554 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



verb, as " tamooa ooanga" (I eat), and indeed, in some instances, is so con- 

 nected with it as to form a single word. The accusative case often precedes 

 the verb, as " Omut tamooa ooanga" (I am eating heart). The adjectives 

 which I have been able to discover are so few that they are probably in this 

 language, as in that of Greenland, of rare occurrence. Articles, I believe, 

 they have none. The personal pronouns are as follow, nor could we distin- 

 guish any difference of pronunciation between these and the possessive pro- 

 nouns. The latter always follow the substantive to which they belong. 

 I, Oo-ang-a He, Oma Ye, Ulipsee 



You f ^£" weet W & * Oo-a-goot They, Okkoa. 



lll-weet 



The language of the Esquimaux abounds in verbs, there being a different 

 one for each of several expressions which, in other languages, are either 

 comprehended under one general term, or require a number of words to con- 

 vey the meaning. To the instance quoted by Crantz (II. 218.) of those 

 used to express what we call " to fish," I may add two others ; namely, 

 the variety of words they use for throwing a spear, or for putting on 

 their clothes, the verb being formed of the noun denoting the particular 

 kind of spear thrown, or the article of dress put on. This copiousness ren- 

 ders it the more difficult to acquire a knowledge of the moods and tenses, 

 especially when the words of a sentence are so closely blended as in this lan- 

 guage. The following are the six persons of the present tense of the verb 

 " to be well." 



> well, or in health. 



The third person singular generally terminates in oke, and most of the verbs 

 in the Vocabulary are inserted in this person, which the Esquimaux more 

 commonly gave than any other. There appear to be, as in Greenland, two 

 imperative moods, one expressing a desire and the other a summary and 

 positive command. This last ends in it, as " Eiiiarit igloomoot" (Go away to 

 the huts), and, when spoken with seriousness by a man to his wife or child, 

 ensures immediate attention. 



The only prepositions that I have noticed (if indeed parts of speech can 



Nappa-woong-a 



I am 



Nappa-wootik 



Thou art 



Nappa-woke 



He is 



Nappa-woot 



We are 



Nappa-wootit 



Ye are 



Nappa-wook 



They are 



