DKH01-041_omboyn - Omboyn ‘Garfish’

This string figure represents a garfish, in Tok Pisin called long nus pis ‘the long-nosed fish’, which is commonly caught in the Konmei creek. When the river level is low and the Awiakay ‘poison’ the river with the sap of the Derris vine to stun the fish, this up to 20cm long thin fish is more affected than bigger fishes, and therefore relatively easy to spear. As it does not have much meat, is not highly appreciated as food. When the string figure-maker finishes the final design, he/she says: “I’ll spear it now”, at which point they release the loop from their right index finger, which results in the figure being undone – and the fish is speared. Image: 02: the final design of omboyn ‘garfish’ . Language as given: Awiakay