Travel Ukulhas

The Sangu (Conch shell), preserved in the Ukulhas council, is a large predatory seasnail (Turbinella Pyrum), found in the Indian Ocean, also known to be one ofthe oldest heritages found in the Ukulhas throughout a recent couple of decades, which is believed to be officially in use since the time of the first historically known head of Island administration, Mr. Katheeb Kaleyfaanu(Javaahirumaage’, Aa. Ukulhas) who became the head of Ukulhas administration during the reign of Mohammed Shamsuddin III.

Theconch shell is belonging to a sea snail species, Turbinella Pyrum in the familyTrubinellidae, that mostly found alive in the Indian Ocean. The surface of thisshell is strong, hard, shiny, and semi-transparent and this amazing crustacean is formed in an oblong or conical shape leaving a hollow interior, shiny inner surface, and high tuberculation of the outer surface.

Forgenerations, in Ukulhas, the Katheeb (Head of Island Administration) would callthe islanders to gather by blowing the Conch Shell for several occasions suchas pulling fishing vessel ashore and pushing fishing vessel offshore,collecting logs from the forest (for firewood), seeking public attention to theFriday prayer, calling for the meal before the dawn prayer during the month ofRamadan and the emergencies whenever the head of Island administration needsimmediate and urgent public supports.

Conchshell blowing intervals vary depending on the purpose of blowing and based onthe gender requirement for the particular purpose.

Whenthe blowing began, the sound of conch shell would resonate throughout the Island by alerting the entire community and the people would follow the pattern of the sound and flowing direction, that mainly starts in front of thesecretariat where the blower or Head of Island administration stands on the blowing position.

The shell used to blow different intervals depending on the purpose of blowing such as;

Two times in three consecutive periods by providing a short pause between each blown period to gather females.
Three times in three consecutive periods by providing a short pause between each blown period to gather males,
Four times in three consecutive periods by providing a short pause between each blown period to gather males and females together.
Short intervals of blowing were made consecutively to gather all, including males and females during the emergency.

The shell back then did not often use as a musical instrument as the blowing wasconsidered officially as the call for ‘gathering public’ for a particular purpose as those there were no loudspeakers, megaphones, telephone or suchother instrument that could be used as ‘call’, however few traditional musicbands used to use the shell as ‘musical instrument’ and used to refer to as‘shell trumpets’.

The shell is prepared by cutting a hole at the apex (Pointed tip), on the spire ofthe shell just after the collection from the sea and no mouthpiece was required to blow the shell.