[109]. This is repeated by my friend (p. 59, The Idol in Horeb: Evidence that the golden image at Mount Sinai was a cone, and not a calf. London: Tinsleys, 1871), who, however, informs us that in 1846 Major, now Sir Henry, Rawlinson agreed with him in saying that, ‘the class of languages to which the designation Semitic or Semitish is properly applicable is that comprising the whole of the aboriginal languages of Asia, Polynesia, and America.’ This latter continent, however, should not have been included without proofs, and hitherto we have failed to find them.
[110]. Grammar of the Baĕlele language, &c., by the Missionaries of the A. B. C. F. M. Gaboon Station, Western Africa. New York: Pratt, 1854. Also Grammar of the Mpongwe language, &c., by the same. New York: Snowdon and Pratt, 1847.
[111]. A Vocabulary of the Malemba and Embomma Languages. (Appendix I. Tuckey’s Expedition to the River Zaire. London: Murray, 1818.) Also Fr. B. M. de Cannecatim’s Diccionario da Lingua Bunda. Lisboa, 1804.
[112]. When travelling in East Africa I took as a base the vocabulary of Catherine of Russia, and filled it up with five dialects, viz., those of the Sawahil, Uzaramo, Khutu, Usagara, and Unyamwezi.
[113]. In these days, however, we cannot say, with the Opener of Inner Africa (p. 123), ‘The Nilotic family of languages nowhere extends into the basin of the Nile.’
[114]. I have sketched the distinguishing points of the Hamitic tongues in my Preface (p. xxii.) to ‘Wit and Wisdom from West Africa’ (London: Tinsleys, 1865).
[115]. Mr Ross Browne has lately been engaged in writing a voluminous report to the Government at Washington upon the mineral resources of the Western States of the Union.
[116]. Messrs Monteiro and Gamitto (O Muata Cazembel, Appendix, 470) doubt whether the Tete grammar can be reduced to an intelligible system of verbs. I see no difficulty. Capt. Boteler, R. N. (Appendix, vol. i. Voyage to Africa, Bentley, 1835) easily collected a ‘Delagoa Vocabulary’ from George, his interpreter.
[117]. In Kisawahili reduplication sometimes seriously modifies the root meaning, e. g. Mbhali means ‘far’ or ‘distant;’ Mbhali-Mbhali is different or ‘several,’ meaning ‘distinct.’
[118]. The Tupys of the Brazil, according to the Portuguese, ignored both sounds—I presume initiative.