“HALCYON DAYS” 
161 
of Kilima-njaro (Ki-caga) is one of the Bantu group, 
which includes nearly all the African tongues south of 
the Equator. It is one of the prefix-governed tongues, 
and the forms of its various classes of prefixes are 
varying, but always show a common ancestral origin. 
The utmost number of known prefixes is by some 
computed at sixteen—by Bleek at eighteen, as he 
includes two y>re-positions, 44 ko ” and 44 mo ” ( 44 to ” 
and 44 in ”) with the regular prefixes. (See for further 
information, 44 Bantu Languages,” Chapter XX.) 
Now in the language under consideration all the 
sixteen classes of prefix (except the twelfth) are repre¬ 
sented, but some of them are much altered from the 
typical form. My object is to obtain examples of 
them all; but I wmnt particularly to ascertain the form 
of the eighth prefix (a plural one). Unfortunately I 
cannot ask any of my friends, 44 What is your eighth 
prefix ? ” I should never be understood if I explained 
for a hundred years. I have to get at it in some other 
way. 44 What is this ? ” I ask, holding up a knife. 
44 Ki-oso,” they reply. 44 Just so,” I reflect, 44 4 ki 5 is 
the seventh prefix, and the plural must give the form 
of the eighth.” 44 How do you say 4 many knives ’ ? ” 
I continue; 44 4 ki-oso ” is one , what is for many?” 
u 
44 Singi ” (many), they reply. 44 No, but many 
V 
knives?” 44 Singi” is again repeated. Then I ask, 
44 See, this is one knife— ki-oso kimo (holding up one 
finger). What is for two knives ? ” (holding up two 
fingers). 44 Two fingers,” they reply, looking up very 
much puzzled. Then in despair I send for another 
knife, and placing it beside the original one again, ply 
them with a question. This only elicits the word for 
44 anotherbut, at length, after many disappoint¬ 
ments, they are induced to say 4 4 4 Si-oso sivi ’ ” (two 
