Rec'cL June 1 --C>3t.25 »7 



Ray & Haddon — The Languages of Torres Straits — II. 279 



XI. — Skf.tch of Datjdai Grammar. 



Tha materials available for the elucidation of Daudai Grammar are 

 of tlie most meagre and scanty description. They comprise: (1) A 

 few notes in the Eev. E. B. Savage's Yocabulary of Murray, Mabuiag, 

 and Daudai (ms. 7). (2) Some phrases and sentences at the end of 

 Sir "W. MacGregor's Kiwai vocabulary (22). (3) A few sentences and 

 hymns printed for Mission use, by Eev. E. B. Savage. We believe that 

 as a matter of fact the translations were partly due to a Miriam native 

 teacher. The greater part of the latter, is printed in the Specimens of 

 the Daudai Language. 



It is very evident that what is known of Daudai Grammar has been 

 obtained by means of the Miriam language. The Eev. E. B. Savage's 

 Yocabulary has the Miriam, but no English equivalents to the Daudai 

 words, whilst the translation and hymns correspond word for word, 

 and often inflexion for inflexion with the Murray versions. For these 

 reasons it is obvious that too much stress cannot be laid upon the 

 accuracy of what is here set forth, and much is certainly left for 

 further explanation and exhibition. 



In this sketch notes taken from MacGregor are marked (b.), those 

 from Savage's ms. are marked (ks). 



Dialects. 



The words given in Savage's ms. represent the western portion of 

 the district in which the Daudai language is spoken, though some 

 words are marked as representing the dialect in use at Perem (Bampton 

 Island) or at Kiwai. The vocabularies of D'Albertis and Beardmore 

 represent the language about the mouth of the Binature or Katau 

 river, especially of the village of Mowat (Moatta or Mouatta). 

 MacGregor's vocabulary was " drawn up chiefly at the village (on the 

 Island of Kiwai), usually called 'Kiwai,' but named by its own 

 people 'lasa,' and is "used by aboriginals of Ipisia, Saguana, Samari, 

 Mabudamu, Auti, Wiorubi, and Sumai villages." ^ 



" With dialectic differences, the language is understood all over the 

 Island of Kiwai, and round the coast as far as the Mai Kusa, and for 



1 Annual Report on Britisli New Guinea, 1890, p. 124. 

 E.I. A. PUOC, SEE. ni., VOL. IV. X 



