Swahili grammar and vocabulary: drawn up by Mrs. F. Burt

\VAHli

GI.UM

..:

A

NO

VOCABULAHY

UCSB LIBRARY

SWAHILI GEAMMAE AND

VOCABULAEY DRAWN UP BY

MRS.

F.

BURT

LONDON SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C. 1910

WIU.IA'.T ri.mVKS

LOS1XJX

AND SONS, I.'VITK.n, AXP ItKCC'LKS.

PREFACE an attempt to adapt the Berlitz modern method of learning European languages to the its aim is to enable the of Swahili student of the needs THIS

little

work

is

;

learner to acquire a working knowledge of the language without laborious research or great feats of memory. Grammatical rules occupy a subordinate place they are :

introduced incidentally and are not to be regarded as a separate subject of study the ear, rather than {he eye, is :

the organ to be pressed into the service. Words are arranged in subject-groups in order that, by the natural association of ideas, the student

Swahili

much

exercises should, if

may help

himself to learn

mother tongue. The be reiterated and amplified possible,

as a child picks

up

its

with the aid of a native teacher, until the ear is thoroughly accustomed to the sounds and the mind trained to follow the constructions. This method, if carefully pursued, should soon lead to technical accuracy. The standard of Swahili adopted is that set by the Eev. W. E. Taylor, M.A., to whose valuable works the is greatly indebted. He has kindly furnished the Syllabary and Part I. of the work. A. E. B.

writer

BOUBNE END PABSONAOE, BOXMOOR, 1910,

A 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS PART

I

FAOB

INTRODUCTION AND ARTICLE ON PHONETICS

PART TWENTY-ONE STUDIES

II.

:

(a)

VOCABULARY

(6)

EXERCISES FOR READING AND TRANSLATING (ii)

(c) (fZ)

ENGLISH

...

...

...

EXERCISES

...

...

...

TABLE OF MONEY, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES

.

...

TABLE OF SYNONYMS TABLE OF HOMONYMS

... ...

...

...

PART VOCABULARY SWAHILI-ENGLISH

...

...

...

132

24

152 ...

... ...

154

157

... ...

...

24

...

...

...

...

... ...

...

...

...

24

...

...

24

SWAHILI

...

SPECIMENS OF SWAHILI LETTER-WRITING

SWAHILI CALENDAR

(i)

...

...

...

...

...

...

GERMANE GRAMMATICAL NOTES ... GRADED STUDIES IN SWAHILI GRAMMAR

KEY TO THE

7

THE FAMILIAR LANGUAGE OF DAILY

IN

LIFE, CONSISTING OP

...

...

158 159

III ...

1G2

PART

I

INTRODUCTION SWAHILI is a member of the Bantu family of African languages found in the region, and to the south, of the Equator, and all partaking of certain remarkable features peculiar to this family alone, of which the most striking is, that all objects in the known universe are divided into classes, which not only mark the nouns, but also all the adjectives, pronouns, and verbs connected with them. This is effected by means of the classifier prefix which differs according to the class of the noun, and whether it is singular or plural. Besides this, the Nominative or Subjective Prefixes and the Objective Infixes, are thrown together with tense particles into one word with the verb stem so that one word may form a complete and ;

luminous sentence.

The conveniences of this system will be seen from a study of the Rev. W. E. Taylor's Groundwork sheet. Swahili has the additional advantages above others of these languages, first that it has been enriched and diversified by the influence of Arabic, Hindustani, and to a slighter extent, of Persian and Portuguese and also by a written poetical and religious literature extending over a long period. The Swahili language is broadly divided into three main Dialect-Groups

:

THE SOUTHERN THE NORTHERN; THE CENTRAL. ;

(a)

The

Southern includes Ki-Unguja, the Zanzibar!,

which the labours of Bishop Steere and the U.M.C.A. have been directed to producing the existing version of the Bible: Ki-P'emba, spoken on P'emba, the Emerald Isle, from which cornes a moiety of the clove supply:

in

SWAHTLI GRAMMAR Ki-Mrima, ou the Southern Mrima or "Mainland," opposite and to the south of Zanzibar. (6) The Northern comprises Ki-Amu, the speech of Lamu or and its neighbourhood ; Ki-Pafe, the Pate dialect Ki-Gunya, the brogue of the Northern Islanders called Wa-Gunya or, by the Arabs, Bajuni Ki- rat. haidhuru, never mind, it c!ce not matter.

STUDY Bead and

39

IV

Translate

Naona wat'u Ufunguo u wapi? Uko juu. Enda darini kaangalie. Wat'u wamekwisha kwenda sasa, jee nifungue mlango? Ndiyo, 2 fungua, kisha pea daraja na ua, na mabaraza pia. Narfaka mkeka kuweka kizingitfini. Ngoja kidogo utepawa. 3 Yuko wapi p'aka ? Paka anatoka sasa hivi. Anakwenda wapi ? Labunda ana kwenda kuafu^ !

M

^* s

...2* CD

f^

CD

'5"1 .8, "S *

^

af "5

2 i

I a a|l|

>N

l"al

.

i

PI PH



biscuits.

lemonade.

etc.

Read and Nam'jua,

except. sick.

ill,

sikuzote, always. pasipo, where there is not, ex-

bisikoti

kujiznngumza, to amuse oneself,

Kafiki

until, so that, as

till,

ela, ilia, but,

-gonjwa,

jawabu

kupiga hof/i, to knock at the door. kubisha nodi, to knock at the

by talking,

whole.

ha?a, even, far as. au, or

barua

for.

1

!

cept, without.

kutakia, to hate.

kuomba,

kuzua, to invent.

kunradto ) excuse me pardon niwia rad/w /do not be offended. God. inshalla, please Al hamrZu lillahi, Praise God, thank God. -enyewe, -self, the owner. ;

mgonjwa (i.), sick person. ugonjwa (vii.), sickness. HoJi ? May I come in ? Is one there ? HoJi Come in Siterehe "

59

VIII

Translate

wa baba mgeni.

anakuja kutuangalia, mkaribishe. Karibu, Bwana, pita ndani Sirfarehe, !

00

Paternal uncles and maternal aunts are reckoned so near of kin as to be a kind of senior or junior parent according to the progenitor's original position in his family.

Ex. Babangu mkubwa, Babangu mdogo,

Mamangu mkubwa, Mamangu mdogo,

my my my my

father's elder brother. father's younger brother. mother's elder sister.

mother's younger

sister.

Kafiki, like most other sentient nouns (whether referring to persons or animals) in irrational classes, takes concords of both its own class and cl. i. As a rule, possessive adjectives follow the irrational class, 1

and other adjectives cl. i. Ex. Eafiki yangu huyu mwema ng'ombe zanga hawa wawili. The verb almost invariably follows cl. i. ;

SWAHILI GRAMMAR

60

Habari N'nakuja kuleta babari fa. Wat'u wot'e hawajambo ? Wotf'e hawajambo, ahasanfa. Habari ni ya afia t\i. Tena baba na mama wakusalimu sana, wa/aka habari ya kwenu. Huku 2 hakujambo. Twafaka babari ya buko 3 utokako. Kwetu imokunya usiondoke.

bibi,

gani ?

mvua

Maana mvua wot'e wafurahi. Kweli, bwana, na tuombe kwamba ifike hapa pia. Insballa itfakuja. Lete bisiko/i Mtoto na nimile/i kwa bwana mgeni. Hodi Hodi Karibu ndani. Kina bwana, k'etfini. Ham'jambo ? Hatujambo, al hamdu lillahi. Wageni hawa wafoka Ulaya, wanaleta barua kwa inwalimu. Mwite mtoto yule mwana mume apeleke barua bii upesi. Ati mtoto, enda na barua kwa mwalimu Abudulla, a/akupa jawabu mwenyewe. Mwalimu azungumza na mjomba wakwe (his) na shangazi sana, ha/a

yaleta vyakula

wat'xi

tele,

!

!

!

!

lakwe. Translate

knocking at tbe"door, tell him to come in. " he will enter without enough to say welcome

Some one 4

It is

is

5 doubt. What is your name? You do not know me. I am a stranger to you. Pardon me, I am come to beg ill. If I am rice, you are ill, you cannot eat rice. (some) 6 It is better [for you] to drink milk. Take these pice and buy (some) milk. Thank you, lady, I do not like milk, I will buy a cup of coifee. There are (wako) many sick Yes, but formerly there persons in the town nowadays. (they) were more. Your brother has come, what does he

want ? He wants to meet with you. He will wait .until to-morrow if you are not able to speak with him now. 7 Let him wait then, he is always coming. He says his (zakwe) relatives hate him and (tena) they have invented something (neno) against 2

"

matter

Hakujambo," "

= We

3

"

4

See note

s

Trans.

him

(yakwe).

"It (place or direction) has nothing the

lit.

are all well here.

Where you come from." "

8

Study V. Your name

For Relative

13,

is

who ?

"

Particles, see

For Possessive Adjectives

Study IX. 8 7

8

Vide note

4,

Study

III.

" na " with elided vowel. prefix conjunction See note on Adverbial Prepositions, Study XX.

Here

Study XI. sec

STUDY

(/)

VIII

61

62

STUDY IX

63

STUDY IX Nguo na Mapambo

Dress and Ornaments

kilemba (iv.), turban. k'anzu (iii.), tunic. joho (v.), overcoat. kizibao (iv.), waistcoat, jacket,

mamijli kofia

large handkerchief,

(iii.),

(iii.),

mwavuli

small handkerchief,

hat, cap, helmet,

(ii.),

fulana

(iii.),

msbipi

(ii.),

kiatu

belt, girdle,

(iv.),

fishing

coloured cloth,

mtambo (ii.), machine, mkufu (ii.), chain,

for, to

(i.),

tailor.

(v. pi.), scent,

perfume.

(iii.), silk.

p'amba (iii.), cotton. kateni (iii.), linen. sufi (iii.), wool.

p'ete

(iii.),

ring.

maridadi, finely dressed. jirani (iii.), neighbour. mbali, far away, distant. jioni

(iii.),

evening,

in

the

evening.

dunia

for one.

boot, shoe, sandal.

kifango (iv.), button, stud. bakora (iii.), walking-stick.

marashi

kuraruka, to be torn. kushona, to sew, to stitch, to make, kushonewa, to be sewn for, to

pocket, bag.

(ii.),

(iv.),

mshoni

hariri

kuvaa, to wear. kuvika, to dress, clothe (tr.). kuvua, to take off, undress, kumiliki, to possess, to own. kurarua, to tear,

have made

fit

kupumuzika, to rest. kuazima, to lend, to borrow. kupasa, to be necessary, to be" hove, to must."

mfuko

umbrella,

vest.

line.

ki/ambi

lost,

to err.

become, to be proper or right, to " do."

(v.), skirt.

(iii.),

go astray,

kufaa, to suit, to be

koti (v.), coat,

rinda

for.

kupotea (inlrans. only), to be to

blouse. kikoi (iv.), loin-cloth, suruale (Hi.), trousers,

leso

kunyete, to be conceited. kupima, to measure. kupimiwa, to be measured

(iii.),

the earth, the world.

kujipamba, to adorn oneself.

Head and

Translate

Kizibao changu chatfaka kushonwa, kipeleke kwa mshoni katika ndia k'uu. Mshoni yule hashoni vyema. Labuda akiazima mtambo afaweza. Nifamwambia. Kanzu : yako inararuka, yakupasa kuivua. Niafanyaje? siwezi

Twaa kanzu yangu, itakufaa. kuvaa kanzu ya baba. Ahasantfa, rafiki yangu, i/anifaa sana. Kweli, pasipo " 1 Kupasa," implying moral obligation, is only used impersonally of sentient beings, " Yanipasa " (it behoves me), etc. But we can " " " " say napaswa (I am obliged) or yapasayo (things which are necessary).

SWAHILI GRAMMAR

64

kukWi duniani. Mandili yangu inapohaikupofea, mtoto huyu anaiona asubuhi hapa Nafurahi sana. Maana, mama 2 alinipa zamani.

rafiki

mt'u hawezi

tQSL.

La

!

barazani.

Marinda ya watoto wanawake yafaka kufuliwa, waulize kwamba wamekwisha 3 nunua sabuni. 4 Hawako sasa wanawake, wamekwenda kuteinbea mjini Jee, wamekwenda mbali? Sijai 5 walikokwenda, n'tfampeleka jirani huyu awafafute. Translate

The porters' turbans are 6 lost, they say that thieves came [in the] evening and (they) stole them. If they find those thieves they will beat them, and put them in (vika) good to steal. Let us dress (her) this [with] a large handkerchief, it is enough. She will not feel cold, the sun is strong [in the] daytime. Where will she sleep [at] night? She will sleep with 7 my sisters (ndugu zangu wake), they will take care [of] Our neighbour has been measured for [an] overcoat, her. It is not

fetters.

little girl

he will be very conceited. left it in

Where

the hall, please bring

it.

your umbrella? I Forgive me, I forgot

is

Your teacher came to bring your silk belt and your bag. to beg [for] my shoes yesterday, but I was not able to give 8 [them to] him. Never mind, he will stay at home and rest. 2

The verb "kupa"

only takes the indirect objective particle,

which must always be conjugated with 3 See note 5, Study HI. 4

5

6 7

it.

Verbs frequently precede their subjects. " Ko " = relative See Study XI. particle of place. " Are lost " = state, hence use of perf. tense.

The

possessive

and demonstrative precede the qualifying and For concords, see note 1,

numeral adjective both follow the noun. Study VIII. 8 See note 6, Study V.

STUDY IX

65

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES (SOMETIMES CALLED POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS)

The

adjective immediately follows the noun taking precedence of other adjectives.

''A-s

S. (

wangu, my (man)

wako, thy (man)

I. |

my (men) my (tree) yangu, my (trees) yangu, my (house) zangu, my (houses) S changu, my (thing) IV. I \P. vyangu, my (things) S. langu, my (name) P. yanga, my (name*) langu, my (monster) v,(| yangu, my (monsters) wangu, my (string) vn.{* zangu, my (strings) VIII. S. pangu, my (place) IX. S. kwangu, my (dying or P. wangu,

wangu,

-

1

1

1

P.

m wangu,

[in]

my

yako, thy (trees) yako, thy (house) zako, thy (houses) chako, thy (th ing) vyako, thy (thi ngs) lako, thy (name) yako, thy (names) lako, thy (monster)

yako, thy (monsters) wako, thy (string) zako, thy (strings)

pako, thy (place)

kwako, thy

(dying

mwako,

[in]

wetu, our (man) wetu, our (men) wetu, our (tree) yetu, our (trees) yetu, our (house) m. zetu, our (houses) IV I 8 chetu, our (thing) 1V -\P. vyetu, our (things) s letu, our (name) I -(p. yetu, our (names) vi I s letu, our (monster) yetu, our (monsters) wetn, our (string) vii. zetu, our (strings) 1 VIII. 8. petu, our (place) IX. 1 S. kwetu, our (dying) or [in] our (direction) '

-

-

1

1

wakwe, hit, her, or its (man) wakwe, his, (men) wakwe, his (tree) .

.

.

yakwe, his (trees) yakwe, his (house) zakwe, his (houses) chakwe, his (thing) vyakwe, his (things) lakwe, his (name) yakwe, his (names) lakwc, his (monster) lakwe, his (monsters)

wakwe,

his (string)

zakwc, his (strings) pakwe, his (place) k wakwe, his (dying or direction)

thy

{places)

(places)

v

wako, thy (men) wako, thy (tree)

or direction)

direction)

X.

it

possessive

quali6es

mwakwe,

his

[in]

(places)

wenu, your (man) wenu, your (men) wenu, your (tree)

wao, their (man) wao, tJieir (men) wao, their (tree)

yenu, your (trees) yenu, your (house) zenu, your (houses) chenu, your (thing) vyenu, your (things) lenu, your (name) yenu, your (names) lenu, your (monster) yenu, your (monsters) wenu, your (string) zenu, your (strings) penu, your (place) kwenu, your (dying) or [in] your (Direc-

yao, their (trees) yao, their (house) zao, their (houses) chao, their (thing)

vyao, their (things) lao, their

(name)

yao, their (names) lao, their

(monster) yao, their (monsters)

wao, their (string) zao, their (strings)

pao,

tlieir

kwao,

(place)

their (flying) or

[in] tlteir (direction)

tion)

mwetu,

[in]

(places)

our

mwenu,

[in]

(places)

your

mwao,

[in]

their

(places)

The agreement is with the thing possessed, not with 1 None but these can follow the locative. SWAHILI GRAMMAR

the possessor.

E

SWAHILI GRAMMAR

66

STUDY X Sokoni (v.) mai

(v.),

At

(la ndizi

ndimu

young cocoa-nut.

(iii.),

mumunye

lime.

(v.),

to

kuokota,

eggs.

k'uku) (v.), egg (hen's). (iii.), banana. kiazi (iv.), sweet potato. chungwa (v.), orange (sec p. 130). ii

d&tn. (v.),

the Market

vegetable marrow.

ujaka (vii.), spinach. tango (v.), pumpkin. samaki (iii.), fish. ng'ombe (iii.), cattle, cow, mbuzi (iii.), goat.

pick

(of solid

up

bodies).

kuzoa, to gather up, to scoop up. kusalia, to remain, to be left, kuzoea, to be used or accustomed to.

kuteza, to play, to dance. ktihisabu, kuhasibu, to calculate, reckon. TJnguja, Zanzibar.

Mzungu, European, White man. bull.

saramala (v.), carpenter. raJili (v.), pound (lb.)

k'ondoo

bei

nnga

ghali, dear, expensive, rahisi, cheap, easy, pesa ngapi or nyingapi

(iii.) sheep. (vii.), flour.

kitunguu t'ende

mtele rtoibi

(ii.),

(v.),

kuuza, to

onion. dates.

(iv.),

(iii.),

rice (uncooked).

(iii.)j

much

bargain, trade,

what

kiasi gani

sell.

kikapu (iv.), grass basket, kasuku (v.), parrot. hasara (iii.), loss.

kupatikana, to be obtainable, to be found, to kusumbua, annoy, tease,

worry

(tr.).

kukasirika, to be angry. kushiudana, to dispute, contend, compete. kushindana bei, to bargain, kuhasiri, to lose in a bargain.

Read and

?

how

?

washerman.

kulipa, to pay (for). kugusa, to touch. kudanganya, to cheat, deceive.

trouble,

count,

?

price

?

fai(/a (iii.), g^in* profit,

muddle, much, many, -ngapi 1 how much, how many ?

fujo (v.), confusion, -ngi,

-ngine, other. day before yesterday, a or two ago, the other day.

juzi,

haki

(iii.),

day

right, rightcoubiuss,

juslice, honesty, funr/i (v.), artizan, expert.

Translate

Wazungu wapenda eana machungwa, sikuzo/'e waja sokoni knyanumia. Yauzwaje machungwa ya Unguja siku hizi? Yauzwa ghali, ^oja pesa t'atu inoja pesa 1 Syllables, words, and phrases are frequently reduplicated with " varying significance here to give the distributive sense, Three pice each." See Study XXI.

t'atu

;

STUDY X

67

maana hayapatikani mangi.

Eafiki zetu wali/af uta

mbuzi kummmua, wasimwone. Wangolimfanyani mbuzi, hawana 3 pakumweka? Kweli hawana pahali, wangelimdnrfa kwa ckakula hapana budi. Mbuzi ana nyaraa 4 nyingi ya kufosha wat'u wangi, ukimntmua rahisi yuna Ati bwana wafaka ndizi ? Pesa ngapi ndizi faida sana. zako? Nne pesa bwana. A! siwezi kununua ndizi hizo, !

Tupite kwa masikini yule, auza vit'u vingi rnadafu, 2'ende, viazi, mainumunye, raatango ndimu, ha S

>-

.3 .2 ^3 'S

***

hfc

i

"**

^S

f^ ^*

~ ^3

^

"*"t

5

o"

2

P

'N

-* 3 S" -S S & -^ S S

"*

l|il^|i}i >>S o

>X

>>

F*

QQ

>^ T

1

5

fe r

ill I

c

QQf^QQaJQgf^qgA^CJI

S

Illli

STUDY

73

XII

STUDY XII Muwili

(ii.)

The Body

KKwa

kuumia,

uso

Mngu

(iv.), head. (vii.), face.

God. Mwenyiezi Mngu, Almighty God.

jito (v.), eye.

mkono kidole

of

(vii. pi.), hair. (ii.),

sou (i.), mwanaadamu, Adam, human being, mau.

binadamu

(iii.), nose. shikio (sikio) (v.), ear.

p'ua

nywele

to suffer (bodily hurt).

(i.),

bega

hand, arm.

(v.),

maungo

(iv.), finger, toe.

kiungo

shoulder, back,

(v. pi.),

(iv.), joint,

kitena

(iv.),

Mdevu

(iv.), chin.

guu (v.), leg, foot. kanwa (v.), mouth.

ndevu

(iii.),

nguvu

(iii.),

ulimi (vii.) (pi. ndimi), tongue. S

.^^p

m '3 3 ?.

85

86

SVVAHILI

GRAMMAR

STUDY XV Safarini kiongozi

(iv.),

mnyap'ara

(iii.)

kuwika, fo crow (of a cock). kupiga (bunduki, etc.), to shoot,

veteran

kuinua, to lift. kukaza, to intensify. kukaza mwendo, to quicken pace.

head man

to

caravan). msafiri (i.), traveller,

mkubwa

(i.),

mtumia

chief, big elder,

man.

(i.),

(porter).

mkalimani asikari

(i.),

(iii.),

janmdari

(iii.),

mzigo

(ii.),

beramu

policeman, soldier,

load, burden,

banner,

k'ome (iii.). small flag, k'ambi (iii.), camp. p'osho (iii.), rations, food-money, k'ata (iii.), pad or head-cushion (v.),

stockade,

palisade,

fence,

huruma

(iii.),

pity,

compassion,

(ii.),

novice. sirikali

(iii.),

iaarisbi

(iii.).

the government. mail-bearer, mail-

kitete, kiioma (iv.), gourd, waterbottle.

nguvu

(iii.),

strength, force.

shimo (v.), hole, pit. mshare (ii.), arrow.

mercy.

mbono

nyeupe, way is clear. nJia imekufa, path is overgrown. killa, kulla, every, each (invar.). alfajiri (iii.), dawn, daybreak. mjinga (i.), simpleton, greenhorn,

runner.

for loads,

boma

kusimamia, to supervise, oversee. kuteta na, to scold* reprimand.

nr/ia

tent,

(iii.), flag,

fire.

kusemea

interpreter,

(v.), corporal,

hema

a Journey

(of

guide, leader,

(i.),

On

castor-oil plant,

kupiga i ago, to camp, kung'oa k'ome, to start the day's march,

uta

kuvunda k'ambi,

(iii.), shield. jimbi, jogoi (v.), cock.

to

break

up

camp.

(vii.),

mwendo

upindi (vii.), bow. journey, distance,

(ii.),

gait.

ngao

kuterekeza, to halt and refresh.

mzinga

kufasiri. kugeuza, to translate, kuvumilia, to endure, to bear, to

bunrfuki (iii.), gun, musket, basfola (iii.), pistol.

put up with, ku/angamka, to take courage, to

mkuki (ii.), spear. rungu (iii.), club, knobkerry. mtaimbo (ii.), crowbar.

be encouraged, to be cheerful, kuamka, to awake, to wake up. kuamsha, to waken.

(ii.),

cannon.

-zito, heavy. m'no, very, exceedingly.

rifle.

STUDY XV

87

Bead and Translate Wapagazi hawatfaki kutfukua mizigo, wasema

ni mizito.

Wainbie si mbali Wasipoifukua hawapati posho basi. tuenclako leo, wafakapofika wafapumuzika. Mnyap'ara ni mkali m'no, liana hururaa, sikuzot'e hutota na wat'u. Tena asubuhi kiongozi alikosa nc?ia, tukapo/ea mwituni. Tulipokuwamo m'le tulionana na wasafiri wengiae ambao killa mmoja ali/ukua beramu na buncZuki. Mkubwa wa mji ule yuaja kuzunguraza na mkalimani wetu ambae pekee awez* kufasiri maneno yakwe. Huyu mzee apenrfa kusikia habari ya p'wani. Atfaka tukae hapa siku nyingi, tupige rago kab sa na kujenga hemazetu. La Sipapendi, tena maji yamekwisha vifomani mwa asikari, na jamudari asema kwamba hawa^avumilia tukingoja. Wang'oe k'ome basi, sasa hivi, tuondoko tumeterekeza, yatosha, mlumia. :

!

:

Translate

The people

of these countries always build fences to * their villages. (loc. case) They fight with bows and arrows, spears and clubs ; [and] each one carries a shield. Although we are- tired, we must break up camp to-morrow when the cock crows (particp. tense) ; tell that simple fellow to wake us [at] daybreak. When the government mail-man comes (fut.), the soldiers will fire a cannon. This path is overgrown, we had better go back. If you are bitten 3 by a soldier ant, it will pain (you will suffer pain) ; but the small ants do not hurt [one]. strong

A

man (man having

The strength) can lift a crowbar. women's head-pads fell into a hole. Our porters would have been cheerful if we had not quickened the pace. Do not scold them, only supervise (them). Tell them if they get castor oil from these plants, they will be able to sell it when they return to the coast. See note 4, Study XIV. This is one of the few instances where the verbal prefixes of a sentient noun prefer the concords of the class it belongs to by its form rather than of the one it belongs to by its meaning. 1

2

3

"

"ni."

By"

referring to the agent, after a passive,

is

always rendered

88

SWAHILI GKAMMAR

^a. *ju

S "^ 3

g

3

"*

Q}

*-i

a I

"!!-

a

Qi

S

!

"s

43

li

"*"

"**

tr

""'

C

sa 1

5

O