58 
same corresponding generic sounds; thus we get an allitera- 
tion, the subject governing all until the object is reached. 
The inflexions are of the flrst, not the last syllable. The 
following are a few specimens of singular and plural with 
personal pronouns attached, illustrating the theory, which 
however is not invariably carried out : — 
Chmkutu cliiami 1 n . , 
7 . . V my shirt 
smrt my j •' 
Binkutu biami 
shirts my 
Li-ilu leami 
nose my 
Matu mami 
eyes my 
I my shirts. 
my nose, 
j my eyes. 
Lungo 
ring 
chiami 
my 
j my ring. 
(1^0 alliteration) 
Lungo 
rings 
biami 
my 
^ my rings. 
(1^0 alliteration) 
Mwono 
child 
ami 
my 
1 my child. 
Bano bami 
children my 
1 my children. 
There are some very interesting forms of verbs, adverbs 
of negation, &c., phrases, for example — | ^ 
asleep, or was asleep at the time spoken of They say in 
answer to the question, “Have you eaten?” “No.” In 
answer to “ Have you anything to eat ?” they do not say 
“No,” but “Nothing.” The phrase “I have not eaten” in- 
volves again a different negative. Many phrases are of a 
double nature, like the French negative in “ je ne sais 
Altogether it is a highly elaborate tongue, with whose 
beauties few are acquainted. If rapidly spoken a sentence 
seems but one long word, so easily do the syllables flow 
together. The words themselves seem intricate changes on 
simple syllables ; few double consonants unless at the be- 
ginning of a word, then generally of the extraordinary 
forms in “ Mpembo,” “Njeio,” “Msitu,” “Nkomb5,” and as 
the preceding word ends in a vowel these readily combine. 
I do not think a dozen words in the language end in a con- 
sonant. The word for a cat is ”a suggestive one, “ wai-o,” 
pronounced “why-o.” 
