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.