The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-14
A MYSTERY OF
THE SOUTH SEA.
Some Writing Worms That are
Posted on Astronomy.
APPEAR THE SAME TIME YEARLY.
The Islanders Gorge Themselves in q
Great Feast and Then the Creatures
vanish--Thcy Keep Apparently
a Record of Time.

The palolo is a wrlthing worm Of the
South sea and a mystery. Considered
merely as worm. ii is j chain of seq
ments, twenty TO the inch, as large as
d strong pack thread ana anywhere from
a few Inches TO a ward long. fragile In
the water and out and apt 10 break apars
a any or all of the joints. Some are red
dish brown and these are the males the
females are of various shades Of green.
II this were all, the worm would not
merit consideration except By those
whose chosen pursuit IT is to investigate
the doings of crawling things
But somewhere in these segments Is a
most elaborate astronomical apparatus.
Somehow, By means which battle the
keenest research, this humble worm OF
tine coral reef knows how TO keep ac-
count Of the flight of time and TO make
it's annual appearance promptly 10 the
minute when due. 10 reckon the year
by successive lunatiOns and 10 inter-
calate the proper Correction TO bring the
lunar year into accord with the sidereal
year That is a remarkable thing. Man
kind In an its wisdom had TO study for
ages before ii learned to correct its lunar
year TO keep Il in harmony withIts solar
with the sidereal year and even now
some OF the nations Of Europe are nearly
two weeks out OF the way. Through
some strange science this obscure worm
knows an about the calendar and makes
its bricf appearance on a few Poynesiau
reefs with absolute regularity. Such is
its accuracy that the SamOans use Il ass
the starting point Of one of their six
month years. From its coming the first
year is dated and named Daipalolo. just
as the second year OF six months Is
named Naitcolau. one is the palolo
year, tho other the trade-wind year FOR
with the coming of the paiolo 10 IS time
TO look out for the cessation of the bene-
fccnt trade wind and the coming OF
Gains and gales from the north and
months OF incessalt rain.
ANOTHER USE.
To mark the year Us not the only use
TO which the Samoans have put the
worm. I'm addition IL IS considered 4
most delicious article Of food. and once
n year the islanders make long journeys
to be on hand when the palolo floats N
the surface Of the sea for a brief two
hours I'm the earliest morning 10 rs not
every reef that has paiolo. The worm is
found only I'm the three mid-Pacifc
archipeagOes. Samoa. Tonga and Fiji.
and i'm each archipelago It Is found only
az n few particular spots At Apia there
is a half mile Of reef at Matautu Point
whore the worm IS found and the next
place Is no nearer than Falolatai clear
around the western point OF Upolu. As
the worm win not bear transportation
il is necessary TO go to the spot where
10 is found or else do without H. Sa-
means Ike fl so well that they viii
scarcely consent To- miss its annual apoar-
ance and the joyous gorging which fol-
lows an abundant catch.
FOUND ONLY on ONE DAY.
There is only one day in the whole
year when palolo is TO be found All the
other days. of the year the worm is abb
sent from the lagoon waters. Where II
lives and how f. entirely unknown 1t is
supposed that il is hidden In the cOrais
far below the surface and there UNDER
goes Ia. transformations OF It's life. but
no one knows for certain. Corals have
been drclged UP from varying depths
but no palOlO have been found. All that
is certainly known IS that on a fixed
day they viii make q start.ingiy sudden
appearance and within two hours will
vanish just as suddenly and go no one
knows whittier. IL is possible TO COM
pute the exact palolo day. The old Sa-
means are very wise and accurate ia
this computation. It IS very hard
reckoning TO follow, and # used TO be
harder than it is now for1 ormerly they
hOd no COnyeniences of a calendar by
which 10 keep the account. There are
certain things which the flowers tell
them in this computation; the blossomng
Of certain fragrant trees gives the first
warming that palOlO time is close az
hand. After the trees have lowered out
the first warning, then must the con-
steliations be studied. the setting of the
belt of orion. low i'm the northern sky;
of other considerations known as the
Duck and the Manthese are the second
warning and indicate that the time IS
close az hand. Then the moon presents
another factor and one which decides.
TO count from the last palolo
2JJ or 3N days The old men know how
10 DO all this and without mistake. in
deed. Samoans make precious few ms
takes as to anything which involves a
matter OF something 10 eat Under the
calendar introduced by the white people
the problem IS simp'ded. Palolo time
Is az dead low water I'm the night OF the
third quarter Of the moon which comes
az the end OF October or the beginning
OF November
COMING FORETOLD.
For weeks the old men of the Samoan
towns study an the signs; they have
pointed out the b.ossomings and the
they have worked over
an their computations until they are
certain of the result Then they give
word that IN so many nights more the
DaloiO will come Thereupon the head
OF every house ties up SO many pebbles
in a sack and takes one out each night
TO be certain Of the time. The women
make ready the nets for the great FISH
of mosquito netting mounted !
as a very shallow sack between the forks |
0t a short stick the white mems cloth |
proving superior 10 the thin oark cloth /
lf their older custom. on the last day /
1f waiting the canoes arc carefully /
scrubbed out 20 make surathat no scales /
Of fish or any other waste remain 70 |
lehle the wormy catch. The children, I
for whom there would be no room IN the !
canoes, club together 20 build RATS Of |
amhOo. on which insecure craft they may 4
career about the fishing ground In every /
oodys way
10 is well TO go early 10 bed that last |
night. for the time 70 go out 10 the reefs 4
s O'Clock IN the morning and as that 4
lime draws near there is no chance OF |
sleeping I'm the turmoil which resounds \
rom the Samoan villages and from the |
lagoon where the canoes are assembling. !
During the early hours OF the night every |
village has q Waterman hose duty IL is /
10 observe the stages Of the tide and to 4
al the sleepors shortly before low water.
g. 4. frnF me no NIL "a Ia,