Two anthropologists fly
to the
south sea islands to study the natives. They go to two adjacent

islands and set to work. A few months later one of them takes a canoe

over to the other island to see how his colleague is doing. When he
gets
there, he finds the other anthropologist standing among a group
of
natives.

“Greetings! How is it going?” says the visiting
anthropologist.

“Wonderful!” says the other, “I have discovered
an important fact
about the local language! Watch!”

He points
at a palm tree and says, “what is that?”
The natives, in unison, say
“Umbalo-gong!”
He then points at a rock and says, “and that?”
The
natives again intone “Umbalo-gong!”

“You see!”, says the beaming
anthropologist, “They use the SAME word
for ‘rock’ and for ‘palm
tree’!”
“That is truly amazing!” says the astonished visiting
anthropologist,
“On the other island, the same word means ‘ind
ex finger’!”