“I say, I tell you about what I want. What do you say, you want to come with me? Best thing you come along with me. What do you think about it? If you got something to answer back, then you let me know. ’Spose you want to come with me, let me know, then I know; ’spose you don’t, you let me know, so I know. Best thing you come with me. My name ⸺.”

The answer might be—

“All right, I come along you” or “No, I no want to come along you.”

Another proposal is a copy of an original letter which happened to fall into my hands and which I still possess. It was from a Murray Islander named Kimel, who was then in Mabuiag offering marriage to Anuni, a Mabuiag girl.

Unfortunately I did not see her reply; but I know she received this letter, and I have no reason to believe my possession of it hindered the course of true love from running smoothly.

It is interesting to note that Kimel, being a Murray Islander, followed his tribal custom of the man proposing marriage.

Januare 1, 1899.

    1. Peike
    2. This
    3. Anuni
    4. Anuni
    5. (is)
    6. kara
    7. my
    8. jiawali
    9. writing
    10. marim
    11. to you
    12. mama
    13. you
    14. neur
    15. a girl
    16. kaka
    17. I
    18. makiriam
    19. young man
    20. nakö[2]
    21. (?)
    22. ma
    23. you
    24. kari
    25. me
    26. lag
    27. like
    28. nakö
    29. (?)
    30. Ad
    31. God
    32. emeret
    33. formerly
    34. detagem
    35. made
    36. Adamu
    37. Adam
    38. a
    39. and
    40. Eba
    41. Eve
    42. kosker
    43. woman
    44. a
    45. and
    46. kimiar
    47. man
    48. mokakalam
    49. same way
    50. kaka
    51. I
    52. mari
    53. you
    54. lag
    55. like
    56. nakö
    57. (?)
    58. ma
    59. you
    60. kari
    61. me
    62. lag
    63. like
    64. nakö
    65. (?)
    66. ma
    67. you
    68. nole
    69. not
    70. geum
    71. afraid
    72. kak
    73. nothing
    74. makiria
    75. young man
    76. abkoreb
    77. suitable
    78. marim
    79. for you
    80. ma
    81. you
    82. kari
    83. me
    84. abkoreb
    85. suit.
    86. Ad
    87. God
    88. emeret
    89. formerly
    90. detagem
    91. made
    92. kosker
    93. woman
    94. abkoreb
    95. suitable
    96. ko
    97. for
    98. kimiar
    99. man
    100. nagiri
    101. possessing
    102. kimiar
    103. man
    104. abkoreb
    105. suitable
    106. ko
    107. for
    108. kosker
    109. woman
    110. nagiri
    111. possessing
    112. kaka
    113. I
    114. mari
    115. you
    116. laglag
    117. like
    118. nako
    119. what
    120. mer
    121. word
    122. karim
    123. for me
    124. ma
    125. you
    126. kari
    127. me
    128. umele
    129. know
    130. kaka
    131. I
    132. nole
    133. not
    134. mokakalam
    135. like
    136. nerut
    137. some other
    138. le
    139. men
    140. kaka
    141. I
    142. dorge
    143. work
    144. le
    145. man.
    146. peike
    147. This
    148. kara
    149. my
    150. mer
    151. word
    152. marim
    153. to you.
    154. Sina
    155. The end.
    156. Kara
    157. My
    158. nei
    159. name.

Cimell

Mabuiag.