The tolabwaga sub-clan and their sea-faring privileges
1 Bikugwo (He might be first), ikapusi (he fall down) (it is launched) siwaga (their canoe) Tolabwaga (Tolabwaga), boge (already) bimilakatile (he might be clear)bwarita (sea).
2 Igau (Later on) kumaydona (all) gweguya (chiefs), tokay (commoner) siwaga (their canoe) ikapusisi (they fall down) (are launched) oluvyeki (behind).
3 Kidama (Supposing) takapusi (we fall down), takugwo (we are first) bitavilidasi (they might turn (on) us) baloma ( spirits); bitana (we might go) Dobu (Dobu), gala (no) tabani (we find) bunukwa (pig) soulava (necklace).
4 Makawala yuwayoulo (Alike (lashing creeper)): bikugwo (he (it) might be first) isipusi (they bind) siwayugo (their wayugo lashing), iga’u (later on) yakidasi (ourselves).
5 Takeulo (We sail) Dobu (Dobu), gala (no) bikugwasi (they might be first) Tolabwaga (Tolabwaga); okovalawa (on sea front) boge (already) aywokwo (he was over).
6 Obwarita (In sea) tananamse (we consider) kayne (whether) isakauli (he run) taytala (one (masculine)) lawaga (his canoe), ikugwo (he is first).
7 Gala (No) bikaraywagasi (they might command) patile (canoe fleet).
8 Dobu (Dobu), gweguya (chiefs) bikugwasi (they might be first), biwayse (they might come there) kaypatile (canoe fleet) gweguya (chiefs).
9 M’tage (Indeed) Tolabwaga (Tolabwaga) boge (already) aywokwo (he (it) was over) sikaraywaga (their command) ovalu (in village).
The Tolabwaga sub-clan belong to the Lukwasisiga clan, and live at present in Kasi’etana. Only one man and two women are surviving.
10 Simwasila (Their Kula magic) siwaga (their canoe) migavala (magic his), vivila (woman) boge (already) iyousayse (they grasp).
11 „Datukwasi (Our magical property) boge (already) kasakaymi (we give you) megwa (magic) kwaraywagasi (you command) lagayle (to-day)!”
Thus would they say on handing their magic to their male descendants.
Informant’s Commentary.
Commenting on verse 3, the expression, bitalividasi baloma, my informant said:
Bitavilida” (They might turn (on) us): bilivalasi (they might say) baloma (spirit) „Avaka (What) pela (for) gala (no) ikugwo (he is first) Tolabwaga (Tolabwaga), kukugwasi (you are first) gumgweguya (sub-chiefs); kayuviyuvisa (sweepers of the sea) Tolabwaga (Tolabwaga)!
13 Tavagi (We do) gaga (bad); igiburuwasi (they angry), ninasi(mind theirs’) igaga (he bad);, pela (for) magisi (desire theirs) batayamata (we might watch) tokunabogwo (long ago) aygura (he has decreed).
The verbal translation renders word for word the individual meaning of every particle and root, according to a definite grammatical and lexcographical scheme which has been adopted for this text in common with a few hundred more. In this place, I cannot give the commentary and justification of the linguistic details, which will be fairly obvious to a Melanesian scholar, who might, however, find some new and even controversial features in my translation. To other readers, these details are of small interest. I have not included in this translation any distinction between the inclusive and exclusive first person, dual and plural. Of the two tenses which are to be found in this text, the narrative one is translated by the English verb in infinitive, the potential, by the addition of the word „might”. In brackets underneath, the special meaning of a word in its context is indicated, or some comments are added.
The free translation of the text must now be given:
Free translation:
1 The Tolabwaga canoe would be launched first; by this the face of the sea is cleared.
2 Afterwards, all the chiefs’, the commoners’ canoes are launched.
3 If we would launch our canoes first, the spirits (of ancestors) would be angry with us; we would go to Dobu and we would receive no pigs, no necklaces.
4 It is likewise with the lashing of the canoe: first, the Tolabwaga would bind the lashing creeper and afterwards ourselves.
5 On our journey to Dobu, the Tolabwaga would not sail ahead, for their priority ends on the beach of Sinaketa.
6 On the sea it is according to our wish, and if one man’s canoe runs fast, he would be first.
7 They (the Tolabwaga) do not wield the command of the canoe fleet.
8 In Dobu, the chiefs would be first; the chiefs would arrive there at the head of the fleet.
9 But the supremacy of the Tolabwaga ends here already, in the village.
10 The Kula magic, the magic of the canoe, belonging to the Tolabwaga clan has passed already into the hands of their womenfolk.
11 (These would say speaking to their male children):
„We shall give you the magic, the magical inheritance, you rule henceforward”.
12 When the spirits become angry, they would tell us :
„Why are the Tolabwaga not first and you minor chiefs are ahead? Are not the Tolabwaga cleaners of the sea?
13 When we do wrong, they (the spirits) are angry, their minds are malevolent, for they desire that we should keep to the old customs.