BANTU AND BAVILI PREFIXES n 



any circumstances removed, the P reverts 

 to V." 



Thus : Mpaku lu Vaku 

 Mpunda Vunda 

 Mpila Mvila. 



No. 10. Ka. This prefix no longer appears in 

 colloquial Xivili, and it is possible that the 

 euphonic N's or M's which precede the Ka 

 sound, may have caused it to disappear 

 and have then carried it off into that class 

 of light nasals which makes its plural in 

 Zi. 



I am, however, rather inclined to think 

 that at one time it may perhaps have been 

 a part of the Ki-Bi class, the Ki or Ka, for 

 euphonic reasons making Mi in the plural 

 (see Bu, plural Ma or Mi). 



Thus we have the word Koko, hand, for 

 Kioko, Mioko in the plural. This Mi being 

 possibly an older form of Bi. This con- 

 nection between Bi and Mi and I becomes 

 more apparent when we learn that all are 

 abbreviated forms of Imbi. Thus a stranger 

 Muegne, plural Begne. 



So much then for the differences between 

 Bleek's standard list and the prefixes now in 

 use among the Bavili. 



In the following notes I will endeavour to take 

 what I think is the psychological order of the pre- 

 fixes ; we may then see whether thjs order agrees 



