After a very dense Organic Chemistry lecture, I went out to breakfast with Big Chocolate. We were talking island ecology, and the ceremonies associated with gathering food, and he began in with a childhood memory.
In October or November, the Palolo swarm. This is cause for staying up all night with nets and buckets, and waiting for them to wash ashore. The timing has to be right, and men row back and forth offshore in canoes and lanterns looking for the swarm. When it happens, folks scoop up the wriggling wormlike things and pack their buckets, many eating the delicacy fresh out of the ocean.
An image that stayed with me, was that he said Leis of a particular yellow fragrant tree orchid were the appropriate offering when the Palolo came in. In the mornings after they gathered, he said the high tide mark was knee deep in fragrant yellow Leis, and you could smell them from far far away.
What a beautiful image. I could listen to island stories all day, I swear.
Off to continue cataloging Texas vertebrate species.
Enjoy your writhing oceanic delicacies,
Bp
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