XVII
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Malinowski, Bronislaw
Another sample of a native text may be given here, as it is of especial interest, in that it throws light upon the previously given magical formula of the wayugo. It is the text I obtained trying to find the meaning of the word bosisi’ula, which figures at the beginning of the above-mentioned spell. According to two informants of Sinaketa, the word visisi’una refers to the belief already described, that the owner of a wayugo charm is liable to fits of trembling, during which he trembles as a bisila (pandanus) streamer trembles in the wind. He then should ritually eat some baked fish, and this is called visisi’una. Such a man would then ask somebody of his household:—
“Kugabu, kumaye, avisisi’una.” “Thou bake, thou bring, I ritually eat.”
Or someone else would urge his wife or daughter:—
“Kugabu, kumaye, ivisisi’una.” “Thou bake, thou bring, he eats ritually.”
Again, asked for a direct equation, my informant said:—
“Ivisisi’una — bigabu, tomwaya ikam.” “Ivisisi’una — he bake, old man he eat.”
The following text contains a more explicit definition of the term, which I was trying at that time to make clear and to translate by an appropriate English expression.