Methodology
This study combines Field Linguistics and Language Documentation methods. The team conducted field work, together with a local consultant, Mr Benediktus Delpada, to collect original and ‘first-hand’ data, documented plant species (English and Abui plant names and the scientific name). Besides looking at the medicinal properties and cultural relevance (from the perspective of the Abui people), the team also explored local myths and legends connected with the plants.
Thereafter, the team organised the data in a database which is reflected below.
| Please note that all Abui plant names, reported medical usages of plants and any associated legends or myths recorded below are the intellectual property of the Abui people. |
Collection
TBC / Tuli
| English Plant Name: | TBC |
| Abui Plant Name: | Tuli |
| Scientific Name: | TBC |
| Etymological Reconstruction: | TBC |
When somebody’s body starts to swell, people could heat water, put the tuli plant’s leaf in the hot water, and then polish the material to the swollen body to clean the inactive blood in the body.When one gets sick due to sorcery, he/she could take the root of a plant called siimang tapooimang and the root of tuli plant itself, mix the two roots of the two plants, chew them and spit the material onto the body of the sick person.
Wood of the tuli plant can be used to make the handle of local ladle. After peeling out its bark, the tuli plant and a piece of cleaned coconut shell are tied together using the rope of rattan.The wood of the tuli plant can be used as firewood.
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| Remarks:
Awaiting |