GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



389 



a 

 a 

 a 



nunciation ; and less perfectly with the languages of the 

 Mandongo (not to be confounded with the Mandinga of 

 Northern Africa) and the Camha people ; both of the 

 same western coast. It is highly probable, that all 

 these mutually understand each other in conversation. 

 Between the Congo language and that of the tribes on 

 the eastern side, the affinity, although radical is much 

 less striking, and the people themselves must consider 

 them as quite distinct ; but the following instances of 

 resemblance, in words expressing the simplest ideas, 

 may be thought sufficient to warrant the belief, that the 

 nations by whom they are employed, must, at a remote 

 period, have been more intimately connected." 



There does not seem to be the least truth in the com- 

 plicated mechanism of the Congo language, which some 

 fanciful author thought he had discovered, and which has 

 been repeated by succeeding writers ; none of" those idioms 



