VITIAN GRAMMAR. 389 



Ndofe, too early, before its time; sa mate ndole, he died an untimely death. 



A fimbi, or war-song, consists usually of two lines, expressive of some sentiment of 

 defiance, which they shout forth as they approach the enemy. The mountaineers of 

 Ovolau, who sometimes attacked the towns upon the coast, were wont, before they 

 descended from the heights, to taunt the people below them with the words 



Keitau fimbiSimbi toka i tuatna, 

 Ndrendre yd i tiko malua. 

 That is, 



We are singing our war-song on the ridge, 



Hard indeed is it (for you) to sit patiently; 



i. e., it is hard for you to be compelled to hear our insults without being able to return 

 them. 



Another distich declares the ease with which the assailants will break through the 

 hostile fortress : 



Nomu mbd i wawa mere, 

 Au na tokia, au tasere. 



" Your fence is of the mere vine, 

 I will kick it, I will break it open." 



The following is frequently sung as they approach the shore in their canoes: 



Ndiyindipi, kemu muri manda, 

 Kemu e tiko i vu ni vana. 



Which was rendered by the interpreter, 



Take your choice now, something for you to eat comes after, 

 Something for you lies at the foot of the mast. 



This refers to the custom of tying their prisoners to the masts of their canoes, in which 

 mode they bring home those who are reserved for their cannibal feasts. They tell their 

 enemies that they have something ready for them to eat when they are taken captive. 

 Kemu is the possessive pronoun thy in the form which applies only to articles of food. 



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