DKH01-062_wao_toiplakay - Wao toiplakay ‘Threading sago grubs’

Sago grubs are a delicacy, and an important part of the Awiakay diet. While they are usually boiled and eaten with sago pudding, they are sometimes threaded on a rope and smoked. Preserved in this way they last longer, and can be taken to another bushcamp, or to another village for trading. This string figure represents threading the grubs. When it is finished, the maker says: “I’m pulling them off now”, and pulls the string to undo the pattern, as if pulling the sago grubs off a skewer, one by one. Images: 02: wao toiplakay ‘thredaing sago grubs’ string figure design 03: wao ‘sago grubs’ 04: wao toimba ‘threaded smoked sago grubs’ . Language as given: Awiakay

西米幼虫（Sago grubs）是一道美食，亦是阿维亚凯（Awiakay）族群饮食体系中的重要组成部分。它们通常经水煮后搭配西米布丁食用，有时也会被串在绳索上进行烟熏处理。经此种方式保存的幼虫保质期更长，可被携带至其他丛林营地，或是运往其他村落用于交易。这款绳结图案正是对串制幼虫场景的具象呈现。当图案制作完成后，制作者会说道：「我正将它们取下」，随后拉动绳索解开绳结，恰似逐个将西米幼虫从串杆上取下。图示：02: wao toiplakay「‘串制西米幼虫’绳结图案」；03: wao「‘西米幼虫’」；04: wao toimba「‘烟熏串制西米幼虫’」。所用语言：阿维亚凯语（Awiakay）。