iɣleɣ

Zosterops metcalfii
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[inhuleɣ] n. Yellow-throated White-eye

Example: Illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans / Wikimedia Commons, License: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

inlepei

n. native petticoat

inman anjap

n. sea bird

inmehei

People use the leaves of this plant to wrap lap-lap for cooking on the earth oven or when boiling foods. The leaves can also be used as serving plates and to cover the stones on the earth oven.
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n. herb to 1. 5 m tall, sterile. Growing in weedy patch behind buildings on edge of trail. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4986)

Example: People use the leaves of this plant to wrap lap-lap for cooking on the earth oven or when boiling foods. The leaves can also be used as serving plates and to cover the stones on the earth oven.

inmohoc la

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[inmohoɣ la] n. September (lit. clear month)

inmoijeuv amen ehcid

n. planet

inpece lelcei

Calophyllum neoebudicum
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n. tree, 12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3286)

inrowuh

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n. kind of fish

intal i Santo

n. kind of taro

intelo

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n. high tide

intinan

n. a bed, a foundation, a plantation

intucjip

n. bush land; also "inteucjip"

invid

n. the day before yesterday

kalilitupou

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n. a giant

nabuthwä

n. Vittaria lineata

Example: Frond: cold maceration taken internally against ciguatera

nadeni

n. the name of a prickly shrub

nahaigjopdak

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

nahca

n. a burden of pandanus leaf

nairo

1. Sapling wood is used to make fishing spears. A straight sapling is first heated in the fire to render it pliable. The sapling is further straightened and then decorticated. Once cooled, wire can be added a prong to the end of the spear.
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n. sapling, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4106)

Example: 1. Sapling wood is used to make fishing spears. A straight sapling is first heated in the fire to render it pliable. The sapling is further straightened and then decorticated. Once cooled, wire can be added a prong to the end of the spear.

najaj

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n. kind of fish

nake

The very young leaves of this plant are edible.
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n. terrestrial fern, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3712)

Example: The very young leaves of this plant are edible.

nalak cai

n. kind of plantain

namrad

Croton insularis
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n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4752)

namrop̃om

Firewood, timber good for bush houses. Calendar plant – when it is in flower, the old people know it is time to harvest root crops, like yam and other vine crops, in the wild, as yet unspecified. Local names = INYAC, NOMODEJ TAL, NOMODEJ WOU, NOU LELCEI… etc.
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n. tree, 7-8 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3582)

Example: Firewood, timber good for bush houses. Calendar plant – when it is in flower, the old people know it is time to harvest root crops, like yam and other vine crops, in the wild, as yet unspecified. Local names = INYAC, NOMODEJ TAL, NOMODEJ WOU, NOU LELCEI… etc.

nanedauyan

Lethrinus atkinsoni http://fishbase.org/summary/Lethrinus-atkinsoni.html
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n. Pacific yellowtail emperor

Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

naoun nedoun

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[nawʊn nɛθoʊn] n. leg

napod

Before there was soap, people took the young leaves and crushed them on a stone to make suds for washing clothes in the river. This tree has a very hard wood and can be used for house posts. The sap is reddish and the bark boiled in water until it is red, consumed 2-3 times daily (1 cup each time) until the person feels well. The condition treated is that when a menstruating woman has sex with a man, and he feels tired and lethargic, drinking this tonic makes him feel stronger.
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n. tree to 10 m, dbh 30 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4900)

Example: Before there was soap, people took the young leaves and crushed them on a stone to make suds for washing clothes in the river. This tree has a very hard wood and can be used for house posts. The sap is reddish and the bark boiled in water until it is red, consumed 2-3 times daily (1 cup each time) until the person feels well. The condition treated is that when a menstruating woman has sex with a man, and he feels tired and lethargic, drinking this tonic makes him feel stronger.

nap̃at

For performing a weather magic ritual to produce fog, this plant is fermented along with another plant (nirid u numu) in a hole in a sacred stone (called "Naemoso")  at a secret location on Aneityum.
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n. terrestrial fern, growing in dwarf cloud-forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3268)

Example: For performing a weather magic ritual to produce fog, this plant is fermented along with another plant (nirid u numu) in a hole in a sacred stone (called "Naemoso") at a secret location on Aneityum.

natau anyiyi

n. kind of banana

natimihas

1. The name means "cranky person". If someone fastens this plant around his head as a deocrative lei, it means that this person is not happy. He does not want to talk or communicate with anybody. The use is no longer common, and now many people do not know the signficance.
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n. terrestrial fern, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4095)

Example: 1. The name means "cranky person". If someone fastens this plant around his head as a deocrative lei, it means that this person is not happy. He does not want to talk or communicate with anybody. The use is no longer common, and now many people do not know the signficance.

nauaneig

n. a reed

nauhoig yi amud an nadiat

n. the break of day

nauincai

n. tree

nayentinepcer

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n. kind of fish

necemas

This is a "message plant" that signifies that there has been a death. The person holds it or puts it on their head, goes to another person’s house and hands it to the person they wish to convey the message to, without saying anything and that person knows that someone has died. It can also be handed to that person. The person receiving the message then asks "who" and is told the deceased person’s name.
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n. terrestrial plant, growing in dry forest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3509)

Example: This is a "message plant" that signifies that there has been a death. The person holds it or puts it on their head, goes to another person’s house and hands it to the person they wish to convey the message to, without saying anything and that person knows that someone has died. It can also be handed to that person. The person receiving the message then asks "who" and is told the deceased person’s name.

nedec

Todiramphus chloris
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[neθeɣ] n. Collared Kingfisher

Example: Photo by JJ Harrison, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

nednaiñ lelcei

1. The wood of this tree is used to make rafters of traditional homes.
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n. partly fallen tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4055)

Example: 1. The wood of this tree is used to make rafters of traditional homes.

neduon

n. low mountain

nedwodou

To bring luck when fishing. Take 4  leaves with stems still on them-- first thing in the morning, when it is cool and quiet and there is not much noise, break the left hand side from two leaves and the right hand side from two leaves (total 4 half leaves) and take those pieces and put in the bag containing your fishing gear. The meaning of the local name is that "these leaves will please the Sea God" who will not understand it if a fisherman does not have leaves with them on their trip.  There are groups of people who are part of the Sea Gods and you must notify these people before you go out to fish. If you have these leaves in your bag,  you are said to get many fish. In the past certain people were responsible for the harvest from the sea; these people used to know this ritual. Not much known at present. Birds eat the fruit of this tree as does the flying fox.
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n. tree to 6 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4865)

Example: To bring luck when fishing. Take 4 leaves with stems still on them-- first thing in the morning, when it is cool and quiet and there is not much noise, break the left hand side from two leaves and the right hand side from two leaves (total 4 half leaves) and take those pieces and put in the bag containing your fishing gear. The meaning of the local name is that "these leaves will please the Sea God" who will not understand it if a fisherman does not have leaves with them on their trip. There are groups of people who are part of the Sea Gods and you must notify these people before you go out to fish. If you have these leaves in your bag, you are said to get many fish. In the past certain people were responsible for the harvest from the sea; these people used to know this ritual. Not much known at present. Birds eat the fruit of this tree as does the flying fox.

nehtet upaipai

n. kind of sugarcane

neket

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n. kind of crab

nelgo waj lepomu

nelgo waj lepomu
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n. traditional canoe

nenesanei neiang

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[nenesanej neijaŋ] n. coconut fiber for kava

nepdaj

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n. spiny holy mangrove (RPV #118)

nepek

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n. kind of shellfish

nethokin

n. a poisonous plant used to stupefy fish; also "netokin"

netva

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n. Pacific litchee (RPV #114)

niaga a nupsijman

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[niaŋa a nʊpsiʤman] n. fingernail

niegred

The leaves are used to cover earth ovens when cooking big fish or taro.
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n. tree to 4 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4936)

Example: The leaves are used to cover earth ovens when cooking big fish or taro.

nijcel

If the preferred banana leaves are not available to wrap food for cooking, then use young leaves of this species and tie taro and fish for cooking. Take 4-5 leaves and wrap the food with the leaves. Tie a rope around the food and tie them all together using any strong vine. They can then be cooked over an open fire.
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n. tree, 8-9 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3655)

Example: If the preferred banana leaves are not available to wrap food for cooking, then use young leaves of this species and tie taro and fish for cooking. Take 4-5 leaves and wrap the food with the leaves. Tie a rope around the food and tie them all together using any strong vine. They can then be cooked over an open fire.

nijilah

n. kind of tree

niom

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n. house (gen.)

nipjin gehe nahau

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n. turtle shell

nisbähäin

n. Dracaena angustifolia

Example: Leaf: cold maceration, emetic, taken internally against ciguatera poison

nispeheñ

This plant is used to make a grass skirt for women. There are two different methods decribed. In the first, collect the leaves, tear off 1/2 of the leaf and pleat the halves. Then dry these in the sun by hanging them from the midrib. After they are dry, weave them into a skirt. In the second, take one leaf at a time, tear the leaf down the center and throw away the midrib. The soft part is used in making the skirt by holding a piece of twine between your toes and under your armpit. Weave the length of the twine with the leaf. The let the pieces to dry in the sun for 2-3 days. The skirt can be thrown in the sea before drying to make the skirt white. Bark of inhao is usually used as twine. Retted strips of leaves, later sun dried, can be used to make pillows. When dogs or humans have fish poisoning this plant can help. Take 2 leaves and pound them (use 1 leaf for dogs) and mix with 1/4 cup of water. no further instructions given. (OR - Leaves to cure ciguatera, chew 1 leaf and swallow juice and spit out fiber. Or extract juice into a cup to drink 1x. Give juice + water in cup for dog that is sick.) There is also a belief that you can use the whole stem of this plant as a digging spade to plant sugarcane so the sugarcane is soft and sweet.
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n. sparsely branched tree, 2. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3628)

Example: This plant is used to make a grass skirt for women. There are two different methods decribed. In the first, collect the leaves, tear off 1/2 of the leaf and pleat the halves. Then dry these in the sun by hanging them from the midrib. After they are dry, weave them into a skirt. In the second, take one leaf at a time, tear the leaf down the center and throw away the midrib. The soft part is used in making the skirt by holding a piece of twine between your toes and under your armpit. Weave the length of the twine with the leaf. The let the pieces to dry in the sun for 2-3 days. The skirt can be thrown in the sea before drying to make the skirt white. Bark of inhao is usually used as twine. Retted strips of leaves, later sun dried, can be used to make pillows. When dogs or humans have fish poisoning this plant can help. Take 2 leaves and pound them (use 1 leaf for dogs) and mix with 1/4 cup of water. no further instructions given. (OR - Leaves to cure ciguatera, chew 1 leaf and swallow juice and spit out fiber. Or extract juice into a cup to drink 1x. Give juice + water in cup for dog that is sick.) There is also a belief that you can use the whole stem of this plant as a digging spade to plant sugarcane so the sugarcane is soft and sweet.

nisyeg

1. The inner bark of this plant is used as a dye or paint to provide a brown color. Boil the inner bark in a pot with a shirt and the color of the shirt will be changed to brown. 2. For toothache, people take the inner bark and mix it with sea water, and then rinse the tooth with this mixture to remove the pain. 3a. People macerate the leaves and the bark and when the tide is low, spread this in a pool of water to poison the sea shells that are edible. When they die, the eyes of this organism comes above the sand, indicating where they are, and people harvest and eat them. 3b. To attract and collect clam – NIPJINUMU – scrape bark in a pool of sea water where the clams are attracted immediately and can be collected, coming up from the sand. 4. Firewood, unspecified medical use.
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n. tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3574)

Example: 1. The inner bark of this plant is used as a dye or paint to provide a brown color. Boil the inner bark in a pot with a shirt and the color of the shirt will be changed to brown. 2. For toothache, people take the inner bark and mix it with sea water, and then rinse the tooth with this mixture to remove the pain. 3a. People macerate the leaves and the bark and when the tide is low, spread this in a pool of water to poison the sea shells that are edible. When they die, the eyes of this organism comes above the sand, indicating where they are, and people harvest and eat them. 3b. To attract and collect clam – NIPJINUMU – scrape bark in a pool of sea water where the clams are attracted immediately and can be collected, coming up from the sand. 4. Firewood, unspecified medical use.

nisʧi

Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.
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[nisʧi] n. wooden poles forming the structure of a roof

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

niyeg

1. Dried leaves are used to make the thatch roofs of traditional houses. The same leaves are woven to make the walls of traditional houses. 2. When a large torch is required, many dried stems are bundled to form a flambeau. 3. The leaves of this plant are used to demarcate tabu areas. Further information about the practice withheld.
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n. grass, 2. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4071)

Example: 1. Dried leaves are used to make the thatch roofs of traditional houses. The same leaves are woven to make the walls of traditional houses. 2. When a large torch is required, many dried stems are bundled to form a flambeau. 3. The leaves of this plant are used to demarcate tabu areas. Further information about the practice withheld.

nofauhuan

n. kind of banana

nohos New Zealand opah

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[nohos anu ziland opuah] n. kind of banana (gray sp. from New Zealand)

nomotan

Lethrinus nebulosus http://fishbase.org/summary/Lethrinus-nebulosus.html
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n. Spangled emperor

Example: Photo by Richard Ling, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

nomrin diʧinan

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[nomrɪn diʧinan] n. fin (of a fish)

nomyatamain

Lethrinus harak http://fishbase.org/summary/Lethrinus-harak.html
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n. Thumbprint emperor, blackspot emperor

Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

nop̃oe

Gloriosa superba
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n. vine, growing in coastal forest. Flowers red with yellow tinges. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3448)

nouras

n. Morinda citrifolia L.

Example: Fruit: eaten raw, constipation

numarak kamwea

n. kind of sugarcane

numu

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[numu] n. fish (general)

numujced

Join two of the inrolled fronds together at the part where the frond is opening (the tip that is curled) such that the leaves are held together by their unfolding growing tips. Place this along the path that is frequented by a wild pig (they travel along paths) and when the pig passes these two leaves, and is chased by a hunter’s dogs, these leaves in this formation are said to sap some of the pig’s energy and thus allow the dogs to catch up with it. This was explained to Tony by another person who mentioned it as a sort of magical power possessed by this type of fern.
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n. terrestrial fern, 0. 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3577)

Example: Join two of the inrolled fronds together at the part where the frond is opening (the tip that is curled) such that the leaves are held together by their unfolding growing tips. Place this along the path that is frequented by a wild pig (they travel along paths) and when the pig passes these two leaves, and is chased by a hunter’s dogs, these leaves in this formation are said to sap some of the pig’s energy and thus allow the dogs to catch up with it. This was explained to Tony by another person who mentioned it as a sort of magical power possessed by this type of fern.

numusgan

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n. non-fish creatures in the sea

nuput, noho’ich

Carpoxylon  macrospermum

n. cultivated anthropogenic landscape (lawn and planted trees). (collection: Keith E. Clancy #6655)

nuritoga atamaig

nuritoga atamaig

n. the south-south-west wind

nwujvaeñ

1. The vine is use to lash roof rafters to house posts. The vine is collected from the forest and coiled ina  figure 8 pattern. It is then heated over a fire before fastening the rafter to the post. 1 minute of heat is sufficient, before one immediately uses the vine.
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n. vine climbing up ficus wassa, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4016)

Example: 1. The vine is use to lash roof rafters to house posts. The vine is collected from the forest and coiled ina figure 8 pattern. It is then heated over a fire before fastening the rafter to the post. 1 minute of heat is sufficient, before one immediately uses the vine.

nähiväing

n. Macaranga dioca

Example: Inner bark: bathe in cold infusion, wounds. Mix heated over fire and taken out during sunset. Healer clenches the package in his fist, then gently punches the patients left, then right knee, then his forehead and finally squeezes over his head, migraine a

nälmaha

n. unidentified species

Example: Fresh leaves: special Kastom ceremony used to treat severe abdominal pain during pregnancy

ritastas ara

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[ritastas ara] phr. they are talking

tatau

Sphyraena putnamae http://fishbase.org/summary/Sphyraena-putnamae.html
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n. Sawtooth barracuda

Example: Photo by Stephanie W. Batzer, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

ucsalad tiklai cai

v.a. to lop off small branches

waderei

n. kind of taro

yag

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[jaŋ] n. yellow (color)