The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. V. Being the First of the Third VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. V. Being the First of the Third Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
Their language is far from being harsh or disagreeable, though the
pronunciation is frequently guttural; and whatever qualities are
requisite in any other language to make it musical, certainly obtain to
a considerable degree here, if we may judge from the melody of some
sorts of their songs. It is also sufficiently comprehensive, though, in
many respects, deficient, if compared with our European languages, which
owe their perfection to long improvement. But a small specimen is here
subjoined, from which some judgment may be formed. I collected a great
many of their words, both now and in the course of our former voyage;
and being equally attentive, in my inquiries, about the languages of the
other islands throughout the South Sea, I have the amplest proof of
their wonderful agreement, or rather identity. This general observation
has indeed been already made in the accounts of the former voyages.[165]
I shall be enabled, however, to confirm and strengthen it, by a fresh
list of words, selected from a large vocabulary in my possession; and by
placing in the opposite column, the corresponding words as used at
Otaheite, the curious reader will, at one view, be furnished with
sufficient materials for judging by what subordinate changes the
difference of dialect has been effected.
English. _New Zealand._ _Otaheite._
_Water_, Ewy, Evy.
_A tail of a dog_, Wyeroo, Ero.
_Death, dead_, Kaoo, matte, Matte, roa.
_To fly_, Ererre, Eraire.
_A house_, Ewharre, Ewharre.
_To sleep_, Moea, Moe.
_A fish-hook_, Makoee, Matou.
_Shut_, Opanee, Opanee.
_A bed_, Moenga, Moera.
_A butterfly_, Epaipe, Pepe.
_To chew_ or _eat_, Hekaee, Ey.
_Cold_, Makkareede, Mareede.
_To-day_, Agooanai, Aooanai.
_The hand_, Reenga, Ereema.
_Large_, Keeerahoi, Erahoi.
_Red_, Whairo, Oora, oora.
_We_, Taooa, Taooa.
_Where is it?_ Kahaia, Tehaia.
_A stone_, Powhy, Owhy.
_A man_, Tangata, Taata.
_Black_, Purra, purra, Ere, ere.
_White_, Ema, Ooama.
_To reside_, or Nohoanna, Nohonoa.
_dwell_,
_Out, not within_, Woho, Woho.
_Male kind_ (of any Toa, Etoa.
animal),
_Female_, Eoowha, Eooha.
_A shark_, Mango, Mao.
_To understand_, Geetaia, Eetea.
_Forgot_, Warre, Ooaro.
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