means of prefixed syllables, the root of the verb being insusceptible
of any change. -
In the formation likewise of verbal nouns and derivatives,,
and in nouns expressing relations, the Coptic makes an extensive
use of prefixes; and this observation is of the greatest
importance to my present purpose, as it is equally applicable
to the Kafir, and probably to other African languages. All
such modifications as the European languages express by
terminations added to verbs are denoted in the Coptic by
these prefixes.. Thus the prefix MAD-indicates abstracts, ref
is equivalent to our er in maker or to or in orator, the prefix
jin to ion in creation-; sa indicates habit, as ax in mendax,
scha intensity; ram, is a national prefix, as Ram-chimi,
an Egyptian, from Chymi, Egypt.* - In like manner, as we
are assured by Mr. Boyce, by prefixes to the verbal root, with
sometimes a slight change in terminating, the Kafir language
forms nouns verbal, abstract, concrete, which, . though
never heard before, would be immediately understood by an
individual who knew the meaning of the^verbs from which
they were derived. Thus in Kafir from hambaf to walk,
comes, umhambi, a walker; from lumka, beware, cave, comes
ubu-lumku, wisdom or caution, umlumki or ilumkoj a wise
man.-f*
Resources are hot yet in existence for instituting a general
comparison of the languages of Africa. Many years will
probably elapse before it will be possible to produce such an
analysis of these languages, investigated in their grammatical
structure, as it isdesirable to possess, or even to compare
them by extensive collections of well-arranged vocabularies
after the manner of Klaproth’s Asia Polyglotta. Sufficient
data however are extant, and I trust that I have adduced
evidence to render it extremely probable that a principle of
analogy in structure prevails extensively among the native
idioms of Africa. They are probably allied, not in the manner
or degree in which Semitic or Indo-European idioms resemble
each other, but by strong analogies in their general
principles of structure, which may be compared to those dis-
* Vater. iii. s. 89. •f* Kafir Grammar, p. 3.
coverable between the individual members of two other great
classes of Ihng'uages, by no means connected among themselves
by what is called family reflation; I allude to the monosyllabic
and the polysynthetic languages;) the former prevalent in
Eastern Asia, the latter throughput the vast regions of the New
World. If we have sufficient bv^dehce for constituting such a
class of dialects under the title of African languages, we have
likewise reason—and it is equal in ‘degree^—for associating in
this »class the language of the ancient Egyptians.*
Section. VI.—Further Considerations resulting from the
contents of the preceding Sections.—On the Diversity of
Languages among ancient Nation s .-^Conclusion as to
the Relation of the Egyptians to other Human Races. 1
The.almost,entire diversity of language which distinguishes
the Egyptians from the nations of Asia,nrendefsr.it extremely
difficult, upon any probable suppositiori;jt0)eXplain the marks
of intimate relation which in so many :other ^respects-; appear
to connect the ancient dwellers :$$($$$' Nile , with the immemorial
inhabitants of India.
There are many persons who will. bet disposed tóf gpt rid
of all difficulties: connected with this inquiiry, by denying-or
explaining. in a summary way the phenomena from * which
they result. On recognising, the fact, that the Egyptian
and Indian languages are wholly unconnected,.they will conclude
at once that there was no. intimate; .redation in ancient
times between the nations themselvekp They will attribute
to merely accidental coincidence, or to the effects ^resulting
from similar local circumstances or external conditions, all
« An extensive field of inquiry is opened b y the observation that traces exist
among the most distant African nations of ancient connexion; with the Egyptians.
I jail all not venture to do more than to, call the attention of‘my readers to
this suggestion. The traces of animal worship, the belief in metempsychosis,
circumcision and a variety of observances recorded by'travellers among the Kafirs,
the native people of Madagascar, as well as among tribes in the western parts of
Africa are too extensively diffused, arid occur in too many instances to be attributed
to accidental coincidence.' .