398 THE POLYNESIAN WANDERINGS. 



in Proto-Samoan the two forms were distinct, a distinction which in the 

 later weakening of the liquid it has been found impossible to preserve. 

 Thus may we account for the occurrence of the food-tray sense in Efate 

 and Aneityum without the leaf signification. It will be observed that 

 Aneityum has the fishing sense found in Viti, which further is found in 

 Samoa lauloa a surround of coconut leaves, and in Tongarewa raurau driv- 

 ing fish with coconut leaves. 



In Melanesia rau a leaf is found somewhat widely: Sesake, Motu, Marina, 

 Arag, Vaturanga, Nggela ; Omba raugi is the same with a formative suffix. 

 Makura is only slightly removed in signification. Natalava tharau is a raw- 

 composite, as is Wango raua. Vaturanga rarau is in form a parallel of 

 Samoa lalau. Moanus and Malekula lann and Malo rauna introduce the 

 Indonesian final n; Moanus we might ascribe to that influence ; Malo and 

 Malekula lie beyond its reach. This n, therefore, may represent a persistent 

 radical w-closure. 



We are next to examine a group of forms with i'-final, all New Hebridean. 

 This i is a suffix to noun stems when they are used absolutely. Of the 

 a-series we have Lakon drawi preserving the r grasseye by a preface as in 

 Viti, Mota naui nau. Of the o-series we have Maewo ndoui; Merlav, Vuras, 

 ndoi; Gog, Vuras, ndo; Mosin, Mota, no. These two series introduce that 

 r-nd-n-d mutation which we find it so hard to comprehend. Pak to-gi is a 

 direct derivative from Vuras ndo. Still on the o-series we have Duke of 

 York dono and Motlav ton, both with the n. Volow ro, and Nengone ru, 

 Guadalcanar ta-lu (suggesting Natalava tha-lau) and Norbarbar ndu-gi 

 belong in this series with still a further vowel change. Deni leu is probably 

 a form of lau, but unique. A still different mutation, r-h, is needed to 

 account for Lo ho-i, also unique. 



In Indonesia we find rau, rou, laun and daun, all occurring in Melanesia; 

 and Malagasy ravina is very close to Lakon drawi. 



The Semitic here proposed is represented without variation by the 

 triliteral hdb, which can have no relation with our island composite la-u 

 or la-un. 



336. 



rongo, rong i, tongi (dongi), nrong, tong i, to hear, to obey, to feel, to know ; 

 marongo, matrongo, manrong, to be idle, to amuse oneself at 

 the expense of someone. 

 Samoa : longo, to hear, to feel, to report, a sound ; longona, to hear ; 

 langona, to understand, to feel, to perceive by the senses; 

 fa'alongo, to hear, to obey. Fakaafo: jakalongo, to hear. 

 Futuna: longo, a report, tidings, to perceive, to feel. Niue: 

 longona, to hear, to perceive by the senses, to understand, to 

 smell; langona, to hear; ongo, a report. Uvea : longo, to hear, 

 to perceive, to feel, to comprehend, a message, a report ; jakalongo, 

 to obey. Nukuoro: longo, to hear; longo mai, to obey. Raro- 

 tonga: akalongo, to hear. Hawaii: lono, to hear, a report; 

 hoolono, to listen, to regard. Nuguria: ulono, to hear. Maori: 

 rongo, to hear, to feel, to smell, to taste, to obey, tidings, report, 

 fame, sound, noise. Mangaia: rongo, a report; akarongo, to 

 listen. Mangareva: rongo, to hear, to listen, to understand, 



