Kafir tribes, in reference to the use of certain words, arising from a kind of superstitious objection which they feel against employing a word, that is similar in sound to the name of one of their former chiefs. Thus, the Amambalu do not use ilanga, the general word for sun, because their first chief's name was Ulanga, but employ isota instead. For a similar reason, the Amagqunukwebi substitute immela for isitshetshe, the general term for knife.

5. It may be mentioned as a remarkable fact, that the Kafir women have many words peculiar to themselves. This arises from a national custom, called ukuhlonipa, which forbids their pronouncing any word, which may happen to contain a sound, similar to one in the names of their nearest male relatives. Such words, therefore, do not add to the vocabulary of the language, being simply substitutes for others under certain circumstances. Specimens, accordingly, would be useless, for whether a larger or smaller number were given, they could only be correct to a very limited extent. The same reason that occasions substitutes for words at all, necessarily leads to their multiplication, since there may be many women, even in the same tribe, who are no more at liberty to use the substitutes employed by some others, than they are to use the original words themselves.

29. The Kafir language is considerably enriched by the free use of tropes and figures. Some of these are novel and peculiar, whilst others are more in accordance with European usages. The following examples will afford a sufficient illustration.

The substantive verb is generally used in simple comparisons, either expressed or understood. Thus, in describing a greedy or avaricious man, the Kafirs say, uyinncuka, he is a wolf; that is, he is like a wolf in the disposition referred to. So of a strong or hard-working man, they will say, uyinkabi, he is an ox; that is, he is as strong as an

ox.

30. The Kafirs are pretty free in the use of personification. For instance, if they fail in lifting or breaking any thing, and the like, they transfer the inability from themselves to it, and say, "It is not willing," and not, "I cannot do it." They will also personify words for the purpose of sarcasm or ridicule. This generally occurs in the course of debate, when the speaker fastens upon some particular word used by his opponent, and calls him by it; as Mr. No, Mr. Nevertheless, and so on.

31. With regard to enunciation, the Kafir language is soft and melodious; possessing, at the same time, a peculiarly easy and agreeable flow, which seldom fails to attract

the notice of the most casual listener. The only sounds which can be considered in any degree harsh, are the clicks; but the preponderance is so great in favour of other characters, that their individual harshness is lost in the general smoothness of the whole.

A GRAMMAR

OF THE

KAFIR LANGUAGE.

Studium linguarum, in universum, in ipsis primordiis triste est et ingratum ; sed, primis difficultatibus labore improbo et ardore nobili perruptis, postea, cumulatissime beamur.'.

VALCKENERIUS.

32. Language consists of words, which are used as signs of our ideas, by universal consent. Grammar, accordingly, takes cognizance of words; and treats of their several usages, in order to exhibit, in a methodical manner, the principles and rules which are deducible therefrom.

Kafir grammar may be divided into three parts: the first referring to the component parts of words, as made up of letters, syllables, and sound: the second, to the different forms and properties which they possess, or may assume: and the third, to their construction and arrangement in a sentence or proposition.51

51 As the Kafir language, in the widest acceptation of the term, includes several dialects, it may be proper to remark, that the following grammar, though applicable to the

Kafir branch in general, and in all its leading principles and usages, to the whole of the Kafir family, is written, strictly speaking, in the dialect of the Amaxosa, or Kafirs proper.

PART I.

THE COMPONENT PARTS OF WORDS.

OF LETTERS.

33. The letters are twenty-six in number, and correspond in form, to the characters of the English and most other European tongues. The following table gives the sounds which they severally represent, as nearly as there can be found similar ones for the same character in the English language. A few examples are added for the purpose of