Those to whom it properly belongs we call
Primahaitu, which is equivalent to when we say Biscayans. We found
it in use over more than four hundred leagues (miles?) of our travel,
without another in the whole extent." The name thus given by the
narrator of the Naufragios seemingly exists in these words, their
definitions taken from a dictionary in MS. of the Pima language
written by a missionary. No, _pima_: Nothing, _pim' haitu_. Ques.
What, _Ai_? Ans. _Pimahaitu_ (nihil).
GRAMMAR OF THE HEVE LANGUAGE.
* * * * *
PART I.
ORTHOGRAPHY.
It has been thought proper to use nineteen characters in the language,
among which are not included f, j, k, w, x, y, nor l, although the
sound of l is somewhat heard in the soft enunciation given by the
Indian to the letter r.
The k is sufficiently supplied in the syllabic sounds que and qui,
where the u is silent, although gue and gui are each of two syllables.
There has been a disposition to omit the g also, the sound of which,
as in go, if the natives had not originally, they certainly possess
at present, got from the Spaniards. This should excuse its appearance
here. The sound of z is strong as heard in _fits_.
The vowels are sounded as in t_a_r, b_e_ar, s_i_lk, d_o_e, r_u_e.
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