Liberia ^ 



with the original basis of Bantu speech, and is connected with 

 groups 13 and 14. 



13. The YoRUBA or Aku group, which is found to the 

 west of the Lower Niger and thence to the boundaries of 

 Dahome. 



14. The Ehwe-Chwi languages of Dahome and the Gold 

 Coast. These form two distinct sub-groups, named respectively 

 Ehwe and Chwi, but they have certain indications of a common 

 origin. The Chwi language in its many dialects is the principal 

 speech of the Gold Coast and Ashanti. These languages ex- 

 tend into the northern and eastern portion of the Ivory Coast, 

 where they are conterminous with the easternmost extension 

 of the Kru languages of Liberia ; they also seem to be connected 

 with the Bor^u or Barba language spoken north of Dahome 

 and west of the Niger rapids. 



15. The SoNGHAi or Central Niger languages. These 

 include the speech of Mose, Dagomba, and most of the regions 

 between Timbuktu and the northern borders of Ashanti, 

 Dahome, and Borgu. 



16. Westwards of these begin the languages of the great 

 Man DINGO family, which viewed in its broadest aspects may 

 include all the Km and Kpwesi languages of Liberia, as well 

 as, possibly, Go?'(i. The Mandingo family also offers faint 

 evidence of ancient fundamental connection with groups 17, 18, 

 and 19. 



17. The FuLA. There seems to be a little evidence of 

 relationship in word-roots between Fula and IVolof^ but not 

 enough to justify the association of these two well-marked and 

 isolated tongues in one group. 



18. WoLOF. This is the language (sometimes called Giolof 

 or Jolof) which is spoken in Lower Senegal and to the south 

 of that river. 



1 104 



