This distinction is shown in the following examples, in which it will be observed that the inflection izzi generally denotes the personal, and au, un, or wud, the impersonal forms.

ADJ. INANIMATE.ADJ. ANIMATE.
Bad,Monaudud,Monaudizzi.
Ugly,Gushkoonaugwud,Gushkoonaugoozzi.
Beautiful,Bishegaindaugwud,Bisheguindaugoozzi.
Strong,Söngun,Söngizzi.
Soft,Nökun,Nökizzi.
Hard,Mushkowau,Mushkowizzi.
Smooth,Shoiskwau,Shoiskoozzi.
Black,Mukkuddäwau,Mukkuddäwizzi.
White,Waubishkau,Waubishkizzi.
Yellow,Ozahwau,Ozahwizzi.
Red,Miskwau,Miskwizzi.
Blue,Ozhahwushkwau,Ozhahwushkwizzi.
Sour,Sheewun,Sheewizzi.
Sweet,Weeshköbun,Weeshköbizzi.
Light,Naugun,Naungizzi.

It is not, however, in all cases, by mere modifications of the adjective that these distinctions are expressed. Words totally different in sound, and evidently derived from radically different roots, are, in some few instances, employed; as in the following examples:—

ADJ. INANIMATE.ADJ. ANIMATE.
Good,Onisheshin,Minno.
Bad,Monaudud,Mudjee.
Large,Mitshau,Mindiddo.
Small,Pungee,Uggaushe.
Old,Geekau,Gitizzi.

It may be remarked of these forms, that, although the impersonal will, in some instances, take the personal inflections, the rule is not reciprocated, and minno, and mindiddo, and gitizzi, and all words similarly situated, remain unchangeably animates. The word pungee is limited to the expression of quantity, and its correspondent, uggaushi, to size or quality. Kishedä (hot) is restricted to the heat of a fire; keezhautä, to the heat of the sun. There is still a third term to indicate the natural heat of the body; kizzizoo. Mitshau (large) is generally applied to countries, lakes, rivers, &c.; mindiddo, to the body; and gitshee, indiscriminately. Onishishin, and its correspondent, onishishshä, signify handsome or fair, as well as good. Kwonaudy, a. a., and kwonaudyewun, a. i., mean, strictly, handsome, and imply nothing further. Minno is the appropriate personal form for good. Mudjee and monaudud may reciprocally change genders, the first by the addition of iee, and the second by altering ud to izzi.

Distinctions of this kind are of considerable importance in a practical point of view, and their observance or neglect is noticed with scrupulous exactness by the Indians. The want of inanimate forms to such words as happy, sorrowful, brave, sick, &c., creates no confusion, as inanimate nouns cannot, strictly speaking, take upon themselves such qualities; and when they do—as they sometimes do—by one of those extravagant figures of speech which are used in their tales of transformations, the animate form answers all purposes; for in these tales the whole material creation may be clothed with animation. The rule, as exhibited in practice, is limited, with sufficient accuracy, to the boundaries prescribed by nature.

To avoid a repetition of forms, were the noun and the adjective both to be employed in their usual relation, the latter is endowed with a pronominal or substantive inflection; and the use of the noun in its separate form is thus wholly superseded. Thus, onishishin, a. i., and onishishsha, a. a., become wänishishing, "That which is good or fair," and wänishishid, "He who is good or fair." The following examples will exhibit this rule under each of its forms:—

COMPOUND OR NOUN-ADJECTIVE ANIMATE.
Black,Mukkuddawizzi,Mäkuddäwizzid.
White,Waubishkizzi,Wyaubishkizzid.
Yellow,Ozahwizzi,Wäzauwizzid.
Red,Miskwizzi,Mäskoozzid.
Strong,Söngizzi,Swöngizzid.
NOUN-ADJECTIVE INANIMATE.
Black,Mukkuddäwau,Mäkuddäwaug.
White,Waubishkau,Wyaubishkaug.
Yellow,Ozahwau,Wäzhauwaug.
Red,Miskwau,Maiskwaug.

The animate forms, in these examples, will be recognized as exhibiting a further extension of the rule, mentioned in the preceding Inquiry, by which substantives are formed from the indicative of the verb by a permutation of the vowels; and these forms are likewise rendered plural in the manner there mentioned. They also undergo changes to indicate the various persons. For instance, onishisha is thus declined to mark the person:—

Wänishish-eyaun,I (am) good or fair.
Wänishish-eyun,Thou (art) good or fair.
Wänishish-id,He (is) good or fair.
Wänishish-eyaung,We (are) good or fair. (ex.)
Wänishish-eyung,We (are) good or fair. (in.)
Wänishish-eyaig,Ye (are) good or fair.
Wänishish-idjig,They (are) good or fair.