It contains an incredible number of synonymes, thus: _Kachergaik_, _Kameřgaik_, _Kereřaik_, and _Laykamé_, all signify an old man. _Elořaik_, _Egargaik_, _Ahamřaik_, and _Chitkaeka Lach_, dead. _Nahamatřek_, _Nuichieřa_, _Noélakierek_, and _Anegla_, war. _Kiñierat_, _Hanák_, _Nakà_, and _Naek_, food. _Lemařat_ and _Lapañik_, the head. _Hipigem_ and _Ohajenk_, heaven. _Chigriařaik_, _Taagè_, _Uriakà Ntà_, _Chig ñetun_, and _Akamitañi_, I know not, which last is the same as if one should reply to a question, _Thou thyself know'st it_, thus acknowledging his own ignorance. They sometimes repeat the words of the interrogator, to show that they do not know what he asks about. They call a wound generically _Lalaglet_. If it be inflicted by the teeth of a man or a beast, they call it _Naagek_; if by a knife or a sword, _Nichar̂hek_; if by a lance, _Noarek_; if by an arrow, _Nainek_. _They fight_, if the kind of fight be not expressed, would be rendered _Roélakitapegetà_; if they fight with spears, _Nahámretà_; if with arrows, _Natenetápegetà_; if with fists, _Nemarketápegetà_; if with words alone, _Ycherikáleretaà_; if two wives fight about their husband, _Nejétentà_. They signify that a thing is ended or finished in divers ways. The sickness is ended, would be rendered _Láyamini_; the rain, the moon, the cold is ended, _Lánádmreuge neetè_, _grauek_, _latarà_; the war is ended, _Nahálañi aneglà_; the Spanish soldiers are ended, that is slaughtered; _Lanamichiriñi Kaáma yoalirípi_; my patience is ended, _Lanámouge yapik_; the storm is ended, _Layamhà_; he hath ended his office, his magistracy hath expired, _La yauerelgè_; end, or finish thy work, _Grahálgali_, _laamachi graénategi_; now the thing is finished, _Layam ayam_; at the end of the world, _Amla hanamřani_. If a battle is fought with arrows, it is called _Noatařek_; if with spears, _Noaařaranřek_, or _Nahamatřek_; if with fists alone, _Nemarketřek_. This word reminds me of a ludicrous occurrence. A certain Bavarian lay-brother of our's stayed some time in the new colony of St. Ferdinand to build a hut for the Missionaries. Whilst he was employed in building, he daily had the Abipones for spectators, and heard them talk, without understanding a syllable of what they were saying. As he continually caught the words _Nahamatřek_, _Noatařek_, and many others ending in _třek_, one day at dinner he said to Father Joseph Brigniel, an Austrian, with much simplicity, "Never trust me, if the language of the Abipones isn't as like German as one egg is to another; I often hear them say _Trek_, _Trek_."