128 



and "palaver" — one derived from the Freuch verb " savoir" (to know), 

 the other from the Spanish " palabra " (a word or speech) — ai-e generally 

 used amongst all the negro races ; and these two comprise all the 

 engraftings into their mongrel dialects from those languages. The 

 latter word is used frequently with English descriptive prefixes. 

 For example, the term "sweet-mouf palaver," is equivalent to what is 

 understood in Ireland by "blarney," in Cockneydom by "soft sawder." 

 " Fool palaver" expresses what we should call "nonsense," and " God 

 palaver " is the term applied to missionary teaching. 



But a few examples of the peculiar idiomatic forms which owe their 

 origin entirely to derivation from the English tongue, will show at once 

 the pathway in which their most extensive imitative faculty lies. 



The word " lib " with some, and " live" with others, is used to express 

 the presence of inanimate as well as animate things. 



" Your hat not lib (or live) dere sir," " your tick (stick) no lib (or live) 

 dare sir," are responses frequently given by a negro mercury if sent in 

 quest of either of these articles. 



The custom-duty which is paid to kings and chiefs for liberty to 

 trade in their country is expressed by the word " comey " — the nearest 

 approach they can make to custom. 



A present which it is essential to give to an African potentate to 

 make friends with him, is expressed by the word " dash " — which is 

 a very free and easy form of nomenclature, as it signifies that the gift 

 is to be dashed (literally speaking) at the recepient without any 

 stinginess. 



" Changey-for-changey " is a very musical form of describing one 

 thing changed for another, and refers to loves and hates as well as to 

 palm oil and British goods. 



The term "jam-head" does not mean that skulls should be jammed 

 one against the other, as the goat and ram races often do in playfulness, 

 but that the deliberate faculties of the thinking powers of brain shall 

 be exercised by two or more persons in mutual cogitation and decision. 



Wlieuever an African talks of another person having a grudge against 

 him, he describes it by saying, " Some bad ting lib for him tummack ;" 

 thus making the stomach be the organ in which the agency of spite 

 and malice are nurtured. 



" One day no be all day," is a very significant way of expressing a 

 hope that better days are coming. 



The term " bob " has a meaning in some degree resembling that 

 borne by palaver, and seems to me to be an abbreviation of the English 

 slang word "bobbery." There are "trade bob" and " lub (or love) 

 bob," " hate bob " and " respect bob." 



