Footnotes

[16]   Boils and abscesses, caused by staph infection, are still common ailments in the Marshalls. Letao and Jemeliwut were also said to have been born from a boil of their father, Wullep's, leg.

[17]   The story emphasizes the value of kin. Families are the basic social institution and thus extremely important. Relatives are there in time of need.