The origin of Palauan names
February 27, 2007
(Note: This post originally appeared in the comment section but was taken out and published here as a contributor’s item – Administrator)
Please allow me to begin the story of Adaruchei Clan in Beliliou long time ago when the people arrived on the Eastside of Beliliou. Chief of Adaruchei clan welcomed them and he placed in various villages in Ngesiliong, Ngerdelolk and Luiil. The population kept increasing and increasing. The food started to deminish and living standard become deteriorating. The people began to discuss of going to the other islands looking for new space where there are abundant of food. So, one morning an old man went to visited the Chief to tell his plan to go abroad. He asked the Chief for permission to cut log tree for canoes to carried some of the people to look for new and fertile islands. Chief agreed and asked the strong young men to help to build sail canoes. His wife started a plan with older women for preparing the food ready in few months before sailing.
Finally, the sailing canoes and food are prepared for departing one morning. They all gather in the Taoch-village dock called Ngurungor. They started the journey on the eastside of Beliliou. There was a young boy who joined the sailing for the first time. So, the island he saw he asked for the name and the old man replied it is Ngebad. Then, he continued to the second, third, fourth and the fifth. The old man replies the second was Ngerkesiule, 3rd was Ngeruchebtang, 4th was Ngerchong and 5th was Ngerekleim. Ngerekleim is island between Ngerchong and Ngeruchebtang. Because after they made a trip aroung Ngerchong the tide was already very low. Then, the boy saw it and started to count to five an islands. Again, on their way in the channel the saw tree flower and he asked the name the old replied it is Denges. Now it is called Denges Channel. Then continued to the shore or beach then the boy saw big fish swimming toward the deep channel and he shouted asking what is that? The old man hurried to reply and said Ngermaml so, the end of the beach now called Ngermaml. Because he was going reply Ngerchong then he saw Maml-big fish swam passed the canoe.
The next day, they continued to sail to island they Miich (nut tree) on the corner so, old man named it Pkulaesmiich. The sail continued Ngermeyaus after fish name Yaus; Beyab cause looks like mouse; Ngermiich cause of plenty miich on the shore-beach; Double reef: the outer reef called Lukes from there they could have seen the sunken reef between Beliliou and Adyaur; the inner reef called Ngchesau after Barsekesau of Ngerdelolk village; then, comes the long beaches of Ngeremdiu island. Because while sailing closer to the young boy shouted and they heard an echoed. The old man said to the boy that his mouth shouted ngeremcholdiu and he named the island Ngeremdiu.
The next morning they continued sailing to make around the island until they reached the reef the tide was going low. The canoe hit the reef and the taro (kukau) fell down. Old man named it Tabkukau cause the canoe hitted the reef and taro fell; while canoeing in to inside reef the water was very calm. Old man said its beginning of the new year so, name the reef Taberrak; then cross the channel old man saw an eel name it Kesebekuu channel; upon reaching other side the old man said again, let us welcome the new year now the reef called Ngederrak.
They continued sailing to cross another channel the boy said that Ngel floating by and old man name it Ngel Channel; then they reached on new island with beach and stop for lunch; when they opened their lunch the taro already molded old man name it Beknguiek then they heard rattle on the other smaller beach. Group of older people ran toward the beach and land crabs hid themselves under the rocks; they the rocks to collect crabs old man name it Betikel; while they had lunch the boy saw small island similar to the one called Uchel-yuns in Beliliou. So, the old man name the new one called Uchel-beluu cause they already reached on
Beluu not Yuns.
I close for now and will continue………….
By Harry R. Fritz
February 27, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Mr. Kesolei,
The other groups of Ngerchol on the Northern part of Beliliou set their canoes and paddle to search for food on the island at front now called Ngedebus. One day they paddle to Ngedebus and they were abandant of land crabs. They started to collected them by removing the legs (mengebus sa chimal mea kokom) and Older man name it Ngedebus. Then, they kept on going and on going until young said we are coming here more often (kedekora kmal mlamo smau eldimertiang). The Older man then named it belual a Smau. From there they saw many other islands. After hunt they all went home and planned to search for coconut crabs. Few days later, they planned prepared for canoeing overnight the other islands to hunt for coconut crabs. They made barbequed coconut meat to be used feed to attract crabs. Then upon their arrival some continued to upper island to set their traps. Each group stayed all night to collect the crabs and they collect so many. They rest in early morning then met in the
others to have lunch. The older man named the upper island is Bablomekang (upper feeding) and this will be Youlomekang (lower feeding). Upon returning home the words spread to the villagers that there are abandant of land and coconut crabs on the northern group islands. The new group canoed the few days later but they arrived the island called Ngercheu. Because it was very low low tide and it all white sandy beaches. Upon arrival the first beach was Madechol meant face or eye. They walked on the beaches around the eastside and they saw a very long beach. They kept on walking some were already tired but the older man encouraged to kept going. He name the beach Matekangel. They around the northern end until they reached the westside and the young boy was dead tired. So, they rest overnight the old man named the place Boi after the young boy. From there they saw another big island but they went back with catched crabs. Then, they planned and canoed in many groups to the islands after Ngercheu for couple nights and returned. Upon arriving in the very late afternoon and settled. But some them collected some dried coconut leaves for lights/torch (okal). They took their torch and start walking on the beach to collect land crabs for dinner but they came across a female turtle laying eggs. Some ran back to report to the group leader he told to go get some for dinner. Few days, later they paddle their canoes back home. The words got around the village. One village chief name Uchellechol taught his young brother who went with group that this coming night of the month the same turtle will come to lay her eggs again. The young brother gather his fellow friends and planned the second trips to island. They went one early morning and arrived at lunch time. They rested then evening so light the torch and went to check the same and waited for turtle but she did not showed up. So, they went back to place near their canoes and decide to check the next night. The night came and they went back to check the same place but turtle did not show up. They decided to dig the sand with their bare hands and they found the turtle eggs. Some of them gave up and wanted to go back home. But he told them that we came from long way and we need wait for the turtle then used their hands to dig until they finallly found the turtle eggs. Ngem root words from Mengem or Mengam> Ngmeringel e ulutekangel>Mengemet ra diil leng mlad a ngelekem. Lis root words: mengiis, melais, meluis, melids losiik era lmomg ngerang sowam, He name the island Ngemelis.
Later on they visited the other group islands and there were abandant of food such as crabs and apples and coconuts tree with fruits. They spent few night then they collected their lunches or bentoes (okewid). Maybe because the tree fruits falling down (ouwid a rebotel ma lius ma kerkurlechol). So, they name it Ngerukewid: root words Ngouwid , mngai okewid, techiliis el mengewid erar rultoir el ngodech el chad but now, some say Okewid el yuns (Seventy Islands). Some said they less then 70 islands in a group. From they saw group of islands up north with space in between they give names: Kloul Toi, Kekerel Toi, Moto Toi and paddle to toward Babelomekang. As they get closer they saw a man on the side of rock island and they called him. He responded that he is Louch and confirmed him yes (choi)Louch. The island was named OI-Louch or Choilouch. Some drifted eastside to Mecherchar group islands the name came due to merky water (cherechar el daob). They got very tired and hungry went on to the small beach. They decided to rest overnight but bad weather came. Next morning the weather got into storm and they decided to move further north until they reached in shallow inlet in the rock islands. They passed and a boy counted seven7 beaches. The older man named the Ewid Chol. They rest there until weather passed away and collect their food for sailing to explore more beaches. They paddle crossing the deep blue channel to reached new island. They started to walk and search the island until found the other beach side. He said Eyang tiang waisei el chelechol a bitang ma bitang. Eyang root words: eyang aikang teblong elechol, Eyang. Ngerang?? Ngeyangs. They continued padling to the next and there found nothing. Probably, they were betting each other that will find abandant food but found none. A boy said you lost the bet and you loose (chus) boy talk (chuse tall). Then they went on further north until they found group of sardines. They collected some for (sashimi/bbq) and sardines were all full of eggs. Older man name it Ngkisaol. Then, they continued canoeing thru the Kekerei el Toi toward inside the among many individual rock islands
Some groups kept paddling back home the water was very calm and saw the bottom of ocean where group of rocks were shaped like scissor. They named it Ochadeu (scissor) shape: like strip esel put on fire and bend it to form scissor. Ochadeu used to pick up hot taros and burned fire wood or ashes. The half of the group made it safely back home Ngerchol village.
Other names like Mutiyaur reef was named when they connected Beliliou and Adaur from point, Rebotel reef came after they saw rebotel fruit at loction, then they reached the atoll and they felt safe and secured Oi ngungiang now called Choi ngingyang, some went thru the channel and did little fishing but everytime their fish caught the hook were swallow to the stomach. They name it Ngermekaul meant the hook went passed the mouth to the neck and stomach.
Sorry for my writings error and Thank you.
To be continue…………………………….
Oba Omengull,
Harry R. Fritz
February 27, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Mr. Kesolei,
The poeple of Ngerchol village of Beliliou claimed that they named the suthern part of Koror. For example, Ngerdiluches reef (northern of Ulong islands but at the same time the resident of Koror canoed or sailed passed from Ngemelachel thru between Kuabessngas then on the left there was cracked and fallen part of the rock island. When the high tide comes then you hardly seen the tip of the rock but only on low tide. While paddling near the rock the flies flew up from the dead fish stocked on the rock. They kept going toward westward until they reached the tip of reef. They anchored their canoes and opened their lunch. The flies flew and landed on their food. The older man named the reef Btilsyaes and the rock on ther other side of Kuabessngas named Bedulyaes. They did not name the reef Ngebard or Ngerdiluches but section by sections such as Bleketakl Yans, Mutemelachel and Kloulbad. In early days Ngemelachel was separated from Toirachuieu. Ngemelachel on eastside there was place called Oyaolmelachel a small water stream rolled down to the ocean. Ibedul set up his canoe house (diangel) and made his fish trap (Bub ra ngikel). He set his fish traps at Taberrak and Ngerrak reefs. A place were some people place as gaurds or spies for Rubasch of any people coming or passing thru Koror. On the northern part (Toirechuiue)coming thru Surangel place around towars Lucuis Malsol new Hotel the water was very calm and crystal clear that you can see your like a mirror. From the saw the cave and named it Madalaii (face or eye of the cave).
I am sorry for my writing but soon I will find my way to edit or correct my errors. Thank you and I rest for now………….
Oba Omengull
Harry R. Fritz
July 25, 2009 at 7:02 am
Is this an old Palauan folklore? or a story trying to tell us who named the various areas between Peliliu and Koror? or maybe a dispute of owns the rock islands–seems to me that who ever comes up with the best story of how all the names came to be would be the winner of the dispute….anyways..what is the morale of this story?