1769- In numeration they proceed from one to ten, the num-
Numbers. her of fingers on both hands; and though they have for
each number a different name, they generally take hold
of their fingers one by one, fluffing from one hand to the
other till they come to the number they want to exprefs.
And in other inftances, we obferved that, when they were
converfing with each other, they joined figns to their words,
which were fo expreffive that a ftranger might eafily apprehend
their meaning.
In counting from ten they repeat the name of that number,
and add the word more; ten, and one more, is eleven;
ten, and two more, twelve; and fo of the reft, as we fay one
and twenty, two and twenty. When they com^to ten and
ten more, they have a new denomination, as we fay a fcore;
and by thefe fcores they count till they get ten of them,
when they have a denomination for two hundred; and we
never could difcover that they had any denomination to ex-
. prefs a greater number: neither, indeed, do they feem to
want any; for ten of thefe amount to two thoufand, a
greater number than they can ever apply.
In meafuring diftance they are much more deficient than
in computing numbers, having but one term which anfwera
to fathom; when they fpeak of diftances from place to
place, they exprefs it, like the Afiatics, by the time that, is
required to pafs it.
language. Their language is foft and melodious; it abounds with
yowels, and we eafily learnt to pronounce i t : but found-it
exceedingly difficult to teach them to pronounce a Angle
word of ours; probably not only from its abounding in con-
fonants, but from fome peculiarity in its ftrufture; for Spa-
nifli and Italian words, if ending in a vowel, they pronounced
with great facility.
Whether
Whether it is copious, we were not fufficiently acquainted
with it to know; but it is certainly very imperfect, for it is
almoft totally without inflexion, both of nouns and verbs.
Few of the nouns have more than one cafe, and few of the
verbs more than one tenfe; yet we found no great difficulty
in making ourfelves mutually underftood, however ftrange
it may appear in fpeculation.
They have, however, certain affixa, which, though but few
in number, are very ufeful to them, and puzzled us extremely.
One afks another, Harre- hea? “ Where are you
“ going?” the other anfwers Ivahinera, “ To my wives;”
upon which the firft repeating the anfwer interrogatively,
“ To your wives ?” is anfwered, Ivahinereira; “ Yes, I am go-
“ ing to my wives.” Here the fuffixa era and dr a fave feve-
ral words to both parties.
I have inferted a few o f their words, from which perhaps
fome idea may be formed of the language.
Pupo, the head. Oporema, the hand.
Ahewh, the nofe. Manneow, the fingers.
Roourou, the hair. Mieu, the nails.
Outou, the mouth. Touhe, the buttocks.
Niheo, the teeth. Hoouhah, the thighs.
Arrero, the tongue. Avia, the legs.
Meu-eumi, the beard. Tapoa, thetfeet.
Tiarraboa, the throat. Booa, a hog.
T uamo, the Jhoulders. Moa, a fowl.
Tuah, the back. Euree, a dog.
Qama, the breaji. Eure-eure, iron.
Eu, ■ the nipples. ■ Ooroo, bread-fruit.
Oboo, the belly. •Hearee, cocoa-nuts.
Rema, the arm. Mia,.. bananas.
G g 2 Vaee,