Gwara in Dobu and the Ka’ubana’i Magic
1 1 Tama We come (to) Dobu Dobu, ikarigava’u— he die anew— gwara: gwara: bu’a areca bilalava he might ripen usi banana bimwanogu, he might ripen, nuya coco-nut bibabayse they might spike ka’i stick kayketoki. small stick.
2 2 Gala No ka’ubana’i, ka’ubana’i, takokola: we fright: ikawoyse they take (put on) bowa war paints kayyala, spear, kema; axe; isisuse they sit biginayda they might look at us.
3 3 Batana We go ovalu in village tasakaulo, we run, gala no tanouno we walk. batawa we might arrive tamwoyne we (i.d.) climb bu’a. areca.
4 4 Idou: He cries “E! “E! Gala No bukumwoyne thou mightst climb bu’a.” areca.”
5 5 Bogwe Already ika’u he take kayyala, spear, mwada mayhap biwoyda. he might hit us.
6 6 Tapula We ritually spit nayya wild ginger root ka’ubana’i: ka’ubana’i: ika’ita he return ima, he come igigila he laugh, iluwaymo he throw kayyala, spear, kema. axe.
7 7 Tapula We ritually spit Valu village kumaydona, all, boge already itamwa’u he vanish ninasi mind theirs’, ilukwaydasi: they tell us:
8 8 “Bweyna, “Good, kumwoynasi you climb kami your bu’a, areca, nuya, coco-nut (palms) kami your usi banana kuta’isi.” you cut.”
In comment added:
9 9 Gala No ikarige he die veyola kinsman his, ninasi mind their bweyna. well.
10 10 Vivila Woman kayyala spear her ikawo, she take pela for tokamsita’u. cannibals.
Free Translation
1 We come to Dobu, (there) someone has recently died—there is a gwala: the areca nut will ripen, the bananas will ripen, they will stick up coco-nuts on small spikes.
2 If there is no ka’ubana’i charm made—we are afraid: they (sc. the Dobuans) put on war paint, take up spear and axe, they sit (waiting) and look at us.
3 We go into the village running, not walking; we arrive and climb the areca palm.
4 He (the Dobuan) shouts: “Don’t climb the areca palm!”
5 Already he takes the spear, so as to hit us.
6 We ritually spit about wild ginger root charmed with the ka’ubana’i spell—he returns, comes to us, laughs, he throws away spear and axe.