It has been already observed, that the Mohammedans believe in Jesus Christ, and that he was a prophet sent from God; but they acknowledge no equal with God. The doctrine of the Trinity is incomprehensible to them, hence they will not admit of the punctuation بن but allow that of نب.

The foregoing observations will serve to prove the insufficiency of a knowledge of this language, as professed or studied in Great Britain when unaccompanied with a practical knowledge. These observations may apply equally to the Persian language.[171]

If the present ardour for discovery in Africa be persevered in, the learned world may expect, in the course of a few years, to receive histories and other works of Greek and Roman authors, which were translated into the Arabic language, when Arabian literature was in its zenith, and have ever since been confined to some private libraries in the cities of the interior of Africa, and in Arabia. Bonaparte, aware of the political importance of a practical knowledge of this language, has of late given unremitting attention to the subject, and if we may believe the mutilated accounts which we receive occasionally from France, he is likely to obtain from Africa in a short period relics of ancient learning of considerable value, which have escaped the wreck of nations.

Having said thus much with regard to the Arabic of the western Arabs, which, with little variation, is spoken throughout all the finest districts of North Africa, I shall proceed to say a few words respecting the other languages spoken north of Sahara: these are the Berebber and its dialects, viz. the Zayan and Girwan, and Ait Imure; the Shelluh of Suse and South Atlas, all which, though latterly supposed by some learned men to be the same, differ in many respects; any one possessing a knowledge of the Berebber language might, with little difficulty, make himself understood by the Zayan of Atlas, the Girwan, or the Ait Imure; but the Shelluh is a different language, and each so different from the Arabic, that there is not the smallest resemblance, as the following specimen will demonstrate:

BEREBBER.SHELLUH.ARABIC.ENGLISH.
TumtootTayeltIshiraA girl
AjurodeAyelIshireA boy
AskanTarousaHajarA thing
AramAlgromJimmelCamel
TamtuteTamrautMurrahA woman
IshiarIssemg’hL’abdA slave
AouliIzimerKibshA sheep
TaddertTikimieDarHouse
IkshudenAsroenLawadWood
EekeelAkfaiHellibMilk
TifihieUksumeEl HamMeat
BuelkielAmuranHelloofA hog
AbreedeAgaresTrekA road
BisheeFikihieAraGive me
AdudeAshtAgiCome
AlkamAftoohCireGo
KaymGäuzeJilsSit down
ImileImeekSerireLittle

SPECIMEN OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ARABIC AND SHELLUH LANGUAGES.

SHELLUH.ARABICENGLISH.
Is sin TamazirktWash katarf ShelluhDo you understand Shelluh?
Uree sinMan arf huhI do not understand it
MatshrultKif entaHow are you?
Is tekeete MaroksheWash gite min MarocksheAre you come from Marocco?
Egan rasMiliahGood
MaiganAla’shWherefore?
MisimminkAs’mekWhat is your name?
Mensh kat dirkShall andikHow much have you got?
TasarduntBorellaA mule
RomiRomiAn European
TakannaritNasaraniA Christian
RomiKafferAn infidel
Misem BebansAshkune mulaWho is the owner?
Is’tkit TegriweltWash jite min TegriweltAre you come from Cape Ossem?
Auweete ImkelliJib LiftorBring the dinner
EfoulkieMezianaHandsome
AyeeseEl aoudA horse
TikellineEl BaidEggs
AmuranHelloofHog
TayuhTattaCamelion
TasamumiatAddaGreen lizard
TandaramanErtella b’hairieVenemous spider
TenawineSfuneShips

Marmol says, the Shelluhs and Berebbers write and speak one language, called Killem Abimalick,[172] the name of the person who was accounted the inventor of Arabic letters; but the foregoing specimen, the accuracy of which may be depended on, clearly proves this assertion to be erroneous, as well as that of many moderns who have formed their opinion, in all probability, on the above authority. Now, although the Shelluh and Berebber languages are so totally dissimilar, that there is not one word in the foregoing vocabulary which resembles its corresponding word in the other language, yet, from the prejudice which Marmol has established, it will still be difficult, perhaps, to persuade the learned that such an author could be mistaken on such a subject. My account therefore must remain for a future age to determine upon, when the languages of Africa shall be better known than they are at present; for it is not a few travellers occasionally sent out on a limited plan that can ascertain facts, the attainment of which requires a long residence, and familiar intercourse with the natives. Marmol has also misled the world in saying that they write a different language; the fact is, that when they write any thing of consequence, it is in the Arabic, but any trifling subject is written in the Berebber words, though in the Arabic character. If they had any peculiar character in the time of Marmol, they have none now; for I have conversed with hundreds of them, as well as with the Shelluhs, and have had them staying at my house for a considerable time together, but never could learn from any that a character different from the Arabic had ever been in use among them.

In addition to these languages, there is another spoken at the Oasis of Ammon, or Siwah, called in Arabic (الواح الغاربي) El Wah El Garbie, which appears to be a mixture of Berebber and Shelluh, as will appear from the list of Siwahan words given by Mr. Horneman,[173] in his Journal, page 19, part of which I have here transcribed, to shew the similitude between those two languages, whereby it will appear that the language of Siwah and that of the Shelluhs of South Atlas are one and the same language.

ENGLISH.SIWAHAN,
as given by Mr. Horneman, p. 19.		SHELLUH.
SunItfucktAtfuct
HeadAchféAkfie
CamelLgumArume
SheepJelibbJelibb
CowTfunestTafunest
MountainIddrarnIddra[174]
Have you a horse?Goreck AckmarIs derk Achmar?[175]
MilkAchiAkfie
BreadTagorTagora[176]
DatesTenaTenie (sing.)
Tena (plural.)