“O, my children! my children!” she cried. “Ye foolish little ones, did I not tell ye to beware and to be careful, O, my children?” Then she exclaimed—rocking herself to and fro, and wriggling from side to side at the same time, casting her hands into the air, and sobbing wildly—
“Ayaa mash toki!
Ayaa mash toki!
Hai! i i i i!”[15]
and fell in a swoon, still wriggling, to the ground.
[15] It is impossible to translate this exclamation, as it is probably archaic, and it is certainly the intention that its meaning shall not be plain. Judging from its etymology, I should think that its meaning might be:
“Oh, alas! our little maiden!
Oh, alas! our little maiden!
Ala-a-a-a-a-s!”
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