THE LANGUAGES OF THE NEW HEBRIDES. 153 
or society which has a house in every village. To rise to a high 
position in this society requires a great deal of influence and 
expense, and, according to native ideas, some supernatural power. 
The members of the ‘Sukpwe’ exercise considerable control over 
affairs ; hence the use of the word as equivalent to ‘chief.’ In 
Maewo, Sukpwe-matua is a being who spoilt things when Tagar, 
the legendary maker of various articles was doing them aright. 
In Arag and Omba the same opposing nature is ascribed to Sukpwe.* 
The Omba ra-tahigt is ‘mother,’ in Arag ra-tasiu, is ‘brothers,’ 
and in Mota ftasi is a common word for ‘brother.’ The Efate, 
Nguna wota, wot may be connected with the Mota verb wot, ‘to be 
prominent. 
[Several of these words mean ‘first, before,’ as arzki (=Sam. 
ali_l) and lu-dwaz. | 
60. Head—The usual word is some form of kpwatu or batu, 
literally meaning a ‘knob’ (see No. 45), and the Kwamera wa is 
no doubt the same word ; Weasisi haba is also ‘knob.’ Cf. Mel. 
Lang. p. 76. 
[Some of these words come from ma, ‘a beginning,’ ‘ top or end’ 
(cf. the meaning of Hebrew résh); ‘ulw may be a corruption from 
Sk. kapala, ‘head.’ 
61. Hye—-The word mata is seen everywhere. In Aneityum 
nesgan-imtan, nesgan is said to be the essence, the most important 
part, ¢e. the pupil. The Weasisi nugan may be of similar mean- 
ing to nesgan. 
[I take nesganimtan to be n-sega-ni-mata, ‘the sheen of the eye’; 
see Note 1.] 
62. Har—In various forms taliga is the common word. In the 
Northern languages kpwero, boro,pero and allied words are properly 
applied to the tip of the ear. Cf. Mel. Lang. p. 66. 
[The Dr. rt. 4éd means ‘to hear,’ hence Oceanic tal-iga, ‘ear’; in 
Polynesian, poro means ‘to end,’ ‘to be finished.’ 
* Codrington, “Religious Beliefs in Melanesia ’’—Journ. Anth. Inst. 
Vol. x., p. 287, 292. 
