150 ALPHABETICAL SYSTEM OF THE 



formed by a fudden reciprocation of the tongue with 

 an appulfe nearly of the lips, fo as to convey an idea 

 of fulnefs; or, if the expreftlon may be allowed, a re- 

 markable roundnefs of found united to an uncommonly 

 obtufeand abrupt termination, a peculiarity that marks 

 thofe vowels of the feries asaiihe and a sailer u that 

 have mutes for the double letter. To this obferva- 

 tion, however, there is an exception, which will be 

 taken notice of in its proper place. The found of the 

 letter, when aflbciated with wach'hwe, and inflected 

 by the two firft of thefe vowels, remains the fame as 

 in its unafTociated form: but the flgma in this cafe 

 appears to be confidcred by the natives themfelves as 

 redundant, for it has hitherto only been met with in 

 their abecedary fyftem. 



e, e. 



The firft is the e of the fyftem. It has two types; 

 the feventh of the firft feries, and the loft hut one of 

 the fecond, and which are often abbreviated in writing, 

 as in the verbal termination ze and rwe in the Plate.* 

 By a ftrange irregularity, it is frequently written for i. 

 The fecond is diftinguifhed by the grave accent of the 

 preceding feries. 



ao y ao; o 3 o, 



Thefe vowels feem to be thus diftinguifhed in the 

 fyftem: " By purfing up our lips in the leaft degree, 

 we convert the fimple element into another found of 

 the fame nature with the firft vowel, and eafily con- 

 founded with it in a broad pronunciation: when this 

 new found is lengthened; it approaches very nearly to 

 the fourth vowel, which we form by a bolder and 

 ftronger rotundity of the mouth. '' The two firft 

 may be often miftaken for the laftj and, in fome 



words, 



* Plate I. b. 



