OF THE BERBERS. 4-41 



lansuage with the Siwahs. It is clear, tliat however plausible 

 tliese proofs may appear, the subject still requires further 

 investigation. 



With this view, understanding last year that Mr. Shaler 

 was about to return to his consulate at Algiers, and knowing 

 him to be a zealous friend of the sciences, and at the same 

 time possessed of such mental qualifications as fit him for 

 their pursuit, I prevailed upon him. (not witliout difficulty, 

 however, on account of his great diffidence. ) to devote part 

 of his time to the investigation of tlie history, manners, and 

 customs of the Berbers, and paiticularly of their language, in 

 order that the hypothesis of Mr. Marsden and Professor Va- 

 ter might be brought to a surer test than has been done here- 

 tofore. The enclosed communication contains the first fruits 

 of his labours, and we may expect hereafter sometiiing more 

 important, which I sliall not fail successively to conmiunicate. 

 I have thought that tlie Society would not consider as devoid 

 of interest, a sutyect that has attracted the attention of the 

 most learned philologists of Kurope. 



The Society will easily pprceivo that the study of this lan- 

 guage has not only in view the gratification of philological 

 curiosity, but that it is an interesting oly'ect to trace, if possi- 

 ble, througli it, the history and origin of tliis extraordinary 

 people. On this subject there are various opinions among 

 the learned. Mr. Marsden, and wiiii him Air. Langlos, is 

 of opinion that the Berber is a corrujjted remnant of the Pu- 

 nic, while Professor Vater, with more pr(»bal)ilily, is inclined 

 to consider it as the ancient Numidian. altered in a degree 

 by intermixture with other idioms and parliciiiaily the Ara- 

 bic. The reasons that lie gives for not tliinking it to l)e the 

 Phenician are very strong, and in my opinion conclusive. 

 He ol)serves that tlie languasje ol the Carthaginians was not 

 far spread into the interior of Africa, and that tliey were ol)- 

 liged to learn the Libyan language (as it was called) as well 

 as their own. whence they were called l)y tlie poets fiilin- 

 giies,* migdibiles or mi gdolibvs, and bisulcili/igues. Tlie first 



• " Dommn timet ambiguam, Tvriosfjue l)ilingucs." — Virgil. 



