440 



BANTU IDIOMATIST. 



I feel inclined to claim that intloni (shame) is related to the 

 French word, and to cry (in the Garter Motto) "Honi soit qui 

 mal y pense" ! It would look much more likely than the real 

 derivation and certainly than the connection with ghreja, which our 

 Zuluist suggests. 



I think I have said enough to show that comparative philology 

 is one thing, as applied to the Bantu sphere, and expert know- 

 ledge of an individual language quite another. When the pos- 

 sessor of the latter — Bull of the kraal in his own land — attempts 

 the former, he is apt to become the Bull in the china shop. 



Do I then say that he should avoid any interests in compara- 

 tive philology? The gods forbid. Let him make himself as cog- 

 nisant of the comparative side as lie may, for without such know- 

 ledge his special work in his own idiom will be far less expert and 

 valuable. I blame not him at all, but blame the widespread 

 ignorance which allows not only the public, but even academic 

 authorities, to expect that Bantu philologists shall be expert in 

 300 idioms or the deep lifelong student of Zulu or Sesuto to be a 

 comparative philologist. 



To each, his own work according to his gift : Ne ultra crejridam. 

 May I ask that our Zuluist will apply to my erring incursions into 

 Zulu (infrequent enough) his own precious balms in like merry 

 spirit? Would that I had his experience and learning in the Zulu 

 and matters Zulu. 



Addendum. — Miss Werner passes waqt (Arabic) as the origin of 

 the Zulu isikati (and Swahili ivakati). Is lahm after all connected 

 with the Zulu p But surely not the others. 



