The click which is used, by the Kaffirs need not be attempted by the beginner in the language,—there are so very few words which require the click, and these few are quite easily understood without it. The ambitious linguist frequently renders himself quite unintelligible to a Kaffir, in consequence of clicking with every word, whether this click is required or not. It is far better to pronounce distinctly the simple word, than to attempt to adorn it by a performance which, as I have before remarked, cannot be perfectly accomplished until the individual has lost nearly all his teeth.
To any person who may wish to advance in the Kaffir language I submit a conjugated verb as a model; but I generally found that ile, placed at the end of the infinitive mood, was quite understood by the Kaffirs for the past tense: as, uku hamba, to go; hambile, gone; tanda, to love; tandile, have loved, etc.
Ukupoza, To Drink.
| Present. |
|---|
| Singular. | Plural. |
|---|
| 1. Diapoza, I drink. | 1. Siapoza, we drink. |
| 2. Uapoza, thou drinkest. | 2. Neapoza, ye drink. |
| 3. Eapoza, he drinks. | 3. Paiapoza, they drink. |
| Imperfect. |
|---|
| Singular. | Plural. |
|---|
| 1. Dibendipoza, I drank. | 1. Sibesipoza, we drank. |
| 2. Ubenupoza, thou drankest. | 2. Nebenepoza, ye drank. |
| 3. Ebenepoza, he drank. | 3. Pebepepoza, they drank. |
| Perfect. |
|---|
| Singular. | Plural. |
|---|
| 1. Dabandapoza, I have drunk. | 1. Sabesapoza, we have drunk. |
| 2. Uabauapoza, thou hast drunk. | 2. Nabenapoza, ye have drunk. |
| 3. Eabaeapoza, he has drunk. | 3. Pabepapoza, they have drunk. |
| Pluperfect. |
|---|
| Singular. | Plural. |
|---|
| 1. Dikandapoza, I had drunk. | 1. Sikasapoza, we had drunk. |
| 2. Ukauapoza, thou hadst drunk. | 2. Nekanapoza, ye had drunk. |
| 3. Ekeapoza, he had drunk. | 3. Pakapapoza, they had drunk. |
| Future. |
|---|
| Singular. | Plural. |
|---|
| 1. Dopoza, I shall drink. | 1. Sopoza, we shall drink. |
| 2. Uopoza, thou shalt drink. | 2. Nopoza, ye shall drink. |
| 3. Eopoza, he shall drink. | 3. Popoza, they shall drink. |
| Potential. |
|---|
| Singular. | Plural. |
|---|
| 1. Dingapoza, I may, can, or might drink. | 1. Singapoza, we may, can, might drink. |
| 2. Ungapoza, thou, etc. | 2. Nangapoza, ye may, etc. |
| 3. Engapoza, he, etc. | 3. Pangapoza, they may, etc. |
| Imperative. |
|---|
| Singular. | Plural. |
|---|
| 1. Mandipoza, let me drink. | 1. Masipoza, let us drink. |
| 2. Maupoza, do thou drink. | 2. Manipoza, do ye drink. |
| 3. Maepoza, let him drink. | 3. Mabipoza, let them drink. |