488 THE POLYNESIAN WANDERINGS. 



338. 



In this collection Motu dae would scarcely find a place if it were not for 

 the Saa tae to account for the initial t, and for the establishment in other 

 items of the extinction of k. Wedau also has established the k loss, and 

 the initial g may be regarded as a modified kappation of the Motu /. Both 

 these forms may proceed from the stem sake. So, too, does Sinaugoro 

 rage, for the s-l mutation found in 298 confirms the r in this instance. The 

 Keakalo agi rests upon the simpler ake stem. 



339- 

 The forms which exhibit the mutation of the initial aspirate to /, d, and 

 extinction are satisfactory. Thus we have no difficulty in accepting Tau- 

 pota, Awalama, Tavara, Roro, Motu, Uni, and Pokau. In Tavara the e 

 in the / place may be an error in transcription and the word be identical 

 with the Awalama form, or it may be comprehended as a phase of the 

 mutation from the liquid to the vowel noted in item 284. The remaining 

 forms are too remote from type to establish themselves, except that we 

 note the presence of a series keta-eta-ta. 



340. 



A considerable group of these languages has a vocable of sarima type, 

 but we have no explanation of the interjection of a syllable within any 

 Polynesian word ; we note the curious resemblance and constant difference, 

 but may venture on no identification. Divested of extraneous matter, 

 the other New Guinea forms rest upon the mutation series for the aspirate 

 of s-t-d-r. It is interesting to note the persistency of an n either in the 

 stem itself or characteristically associated therewith. This is found in 

 Kubiri, Koko-Yimidir, Galavi, and Mukawa, and in Astrolabe Bay on the 

 east coast in Gorendu saman-mole. It comes again to light in Tanna and 

 Aneityum. 



342. 



To these satisfactory identifications we add from Astrolabe Bay the 

 equally satisfactory Gorendu sing, the sun, a form by no means uncommon 

 in Melanesia. 



344- 



The mutation proceeds regularly from s to /, to n, to g. Vowel variety 

 appears but twice, in Nada and Oiun, and is associable with the only 

 Melanesian instance of vowel change, Norbarbar visis. 



349- 



The fact that Motu talo is of the present Polynesian type and that the 

 other New Guinea identifications are of the Efate type is proof that during 

 the traverse of Torres Straits both forms were in the possession of the 

 migration. 



350- 



There is little difficulty in these identifications. Kiriwina taigila is so 

 clearly metathetic that the intrusive i need give us no concern. We have 

 next a series in which the \-n mutation dominates. Next comes the loss 

 of I in taina, tain, teina, tcini, kaina. Then follows the loss of the vowel 



