Page 9 - Fiji Traveller 8

November/Noveba
Vula i Balolo Levu
Watch out for the second, mass appearance of the
balolo in November. Pineapple, mango, dawa, vutu and
kavika fruits are in season. Tivoli (part of the yam family)
is ready for digging. Misimisi, a scented plant, is ripe
and bananas are plentiful.
Qari (sea crabs) are ‘full’ (of spawn) and there is an
abundance of walu (fish).
November is also the beginning of the hurricane
season, which lasts until March/April.

December/Tiseba
Vula i Nuqa Lailai
In December, early yams like the vurai can be
harvested or planted, as can uto (breadfruit), which
complements mango, kavika, dawa and painapiu
(pineapple). The flamboyant red flowers of the sekoula
trees signify the arrival of Christmas. Other timber trees,
like the buabua, kuasi and the nuqanuqa mean that
village home extensions can be done before Christmas.
In the sea, smaller schools of nuqa (rabbit fish) are
plentiful. Saqa (trevally) are spawning. Bulubulu (young
sharks) are now born, swimming close to shore. Lairo
(land crabs) enrich our meals. If you are lucky, the
delicacy known as balolo may rise. We must also be
mindful that it is the spawning season for walu and saqa.

January/Janueri
Vula i Nuqa Levu
January is named for the nuqa, or the rabbit fish, a
delicacy which should be in abundance this month.
Shellfish such as kaikoso, kuku, kolakola, tadruku
(chiton), and bosucu (sea slug) will also be plentiful.
However we should let lairo (land crabs) spawn in
peace.
Drose (edible jellyfish) are also abundant.
Ivi (Polynesian chestnut), uto (breadfruit) and mangoes,
dawa (lychees), and wi (ambarella) continue to fruit.
The damanu hardwood tree, the lagakali, bua ni
Viti and caucau (used for scented oil or garlands) are
Illustrations: Albert Rolls
blooming.

The Fijian calendar is based on planting and fishing seasons and is divided into eleven months, rather than 12. Vula means
moon, and is also the Fijan word for ‘month’.

With thanks to Tokani: Friends of the Fiji Museum

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