Vaux.—On the Probable Origin of the Maori Races. 85 
Tahitian by that of i only. Before Proper names of Persons, and before 
the Personal pronouns, ki becomes kia in Maori and Rarotongan, as, 
in Tongan, gui, becomes guia. M. Buschmann points out that, after 
the verb to give, the Dative of the person is expressed by the preposition 
na and no in Rarotongan, Tahitian, and Hawaiian, and that he has also 
detected na in Marquesan, as, a tuw mai na matuu, give us our bread. 
The Accusative, when marked at all, is, generally, shewn by a preceding 
i,in, at least, Maori, Tahitian, Hawaiian, and Rarotongan—and this 7 likewise 
becomes ia before proper names. In a great many cases, the substantive 
alone after the verb is sufficient, as, in the instance, from the Nukuhivan 
given by M. Buschmann, apevau te nata, call the man. The Vocative is 
marked in Maori, Rarotongan, Tahitian, Hawaiian, and Marquesan by ¢, 
preceding the noun. Occasionally in Tahitian and Hawaiian, é is found 
after, as well as before the substantive. 
The Ablative is indicated by i or e, the first being used to express means, 
cause or manner, while ¢ is more usual after a passive verb. 
Taking next— 
III. he Adjective. The most general of all rules relating to the 
Adjective is that it follows the substantive and has not of itself, any 
distinctions of gender or number. It is usual to prefix ka when the 
adjective is alone, as ka roa, long; ka poto, short; but, when with, that is, 
after a substantive, the ka is omitted, as, he rakau roa, a long tree. Com- 
paratives and Superlatives are formed by particles ; by one or more words 
prefixed or post fixed; or by a repetition of the adjective itself, as, he waka 
nut, he waka nui atu, he mea nui nui. In some cases, the comparison is shewn 
by the insertion of the particle i, as, nui atu tenet waka i tera, This canoe 
is bigger than that—or without the 7, as pat rawa te hanga a te tangata nei, 
this man’s performance is best; in both of which latter instances, the 
adjective precedes the noun. The Plural is, being generally, made by a 
reduplication of the first syllable of the adjective—thus, he rakau pai, 
good tree; he rakau papai, good trees: Archdeacon Williams however, 
remarks that these changes or modifications are not invariable, and that the 
simple form is often used in the plural. The reduplicated one, however, is 
restricted to the Plural. He adds, that the result of doubling both syllables 
of the roots is to diminish the intensity of the meaning of the root; as, 
wera, hot; werawera, warm (Dict., 1871, p. 8). In Tongan, there are 
some modifications. Thus, fu, great, very; foe, whole, entire, etc.; fu lahi, 
very many ;—come before the substantive,—indeed, are used to a great 
extent, adverbially—hence, we find, fu ita, great anger (i.e. very angry) ; 
