[Mihalic] Making roofing

[Bryant Allen]

Terry has replied directly to me as follows:
Morita or Morata are the words for the type of thatching depicted. "Marita" 
is actually a type of pandanus fruit that is used as a soup, or sauce for 
cooking

>Morita or Morata are the words for the type of thatching depicted.

'Marita' is Pandanus conoideus and is eaten.  P. conoideus leaves are not 
much used for thatch (presumably because it would damage their 
productivity), but the more robust pandanus species, which can get quite 
big, are. But they are also called generically 'marita' in the foothills.

Mihalic 1971 distinguishes 'morata' ["thatch shingles made from sago palm 
or nipa palm leaves"] from 'marita' ["the reddish brown edible fruit of 
pandanus"]. I think Mihalic is wrong about the sago (I don't know about 
nipa). Does anybody know of sago being used for thatching?  I have never 
been sure about the distinction and the pronunciation difference are 
slight. But I have to admit that I think  Terry is right about 'morita' 
being the term for the thatch. Do 'marita' and 'morita' come from the same 
root? Is it just a matter of pronunciation?

Dr Bryant Allen
Senior Fellow
Land Management Group
Department of Human Geography
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
The Australian National University
ACT 0200 Australia

ANU CRICOS Provider Number is 00120C

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