1855.] Notes on the Languages spoken by the Mi-Shmis. 311 



Past and the Future. Verbs undergo no modification consequent on 

 number or person. 



Indicative Mood. 

 Present Tense. 



Ha atya, I speak ; Nyo atya, Thou speakest ; Mta atya, He speaks ; 

 so also, Ha de, I sit ; Nyo dwe, Thou st ancles t ; Mta chu, He runs. 



The Past Tense is formed by the addition of a ; Ha atya-a, I did 

 speak; Ha de-a, I did sit; Nyo dwe-a, Thou didst stand; Mta 

 chu-a, He did run. 



The Future Tense is formed by adding Ande or Ende to the root 

 of the verb. Ha aty-ande, I shall speak ; Nyo de-ande, Thou wilt 

 sit ; Mta chu-ende or chuyende. He will run. 



Gerund. 



The language has no affix to mark the Gerund or to indicate the 

 Infinitive Mood ; the position of the verbs in a sentence being con- 

 sidered sufficient to indicate their meaning. 



1 23414 3 2 



Mta teku bu no, He wants to buy rice. 



1 2 3 4 14 2 3 



Mta machom teo te, He cuts down the tree to sell it. 

 In some few instances, however, the particle ge ? is used after the 

 verb, apparently as the sign of the Gerund. 



12 3 4 5 



E. g. Mia,a esa huv-ge tase-ge bonde, 



2 15 3 4 



These girls will go to dance and to sing. 

 The Imperative Mood 



is formed by the addition of the particle a, or na, to the verbal root. 

 As in commanding, it is obvious, it is only the second person that 

 is addressed, this mood may be said to exist only in that person. 



Nyo bona, Go thou ! Be-an-a, Be silent ! 



Nyo tap-pa dwe-na, Lift up your spear ! 



Prohibition 



is implied by the addition of ga to the root. 

 Oku-ga, Bo not steal ; Se-ga, Do not kill. 

 Nyo na-pho khomiode-ga, Do not be angry with your brother, 



