230 Life at Banza Nokki. 
tion of these people,” ignoring the fact that the 
most complicated and laborious tongues are those 
of barbarous nations, whilst modern civilization in 
variably labours to simplify. It is copious; every 
place, tree, shrub, or plant used by the people has 
its proper name ; it is harmonious and pleasing, 
abounding in vowels and liquids, destitute of guttu¬ 
rals, and sparing in aspirates and other harsh 
consonants. At the same time, like the rest of the 
family, it is clumsy and unwieldy, whilst immense 
prolixity and frequent repetition must develope 
the finer shades of meaning. Its peculiarity is a 
greater resemblance to the Zanzibarian Kisawahili 
than any tongue known to me on the Western 
Coast: often a question asked by the guide, as 
“ Njia hapa ?” (Is this the road ?) and “ Jina lako 
nani ?” (What’s your name ?) was perfectly intelli¬ 
gible to me. The latter is a fair specimen of the 
peculiar euphony which I have noticed in “ Zanzi¬ 
bar ” (vol. i. chap. x.). We should expect “Jina 
jako,” whereas this would offend the native ear. 
It requires a scholar-like knowledge of the tongue 
to apply the curious process correctly, and the self- 
sufficient critic should beware how he attempts to 
correct quotations from the native languages. 
I need hardly say that the speakers are foul- 
mouthed as the Anglo-African of S’a Leone and 
the “ English ” Coast; they borrow the vilest 
words from foreign tongues ; a spade is called a 
