8388 Essays. 
infancy, and never make any mistake in pronunciation. The same may also 
be said of the writing of the most untaught among them ; with the exception 
of their elision of terminal and initial vowels, and their division of words. 
These, however, arise from their close adherence to their quick pronun- 
ciation. 
42. The language is remarkable for its euphony, simplicity, brevity, clear- 
ness, and copiousness. For its euphony, it is not only indebted to its not 
having two or more consonants coming together, and no word ever ending 
with a consonant, but to the copious use of the vowel z (pronounced ee), to 
the sound of its semi-liquid r (approaching 7), and to sevéral vowels often 
closely following, together with a quick flowing elision of others. Its sim- 
plicity arises from one word or root being noun, verbal noun, adjective, or 
verb, requiring merely the addition of a simple short particle, and from the 
peculiarity of its idiom. It knows of no circumlocution. All long, involved, 
parenthetical sentences are utterly foreign to it. Its brevity is often quite 
laconic; and while exceedingly terse, contains great beauty and power of 
expression. Itis very clear and exact, as shown by its many singular and 
plural articles, and double dual and double plural pronouns; its various 
modes of address, according to age, sex, and rank ; and its many intensitive 
and diminutive particles; while its copiousness may be readily inferred, 
from its having proper names for every natural thing however small—differ- 
ent names for a tree and its fruit, and for every part of a vegetable whether 
above or below ground, and for young and adult fish of the same species ; 
for everything made by them, and for each of all its various parts; for every 
kind of tattooing, and each line and marking of the same; and upwards of 
fifty names for a sweet potato, and forty for a common one. Nevertheless, 
in words for abstract ideas, unknown to the New Zealanders, such as hope, 
gratitude, mercy, charity, &c., it is deficient; as also for many new things. 
It does not, however, follow, that an intelligent New Zealander, wishing to 
speak of any such, would not easily find suitable expressions wherewith to 
make himself quickly and clearly understood, and convey a very correct idea 
to the minds of the hearers. The writer has never known an old New Zea- 
lander, or a young one who knew his own language, to be at aloss accurately 
and minutely to describe whatever he wished of any new thing or transaction 
to his countrymen; at the same time it is believed by him that the New 
Zealand language is but a remnant of what it once was, and is fast going to 
decay. 
_ 48. There is one peculiarity of their language, or rather of their manner - 
of dealing with it, that requires notice. . If a principal chief should bear the 
Roten aariing, inde named with any nti. in gue use, that gira 
