OUTOFPAPUA database: Lexicons of the West Papuan language area

Entry record from Voorhoeve (nd c): Asmat Flamingo Bay

aper

•  small hole cut in the hard outer layer of the trunk of a sago palm through which a digging stick is stuck into the pith to test for the presence of sago meal: if the pith underneath contains meal; some of it will stick to the digging stick when it is withdrawn.

mu --eddy in water (caused by rowing or a ship’s propeller)

Note: This is done to find out which part of the trunk should be opened for the removal of the pith