344 THE POLYNESIAN WANDERINGS. 



fata identifications, light cross-pieces spaced at intervals. With this for a 

 primal signification it is easy to see how a ladder, a raft, a henroost, an altar 

 come under the same stem for designation. Perhaps Samoan fata fata 

 the breast obtains the name by reason of the ribs ; it would be convincing 

 were it not that the plumpness of most Samoans leaves the ribs a matter 

 of anatomical inference. 



In our three island areas the fata stem is unmistakable. Malo ivasa 

 probably belongs with fata, for tapu (207) forbid Malo sab exhibits the t-s 

 mutation in this speech and it is found in other Melanesian tongues. This 

 form ivasa finds its parallel in Tahiti ihata. Bierian kovata and Efate 

 kofeta are the same /ato-composite. Efate uete may be a derivative from 

 fata, for f-w has a wide range and a-e mutation is so frequent as to call for 

 no comment except that in all our homogenetics we have found both the 

 a's permanent. Uete may produce uere (on the t-r mutation see note 258). 

 Having once accepted uere we can accept uenr', strange as nr seems. 



But the Semitic md can have no relation with a stem in ft. 



294. 



fatu, a stone. 



Samoa : fatu, a stone, the stone of fruits, seed, heart, gizzard. Tonga : 

 fatu, gizzard; fatukala, a black pebble-stone; matafatu, hard, 

 not easily made to cry (stone-face). Tahiti : faturei, fatuumuti, 

 stones in special uses. Fakaafo, Niue, Futuna, Aniwa, Sika- 

 yana, Vate, Manahiki: fatu, a stone. Maori: whatu, a stone, 

 the stone of fruits, the pupil of the eye, a testicle. Nuguria, 

 Nukuoro: hatu, stone. Hawaii: haku, a hard lump of any- 

 thing, the eyeball, adze-stones; pohaku, rock. Mangaia: atu, 

 kernel of fruit ; koatu, a stone. Mangareva : atu, a round fruit 

 stone, any round form; atumata, pupil of the eye; atutaha, a 

 stone used in turtle fishing. Fotuna: tafatu, stone. 



Viti: vahi, a stone, a rock. Rotuma: hof, -both, hathu, id. 



Nggela, Vaturanga, Sesake, Bierian, Mota, Arag: vatu, a stone. 

 Bierian: votu, id. Eromanga: ni-vat, id. Mota: vat, id. 

 Nguna: fatu, id. Fagani: fa'u, id. Lamassa : fat, id . Volow: 

 veat, id. AloTeqel: ve'e, id. Nifilole: ve, id. lai: veto, id. 

 Aneityum : na-fetumanava, na-fotumanava, the heart (cf . Samoa : 

 fatumanava, id.). Duke of York: wat, watwat, id. Raluana: 

 wat, id. King: wat, id. Baravon: watwat, id. Solomon 

 Islands: patu, id. Moanus: pat, id. Aneityum: ne-pat, a 

 whinstone. Brierly Island: pak, stone. Kalil: 'hat, id. 

 Laur: 7m/, id. Pala, Lambell: hat, id. Aneityum: n-hat, id. 

 Saa: /jaw, id. Ulawa: hoihau, id. Malekula: var, ni-vit, id. 

 Kabadi: vakuna, id. Kiriwina: daku, gaku, id. Tagula: varu, 

 id. Mekeo : fan, id. Hula, Keapara : vau, id. Galoma : bau, id. 

 Tubetube : veku, id. Sariba : weku, id. Mugula, Suau : veu, id. 



Malay, Kayan, Silong, Macassar, Togean Islands: batu, a stone. 

 Magindano: watu, id. Savu: wawatu, id. Ilocan, Sulu: 

 bato, id. Malagasy: vato, id. Satawal: fahou, id. 



Hebrew: eben, stone. Ethiopic: ebdn, id. 



