| EXAMPLE. | ||
| Serpent, s. | Kinai´bik. | |
| —— s. diminutive. | ——ôns, | implying Little serpent. |
| —— s. derogative. | ——ish, | "Bad serpent. |
| —— s. local. | ——ing, | "In (the) serpent. |
| —— s. dim. and der. | ——ônsish, | "Little bad serpent. |
| —— s. dim. and lo. | ——ônsing, | "In (the) little serpent. |
| —— s. dim. der. and lo. | ——ônsishing, | "In (the) little bad serpent. |
4. More attention has, perhaps, been bestowed upon these points than their importance demanded; but, in giving anything like a comprehensive sketch of the substantive, they could not be omitted; and, if mentioned at all, it became necessary to pursue them through their various changes and limitations. Another reason has presented itself. In treating of an unwritten language, of which others are to judge chiefly from examples, it appeared desirable that the positions advanced should be accompanied by the data upon which they respectively rest—at least, by so much of the data employed as to enable philologists to appreciate the justice or detect the fallacy of our conclusions. To the few who take any interest in the subject at all, minuteness will not seem tedious, and the examples will be regarded with deep interest.
As much of our time as we have already devoted to these lesser points of inquiry, it will be necessary, at this place, to point out other inflections and modifications of the substantive, to clear it from obscurities, that we may go into the discussion of the other parts of speech unincumbered.
Of these remaining forms, none is more interesting than that which enables the speaker, by a simple inflection, to denote that the individual named has ceased to exist. This delicate mode of conveying melancholy intelligence, or alluding to the dead, is effected by placing the object in the past tense.
Aiekid-ôpun aieko Garrangula-bun.
So the deceased Garrangula spoke.
The syllable bun, in this sentence, added to the noun, and _ôpun_ added to the verb, place both in the past tense. And, although the death of the Indian orator is not mentioned, that fact would be invariably inferred.
Names which do not terminate in a vowel sound, require a vowel prefixed to the tensal inflection, rendering it _ôbun_ or ebun. Inanimate as well as animate nouns take these inflections.
| PRESENT. | PAST FORM. |
| Tecumseh, | Tecumsi-bun. |
| Tammany, | Tamani-bun. |
| Skenandoah, | Skenandoa-bun. |
| Nôs (my father), | Nos-êbun. |
| Pontiac, | Pontiac-ibun. |
| Waub Ojeeg, | Waub Ojeeg-ibun. |
| Tarhe, | Tarhi-bun. |
| Mittig (a tree), | Mittig-ôbun. |
| Akkik (a kettle), | Akkik-ôbun. |
| Môz (a moose), | Môz-ôbun. |
By prefixing the particle Tah to these words, and changing the inflection of the animate nouns to iwi, and the inanimates to iwun, they are rendered future. Thus, Tah Pontiac-iwi; Tah Mittig-iwun, &c.
The names for the seasons only come under the operation of these rules, when the year before the last, or the year after the next, is referred to. The last and the ensuing season are indicated as follows:—