351 



of a language than its translations^ as its com- 

 parative richness or poverty is rendered more 

 apparent in this mode than in any other. 



Another remarkable property of the Chilian 

 is the frequent use of abstract words in a pe- 

 culiar manner. Thus, instead of saying pu 

 Huinca, the Spaniards, they commonly say Huiri' 

 cagen, the Spaniolity; tamen cuiagen, your trio, 

 that is, you other three ; epu tamen cajugen lai/ai, 

 two of you other six will die, literally, two of 

 your sixths. The verb pin, which signifies to 

 say, is repeated in almost every sentence in 

 familiar conversation, as is usual with the lower 

 class of the Bolognese ; *' pu auca cuDiegei, pi ; 

 dachdai, pi ; dagechelai cai, pivin : the Arauca- 

 nians are good, says he ; they do no harm, says 

 he ; then they ought not to be ill-treated, says 

 he." An ambassador or messenger always ex- 

 presses himself in the very words of those who 

 send him, as was customary among the Hebrews 

 and the ancient Greeks. 



Many more reflections might be made upon 

 the simple structure of this language ; but as 

 these will readily occur to those who have at- 

 tended to the remarks already made, it will be 

 unnecessary to dwell longer upon the subject. 

 From what knowledge we possess of it, the 

 Chilian appears to combine the genius of the 

 primitive language of the East, with that of the 



