mt.
January.
Englifh. Prince’s Ifland. Javanefe. Malay.
The thigh, Pimping, Poopoo, Paha.
The knee, Hullootoor, Duncul, Lontour.
The leg, Metis, Sickil, Käuki.
A nail, Cucu, Cucu, Cucu.
A hand, Langan, . Tangan, Tangan.
A finger, RamoLangan, Jari, Jaring.
In this fpecimen of the languages of places fo near to each
other, the names of different parts of the body are chofen,
becaufe they are eafily obtained from people whofe language
is utterly unknown, and becaufe they are more likely to be
part of the original ftamen of the language, than any other,,
as types of the firft objefts to which they would give names.
It is very remarkable that the Malay, the Javanefe, and the
Prince’s Ifland language, have words, which, if not exadtly
fimilar to the correfponding words in the language of the
iflands in the South Seas, are manifeftly derived from the
fame fource, as will appear from the following table :
Englifh. South Sea.
Prince’s Hland,
An eye,
Matta,
To eat,
Maa,
To drink,
Einu,
To kill,
Matte,
A loufie,
Outou,
Rain,
Euwa,
Bamboo cave,
Owhe,
A breajl,
Eu,
A bird,
Mannu,
■ Afijb,
Eyca,
The foot,
Tapao,
A lobjler,
Tooura,
Tams,
Eufwhe,
S
Malay.
Mata,
Macan,
Menum,
Matte,
Coutou.
Udian,
Soufou,
lean,
Udang,
Ubi,
Javanefe.
Moto,
Mangan.
Gnumbe.
Matte.
Udan.
Soufou.
Mannu,
Iwa.
Tapaan.
Urang.
Urve.
Mata.
Awe.
Mannuck,
To
Englifh. South Sea. Malay. Javanefe.
To bury. Etannou, Tannam, Tandour.
A mofchitOi Enammou, Gnarnmuck.
To fcratch, Hearu, Garru, Garu.
Coccos roots, Taro, Tallas, Talas,
In-land, Uta, Utan.
Englifh. S. Sea Iflands. Malay. Javanefe. Prince’ s Ifland; Madagafcar;
Dne, Tahie, Satou, Sigi, Hegie, life.
Two, i Rua, Dua, Lorou, Duar Rua.
Three, Torou, Tiga, Tullu. Tollu, Tellotr.
Four, Haa, Ampat, Pappat, Opat,. Effatsv
Five, Reina, Lima, Limo; Limah, Limi.
Six, Wheney, Annam, Nunnam, Gunnap, Ene.
Seven, Hetu, Tudju, Petu, Tudju,. Titou.
Eight, Waru, Delapau, Wolo,- Delapany Walon.
Nine, Iva, Sembilan, Songo,., Salapan, Sivi.
Ten, Ahouroa, Sapoulou, Sapoulou, Sapoulou, Tourou,
*77**
January.
This fimilitude is particularly remarkable in the words1
expreffing number, which at firft fight feems to be no in-
conliderable proof that the fcience at leaft of thefe different
people has a common root. But the names of numbers in
the ifland of Madagafcar, are, in fome inftances, fimilar to
all thefe, which is a problem ftill more difficult to folve.
That the names of numbers, in particular, are in a manner
common to all thefe countries, will appear from the following
comparative table, which Mr. Banks drew up, with the
affiftance of a negro flave, born at Madagafcar, who was on
board an Englifh fhip at Batavia, and fent to- him to gratify
his curiofity on this fubjedh
In the language of Madagafcar, there are other words-
fimilar to words of the fame import in the Malay. The nofe
in Malay is called Erung, at Madagafcar Ourou; Lida, the
, tongue,