Gabb.] 5d^ [Aug. 20, 



Humboldt,* in speaking of the language of Venezuela, says: "The 

 Chayma and Tamanoc verbs have an enormous complication of tenses," 

 and adds that "this multiplicity characterizes the rudest American lan- 

 guages." It certainly does not apply to the Costa Rican family, which 

 is equally remarkable for the simplicity of its inflections. The present 

 tense does duty for the present participle, and the perfect for the perfect 

 participle ; besides which we have the past and but a single future. 

 Tl^ere is no variation for number or person. 



The auxiliaries used are not constant. For the imperative, ju is some- 

 times prefixed, and mia is often the sign of the future. It is generally a 

 prefix, but in i-hatc-na, to fall, it is added to the end of the word. Etso 

 (from etso-si, to be,) is the sign of the present tense in pat-yu, to paint. 



The following examples will give a better idea of the conjugations than 

 a lengthy explanation. They were selected from a large number, and 

 have been verified with as much care as the difdculties of the case would 

 admit. I believe they may be safely trusted, inasmuch as they are words 

 that I have heard in constant use for over two years, and not trusting to 

 categorical information, have watched their habitual use in conversation. 

 The first example, i-mi'-a, is the most variable verb in the language. The 

 forms given in each tense are usable interchangeably. It is equally correct 

 to say, "jfe mit-ka,'''' or, "_/e mi-at' -ka,'' '' I go. The past re, and ra'-re, are 

 used everywhere except by a few people on the Coeu River, where the 

 more regular form, mi-a'-na, is used. 



Conjugations. 



To go. 

 Inf. i-mi'-a. 



Ind. Pres., I . ' j- used interchangeably. 



(re, -^ from the verb, ra'-tski; 

 ra're, / the forms ordinarily used, 

 mi-a'-na; used only on the Coen River. 

 Perf., mi-cho'. 

 _, I mi'-a, affirmative. 



"' I (ke) mi'-na, negative {ke, not.) 

 Imperative, ju. "When in combination with an object expressed; 

 5e JU j-^tt, "thou go shoot." This is the al- 

 most universal auxiliary sign of the imper- 

 ative mood, 

 ju-shka, j/m, as above; shka (shku), to walk, 

 mi'-shka, confined to the first person plural. It 

 means, "let us go," or, "come," andean 

 be used as an auxiliary to almost all the 

 other verbs ; mi-sJika du tu, ' ' let us go 

 birds shoot." 



* Trav., vol. i., p. 327, Eng. Ed. 



