In the Absné verbs the distinction of time is the only distinction denoted by any approach to the character of an inflection; and here the change has so thoroughly the appearance of having been effected by the addition of some separate and independent words, that it is doubtful whether any of the following forms can be considered as true inflections. They are _compounds_; _i. e._ forms like _can't_, _won't_, _I'll_ (=_I will_), rather than forms like _speaks_, _spoke_, τέ-τυφ-α, &c. _Root_, C'wisl = _ride_ (equit-o). 1. _Present_, C'wis`l-_ap_ = I _ride_[47] (equit-o). 2. _Present_, C'wis`l-_oit_ = _I am riding_. _Imperfect_, C'wis`l-_an_ = _equitabam_. _Perfect_, C'wis`l-_it_ = _equitavi_. _Plusquamperfect_, C'wis`l-_chén_ = _equitaveram_. _Future_, C'wis`l-_as˙t_ = _equitabo_. The person and number is shown by the pronoun. And here must be noticed a complication. The pronoun appears in two forms:-- 1st. In full, _sara_, _wara_, &c. 2nd. As an inseparable prefix; the radical letter being prefixed and incorporated with the verb. It cannot, however, be said that this is a true inflection. 1. _Sing._ 1. _sara s-c'_wisl-_oit_ = _I ride_ 2. _wara u-c'_wisl-_oit_ = _thou ridest_ 3. _ui i-c'_wisl-_oit_ = _he rides_. 2. _Plur._ 1. _hara ha-c'_wisl-_oit_ = _we ride_ 2. _s`ara s`-c'_wisl-_oit_ = _ye ride_ 3. _ubart r-c'_wisl-_oit_ = _they ride_. _Original area._--The northward extension of the present Circassian area is limited by the Russians and the Nogay Turks. Now, as each of these areas has _encroached_, it is reasonable to believe that, at an earlier period, Circassian tribes may have extended further northward than at present. At the same time we must be careful not to carry them too far; otherwise we infringe the area of the Scythians, Sarmatians, and other nations of antiquity; who, whatever else they were, were not very likely to have been Circassian. Some point between the Cuban and the Don is the likeliest limit for the most northern Circassians. The old line of frontier on the Caucasian side is incapable of determination. Amongst the ancestors of the present Circassians are, most probably, the Zychi (Achæi), Abasgi, Heniochi, Cercetæ, Makropogones, Sindians, &c. * * * * * The question as to the original population of the country which now separates the nearest point of the Dioscurian area from the Seriform, will be considered in the section upon the distribution of the Iranian portion of the Indo-European division of the Iapetidæ. The following is a selection of words common to the Dioscurian and Aptotic languages:-- [48]·_English_, sky ·Circassian, _whapeh_, _wuafe_ ·Aka, _aupa_ ·Khamti, _fa_ _English_, sky ·Absné, _kaukh_ Altekesek, _hak_ ·Akush, _kaka_ ·Burmese, _kydukkhe_