278 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



The language most likely to prevail at Aden, in case the English es- 

 tablishment becomes permanent, is the Hindoostanee. 



On the East Coast of Africa, notwithstanding the large number of 

 resident Arabs, the general medium of communication, is the Soa- 

 hili, a Negro language. 



In Malta, a Catholic and European island, Arabic is alone spoken by 

 the mass of the population ; moreover, it is not here a v^^ritten 

 languaore. 



The adoption of a language, seems to be very mnch a matter of 

 convenience ; depending often on the numerical majority. A stranger, 

 learns the language of the community in which he may happen to fix 

 his abode; and his children, often know no other. On the supposition 

 then, that Polynesians in former times may have reached the shores 

 of America, it does not necessarily follow, that we ought to meet with 

 traces of their language. Some combined association of individuals, 

 some clannism, seems requisite to the preservation of a language in 

 the midst of a foreign nation. — Thus it may be inferred, that the He- 

 brews retained their language during their sojourn in Egypt : while 

 in their present dispersed condition, they speak the languages of their 

 several adopted countries, to the very common neglect of their own. 

 — -The Gypsies, who are almost as widely though less individually 

 dispersed, retain every where something of their original language. 

 — But a more remarkable instance, is found in the Yuchi, a tribe 

 ''long incorporated in the Creek Nation; their peculiar language* 

 abounding in low, difficult, guttural sounds, so that with the excep- 

 tion of a few words, no one but the children of the Yuchi has ever 

 been able to acquire it." 



The following, are instances of more complicated relations : — A 

 foreigner might naturally suppose, that he could learn in the United 

 States, something of African languages and customs ; but he might 

 traverse the country without hearing a word of any Negro language; 

 a single creneration being sufficient to efface all knowledge of Africa. 

 — Hayti, would furnish him a more perplexing case ; and perhaps 

 nothing short of written history, could solve the enigma of French 

 being the language of that island. — Moreover, his search for African 

 institutions, would not be more successful among the St. Vincent 



* On the authority of Dr. Boykin, of Georgia, U. S, 



