Page:Picturesque New Guinea.djvu/315

  Bedovari daiidau, bedovari daudau, bedovari daudaii, Naevari daudau, naevari daudau, naevari daudau, Eogovari daudau, eogovari daudau, eogovari daudau.

When the yams are just above ground the following is repeated in the plantation:—

Sinari kenikeni (repeat twice more), Hueri kenikeni (repeat twice more), Ruela kenikeni (repeat twice more), Naera kenikeni (repeat twice more).

Mabata, the chief of one of the Koitapu division, a great man in the tribe, a kind-hearted fellow though a great sorcerer, has just come in whilst writing this, and he has given me the following prayer used by him when he hears there is going to be fighting. He says when he uses it the fighters' hands hang down with weakness, and their knees tremble.

Tuanugi i ae mai (three times), Kornanugu i ae mai (three times), Vangu i ae mai (three times), Vanugu i ae mai (three times), Kornbuie (twice), Tuauru i ae a (twice), Eorigori e ae a (twice), Kuru e ae a (twice), Eaubu i ae (twice), Suuri i ae ma (three times), En boriboro (four times), Koieri gamia a (twice), Eairaki beriboro (twice), De umu ba ba (twice).

It is gone over and over again, truly "vain repetitions."