673 



also saw a few pieces of calico), which action is called Tagdhu. 

 The women wait until the men join them, then they dance 

 backwards, and the whole cortege thus enters the street and 

 comes right in front of the house of the most important 

 Maduna masters. 



Two of the large pandanus mats (Eha) are next spread 

 in the middle of the street, and all the men participating in 

 the ceremony squat down. The innermost circle is formed by 

 the two masters of the feast and by the bearers of the mango 

 poles and of the O'au creepers, as well as by the old men of 

 the village. This is the preparation for the cutting up of the 

 mango saplings, Boroa jtHajteia. It begins by a ceremonial 

 eating of betelnut, accompanied by a betelnut incantation 

 (Weni uWra). Some betelnut is produced, and small parts 

 of it are distributed in an earnest and solemn manner. The 

 men, holding the pieces of nut in their hand and looking at 

 them carefully and, one might say, tenderly, and swaying their 

 bodies rhythmically, sing the following song. After they have 

 finished it they eat the nut slowly. 



1. Rogea heddna hedasoni toninamo 

 (Island of Rogea) betelnut licking the lime spatula 



Bedaio aitseri 



betelnut cut into pieces 

 Tsahilhu A-a-a... (long drawn) 

 shake him 



2. Maivdra heddna hedasoni 



(the locality of Maivdra, in Milne Bay) 

 (Continued as above.) 



3. Duruhi heddna, etc. 



Tiius several localities, all from the extreme eastern end 

 of New Guinea, are mentioned, and then the song ends with 

 the last stanza : — 



Taukiiripokapoka amuhe da 



(personal name) you betelnut 

 Bedaio aitseri tsahilhii 



betelnut cut into pieces shake 

 Aitseri 

 cut into pieces 



Kumakarakedakeda amnhe da 



(personal name) 

 Bedaio aitseri tsahiihu 



Aitseri 



This song is addressed to the two legendary men, provided 

 with the somewhat long names of Kumakarakedakeda and 

 w 



