Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/416

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358
DESCRIPTION OF SAVU
Chap. XV

arrival of the Dutch ship which had sailed about two months before we came. He is indeed distinguishable from the Indians only by his colour; like them he sits upon the ground and chews his betel, etc. He has been for some years married to an Indian woman of the island of Timor, who keeps his house in the Indian fashion, and he excused himself to us for not asking us to his house, telling us he was not able to entertain us in any other way than the rest of the Indians whom we saw. He speaks neither German, his native language, nor Dutch, without frequent hesitations and mistakes; on the other hand, the Indian language seems to flow from him with the utmost facility. As I forgot to mention this language in its proper place, I shall take this opportunity to write down the few observations I had an opportunity of making during our short stay. The genius of it seems much to resemble that of the South Sea Isles; in several instances the words are exactly the same, and the numbers are undoubtedly derived from the same source. I give here a list of words:—

Momonne a man
Mobunnea a woman
Catoo the head
Row Catoo the hair
Matta the eyes
Rowna Matta the eyelashes
Swanga the nose
Cavaranga the cheeks
Wodecloo the ears
Vaio the tongue
Lacoco the neck
Soosoo the breasts
Caboo Soosoo the nipples
Dulloo the belly
Assoo the navel
Carow the tail
Pangoutoo the beak
Ica the fish
Unjoo a turtle
Nicu cocoanut
Braceree fan-palm
Calella areca
Canana betel
Aou lime
Maanadoo a fish-hook
Tata tattoo
Lodo the sun
Wurroo the moon
Aidassec the sea
Ailei water
Aee fire
Maate to dye
Tabudje to sleep
Ta teetoo to rise
Tooga the thighs
Rootoo the knees
Baibo the legs
Dunceala the feet
Kissovei yilla the toes
Camacoo the arms
Wulaba the hand
Cabaou a buffalo
Djara a horse
Vavee a hog
Doomba a sheep
Kesavoo a goat
Guaca a dog
Maio a cat
Mannu a fowl
Usse 1
Lhua 2
Tullu 3
Uppah 4
Lumme 5