LANGUAGES OF PONAPE AND HAWAII. 429 
very generally found with a possessive particle suffixed or prefixed. 
It is not in this respect, altogether like the Hawaiian free, or 
largely so. 
In the Ponape almost every noun takes, as we have said, its 
possessive. But with these attached particles the preposition 
enters to play its part, and gives the cases—the Hawaiian noun 
possesses, the Genitive taking en, of, the Dative ong, to or for, 
the Accusative ong, to, the Ablative ki or pan, meaning by, and 
further taking iang, ren, denoting with. 
If then the Ponape noun is arranged with the prepositions as 
in Hawaiian, we shall have it much the same. And this, it will 
be seen is not a mere form, but because the conditions as truly 
make for it as those affecting the Hawaiian noun. 
2. The second point to notice with regard to the simple prepo- 
sitions or some of them is, that they possess the power of marking 
a shade of difference among persons or things, a difference which 
the native mind is ever disposed to make. The objects of nature, 
persons and things, animate and inanimate, are often the subject 
of the narrowest distinctions. The Ponape mind has gone still 
further and made sharp distinctions in articles to be enumerated, 
and appointed class particles to designate them. 
In the Hawaiian the two prepositions a and 0, while performing 
their prepositional office, take a further duty, a will denote one 
class of object, o another. As the grammar puts it “ whatever 
relates to instruction, learning, work, food (and it may be added, 
children) requires a; whatever relates to one’s own passions, per- 
son, residence, clothing, takes 0.’ 
Passing to the Ponape noun we find the same method of mark- 
ing the shades of difference, but different articles will be included. 
1 This use of classiticatory particles is found also in Melanesian lan- 
Suages. Cf. Codrington, Mel. Lang. pp. 242, 305. In New Guinea also 
the numerals are preceded by words showing the kind of thing counted. 
* Though called prepositions by Mr. Doane, these words may be shown 
to be really nouns. Cf. Codrington, Mel. Lang. p. 132. They are the 
only nouns which, in the Polynesian languages have retained the posses- 
es. 
