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lows, that we are easily mistaken, if, neglecting 

 the study of the inflexions, and consulting only 

 the roots, for instance, the words which desig- 

 nate the moon, sky, water, and earth, we de- 

 cide on the absolute difference of two idioms 

 from the simple want of resemblance in sounds. 

 But, while aware of this source of error, tra- 

 vellers ought to continue, I think, to collect 

 those materials which their situation may af- 

 ford them. If they do not make known the 

 interior structure, and the general arrange- 

 ment of the edifice, they will point out some 

 important parts. Catalogues of words are not 

 to be neglected ; they teach us even something 

 with regard to the essential character of an 

 idiom, if the traveller have collected phrases, 

 which show the inflexions of the verb, and the 

 mode of designating the personal and possessive 

 pronouns, so different in different languages. 



The three languages most used in the pro- 

 vinces of Cumana and Barcelona are at pre- 

 sent the Chayma, the Cumanagote, and the 

 Caribbee. They have been constantly regard- 

 ed in these countries as different idioms ; each 

 of which has it's dictionary, composed, for the 

 use of the Missions, by Fathers Tauste, Ruiz- 

 bianco, and Breton. The Vocabulario y Arte 

 de la Lengua de los Indios Chaymas is become 

 extremely scarce. The few copies of the Ame- 

 rican grammars, printed for the most part in 



