GENERAL OBSERVATIONS, 38o 



these languages have pervaded the greater part of that 

 portion of the Continent, and extended even to the eastern 

 coast. 



'J'he letter of Mr. Marsden, referred to in Captain 

 Tuckey's instructions, contains some curious information 

 on this subject ; as well as some remarks on the language 

 in general, which may be useful to future travellers ; the 

 following is an extract from it. 



" Knowing so little, as we do, of the countries on the 

 " banks of the Zaire (which I observe is also called by 

 " D'Anville, the Barbela river), few particular instructions 

 " can be given, regarding the language spoken in that 

 " quarter; and it will depend upon Captain Tuckey to avail 

 " himself of the information that circumstances may place 

 " within his reach. In most cases the opportunity will be 

 " little more than that of collecting a few of the most com- 

 " mon words, which may, however, be sufficient to shew 

 " whether the people speaking them, have or have not an 

 " original connection with others geographically and poli- 

 " tically separated from them ; and comparisons of this 

 " kind M'ill be much facilitated by having uniform lists 

 " which not only suggest the proper words at the momen 

 " of enquiry, but place them mechanically beside each 

 " other. Where a longer residence admits of freer inter- 

 " course, and the means of acquiring a more perfect know- 

 " ledge of the language, it will be desirable, besides at- 

 " tempting to lill up the larger vocabulary,* that pains 

 " should be taken to examine its grammatical structure, 

 * A printed selection of English words. 



3D 



