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This form appears to correspond with that which Mr. Zeisberger in Delaware calls "the Continuous form," and perfectly agrees with the modification in the Australian grammar page 29, No. 4. denominated "Continuative" thus:
Aboriginal ( Ngirullilin bang. I am tying (it) Common form.
Continuative ( Ngirullillilin bang. I am tying and continue to tie it.
The Indians have a prefix to the Verb denoting the change of person, which the Aborigines here have not. There is also a reduplication to denote the plural in the nouns in the Indian language which is not observable in the Australian, which has only a reduplication to denote in Verbs a continuation of the act as above described.
Delaware language (Kooch, Thy Father
(Koochuwa, Your Father
(Koochewawa, Your Father's
Australian Dialect. (Biyungbai ngiroumba, Thy Father.
(Biyungbai nurunba, Your Father.
(Biyungbai bara nurunba, Your Fathers they.
In the Australian Verb to die, Tetti, there is a reduplication for the plural besides which there is none other.
Australian Dialect (Tetti nou, he is dead.
(Tettitetti bara, They are dead.
The Tahitians have a reduplication of Verbs, thus:
E parau tau, I will speak, tell, say &c. Literally, will speak I
Epararau taua, We two will speak, thou and I.
Eparaparau tatou, We will talk all of us.
The peculiarity of the Australian is that part of speech in which the object of the Active, or transitive verb is combined with the agent, accords with that which "the spanish Mexican Grammarians call transitions, by which, one single word designates the person who acts, and that which is acted upon," and which runs throughout all the persons, is in this dialect connected to the Dual. A strict attention to the Analysis of speech is absolutely necessary to obtain a knowledge of the language of Barbarians, otherwise the language may be through ignorance denounced as Barbarous, whereas the genuine Character of their tongues is rather the perfection of simplicity, until debased by the introduction of foreign words and Idioms.
The numerous dialects in this Colony are no doubt the occasion of the number of names for one thing, arising from the occasional intercourse of the tribes one with another, when a mutual exchange of terms takes place and in the course of time is adopted, whilst the occasion of their introduction is forgotton.
The recent slaying of my beloved former Colleague, John Williams, Missionary, whilst endeavouring to introduce native teachers of the Gospel amongst the Inhabitants of the Island of Eromango, excites the deepest feelings of Christian Sympathy towards his bereaved widow, and surviving family: though respecting himself, it may be truly said "To live is Christ and to die is gain." This melancholy catastrophe displaying the sovereign disposal of life by our heavenly Master, Jesus, the King of Kings, who holds the "the Keys of Death," precludes the anticipated advantage we mutually hoped to enjoy of comparing dialects, with those of the Islands he contemplated to visit, had his life been spared to complete the "Exploratory Voyage" in the Southern Hemisphere. Deeply to be deplored is the "Evil covetousness" of the master of a trading vessel, of one, and of another, who previously visited the fatal Island, and did land, and with his crew did drive away by force of arms, and fire upon, and beat off, and did kill and destroy many of the Islanders, whilst Sandal wodd was being cut down, and other property feloniously taken away, belonging to the Chiefs and people, by the covetous Captain and his Bucanierring Crew, a Cargo for his Ship; thus wickedly exciting the heathern barbarians to wreak their retributive vengeance, whenever occasion served on such Europeans, however innocent, as might perchance, be cast unarmed within their power. Bitter must be the reproaches, within the breasts of those rapacious individuals, unless their consciences be "seared with a hot iron" when they are made acquainted with the sad consequences of their wolf-like ravening,"to get dishonest gain," in the fearful penalty enforced the Bloods of Williams and of Harris, victimized through them. Deeply tinctured with the consciousness of guilt must be the transitory enjoyment of that Blood-stained gain which will afford no comforting reflection, when the guilty ones shall agonise in Death:- No boldness will excite it when they shall stand before "the judgement seat of Christ" but a fearful looking for of "fiery indignation that shall devour" When God the judge of all shall, at their hands, require "a Brother's Blood!" May those Europeans who thus taught these Savages to be more Savage still, soon feel the bitterness of true repentance, ere it be hid from their eyes: and may the excited misguided heathen who "in their anger slew a man," their truest friend, speedily receive that Gospel of Peace to change their hearts and teach them to seek for pardon in Jesu's Blood; "then shall the Wolf and the Lamb feed together, and the Lion eat straw like the Bullock, and dust shall be the serpent's meat, they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain saith the Lord."
L.E. THRELKELD.