_Of the Origin, Manners, and Language of the Chilese_.
The origin of the primitive inhabitants of Chili, like that of all the
nations and tribes of the aboriginal Americans, is involved in
impenetrable obscurity. Many of the natives consider themselves as
indigenous, while others derive their origin from a foreign stock,
supposing their ancestors to have come from the north or from the west;
but as they were utterly unacquainted with the art of writing, they have
no records or monuments from which to elucidate this inquiry, and their
traditionary accounts are too crude and imperfect to afford any degree
of rational information on the subject. The Chilese call their first
progenitors _Pegni Epatum_, signifying the brothers named Epatum. They
call them likewise _glyce_, or primitive men; and in their assemblies
invoke their ancestors and deities in a loud voice, crying _Pom, pam,
pum, mari, mari, Epunamen, Amimalguen, Pegni Epatum_. The meaning of
these words is uncertain, unless we may suppose it to have some
connexion with the word _pum_, used by the Chinese to signify the first
created man, or the one who was saved from the deluge. The lamas or
priests of Thibet are likewise said to repeat to their rosaries, the
syllables _om, am, um_, or _hom, ham, hum_; which corresponds in some
measure with the customary exclamation of the Chilese.
It appears probable that the whole of Chili had been originally peopled
by one nation, as all the native tribes, however independent of each
other, speak the same language, and have a similar appearance. The
inhabitants of the plains are of good stature, but those who dwell in
the valleys of the Andes, usually surpass the ordinary height of man.
The features of both are regular, and none of them have ever attempted
to improve nature by disfiguring their faces, to render themselves more
beautiful or more formidable. Their complexion, like the other American
natives, is reddish brown or copper-coloured, but of a clearer hue than
the other Americans; and readily changes to white. A tribe which dwells
in the district of Baroa, is of a clear white and red like Europeans,
without any tinge of copper colour. As this tribe differs in no other
respect from the rest of the Chilese, this difference in complexion may
be owing to some peculiar influence of the climate which they inhabit,
or to their greater civilization. Some persons have been disposed to
attribute this difference in colour to an intermixture with a number of
Spanish prisoners taken during the unfortunate war of the sixteenth
century: But the Spanish prisoners were equally distributed among the
other tribes, none of whom are white; and besides, the first Spaniards
who came to Chili were all from the southern provinces of Spain, where
ruddy complexions are extremely rare.
From the harmony, richness, and regularity of the Chilese language, we
are led to conclude that the natives must in former times have possessed
a much greater degree of civilization than now, or that they are the
remains of a great and illustrious nation, which has been ruined by some
of these physical or moral revolutions which have occasioned such
astonishing changes in the world. The Chilese language is so exceedingly
copious, both in radical words, and in the use of compounds, that a
complete dictionary of it would fill a large volume. Every verb, either
derivatively or conjunctively, becomes the root of numerous other verbs
and nouns, both adjectives and substantives, which in their turn produce
others of a secondary, nature which may be modified in a hundred
different manners. From every word in the language, a verb may be formed
by adding a final _n_. Even from the most simple particles, verbs may be
thus formed, by which at the same time great precision and great
strength are given to conversation. Yet the language contains no
irregular verb or noun, every thing being regulated by the most
wonderful precision and simplicity, so that the theory of the language
is remarkably easy, and may be learnt in a very short time. It abounds
also in harmonious and sonorous syllables, which give it much sweetness
and variety; yet is injured by the frequent recurrence of the sound of
_u_. The Chilese language differs essentially from every other American
language, both in words and construction, with the exception of eighteen
or twenty words of Peruvian origin, which is not to be wondered at,
considering the contiguity of the two countries. The most singular
circumstance in this language is, that it contains a considerable number
of words apparently of Greek and Latin derivation, and having similar
significations in both languages; yet I am inclined to believe that this
circumstance is merely accidental[54].
[Footnote 54: Perhaps these words may have been adopted into the Chilese
language from the Spaniards, who speak a kind of dialect of Latin. The
remainder of this section is an abridgement of an Essay on the Chilese
language, appended to the second volume of Molina.--E.]
* * * * *
The original language of Chili, generally called the Araucanian, is
denominated by the natives _Chili-dugu_, or the Chili speech or
language. The alphabet is the same as the Latin, except the want of _x_,
which indeed is only a compound letter. The _s_ likewise only occurs in
about twenty of their words, and never at the termination; and the _z_
is still more rare. Besides the ordinary letters, the Chilese has the
mute _e_, and a peculiar _u_ like the Greek and French; the former being
designated by the _acute_, and the latter by the _grave_ accent, to
distinguish them from the ordinary _e_ and _u_. This latter _u_ is often
changed to _i_. It has likewise a nasal _g_ and a _th_; which latter is
often changed to _ch_, as _chegua_ for _thegua_, a dog. There are no
gutturals or aspirates. All the words end either in one of the six
vowels, or in _b,d,f,g,l,m,n,r, or v_; so that there are fifteen
distinct terminations. The accent is usually on the penult vowel,
sometimes on the last, but never on the antipenult. The radical words,
mostly monosyllables or dissyllables, are estimated at 1973. As far as
we have been able to discover, these radicals have no analogy with any
other known idiom, though the language contains a number of Greek and
Latin words very little varied, as in the following table. It is proper
to mention, that the orthography of the Chilese words is given according
to the Italian pronunciation.
CHILESE. GREEK. SIGNIFICATION Aldun Aldein to increase. Ale Ele
splendour. Amun Mouen to go. Cai Kai and. Ga Ga in truth. Lampaicon
Lampein to shine. Mulan Mullen to pulverise. Pele Pelos mud. Reuma Reuma
a stream. Tupan Tupein to whip.
CHILESE. LATIN. Aren Ardere to burn. Cupa. Cupere to desire. Dapein
Dapinare to feast. Ejun Ejulare to weep. Lev Levis active, swift.
Lumalmen Lumen light. Lui Lux brightness. Man Manus the right. Putun
Potare to drink. Valin Valere to be worth. Valen Valere to be able. Une
Unus one.
The nouns have only one declension, or rather are indeclinable, the
numbers and cases being marked by various particles; but each, in this
way, has the singular, dual, and plural, like the Greek. Thus _Cara_ the
city, has _Cara-egu_ the two cities, and _Pu-cara_ the cities, as in the
following example.
_Singular. Dual. Plural._
Nom. Cara Cara-egu pu-Cara
Gen. Cara-ni Cara-egu-ni pu-Cara-ni
Dat. Cara-meu Cara-egu-meu pu-Cara-meu
Accus. Cara Cara-egu pu-Cara
Voc. a Cara a Cara-egu a pu-Cara
Abl. Caramo Cara-egu-mo pu-Cara-mo
Instead of _pu_, the mark of the plural, _ica_ or _egen_ may be affixed
to the noun, or _que_ placed between the adjective and substantive. Thus
the plural of _cara_ may be _pu-cara, caraica_, or _caraegen_,
signifying the cities; or _cum-que cara_, the good cities.
The Chilese language abounds with adjectives, both primative and
derivative. The latter are formed from every part of speech by
invariable rules: As, from _tue_ the earth, comes _tuetu_ terrestrial;
from _quimen_ to know, _quimchi_ wise; and these, by the interposition
of _no_, become negative, as _tuenotu_ not terrestrial, _quimnochi_
ignorant. The adjectives, participles, and derivative pronouns are
unsusceptible of number or gender, in which they resemble the English;
yet when it is necessary to distinguish the sexes, _alca_ is used for
the masculine, and _domo_ for the feminine. The comparative is formed by
prefixing _jod_ or _doi_ to the positive, and the superlative by _cad_
or _mu_. Thus from _chu_ limpid, are formed _doichu_ more limpid, and
_muliu_ most limpid. There are no diminutives or augmentatives, which
are supplied by means of the adjectives _picki_ little, and _buta_
great. Diminutives are also formed by changing a harsh sound into one
more liquid; as _votun_ son, to _vochiun_ little son. The primitive
pronouns are _inche_ I, _eimi_ you, _teye_ which, &c. The relatives are
_iney_ who, _chem_ what, _ta_ or _ga_ that, &c. The verbs all terminate
in the syllables _an, en, in, an, un, ùn_; and are all regulated by a
single conjugation, having all the voices, moods, and tenses of the
Latin, with three or four others, and the singular dual and plural like
the Greek. The terminations of the present tense of each mood form the
roots of all the other tenses of the same mood, which are distinguished
by certain particles, as _che_ in the second present, _bu_ in the
imperfect, _uje_ in the perfect, &c. as in the following example, which
are placed between the radical and the final _n_. Passive verbs are
formed by the auxiliary _gen_, between the radical and final _n_.
Impersonal verbs by the particle _am_ added to the radical. The
following example of the verb _elun_ to give, will serve as a model for
all the other verbs in the language without exception, as there is but
one conjugation and no irregular verbs. It is to be noticed, that the
first present of all the verbs is used, as our compound preterite: Thus
_elun_ signifies I give or I have given; while the second present is
strictly confined to the present time.
ACTIVE VOICE.
INDICATIVE MOOD.
_Present Tense_.
Singular.
Dual.
Plural.
1.
_Elun_, I give.
_Eluvu_, We two give.
_Eluign_, We give
2.
_Eluimi_, Thou givest.
_Eluimu_, You two give.
_Eluimen_, Ye give
3.
_Elui_ He gives.
_Eluigu, They two give.
_Eluigen_, They give_
Second Present,
1. _Eluchen_, I give.
2. _Eluchemi_, Thou givest, &c.
Imperfect,
1. _Elubun_, I did give.
2. _Elubuimi_, Thou, &c.
Perfect,
1. _Eluuyen_, I gave.
2. _Eluuyeimi_, Thou, &c.
Pluperfect,
1. _Elunyebun_, I had given, &c.
1st Future,
1. _Eluan_, I will give, &c.
2d Future,
1. _Eluayean_, I shall have given, &c.
1st Mixed,
1. _Eluabun_, I had to give, &c.
2d Mixed,
1. _Eluugabun_, I ought to have had to give; &c.
IMPERATIVE MOOD.
Singular,
Dual.
Plural.
1
_Eluche_, let me give
_Eluyu_, let us two give
_Eluign_, let us give
2
_Eluge_, give thou
_Elamu_, let you two give
_Elumen_, give ye
3
_Elupe_, let him give
_Elugu_ let these two give
_Elugen_, let them give
SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.
Present tense, _Eluli_, if I may give
Imperfect, _Elubili_, if I might give
Perfect, _Eluuyeli_, if I may have given
Pluperfect, _Eluuyebuli_, if I might have given
1st. Future, _Eluaii_, if I shall give
2d. Future, _Eluuyela_, if I shall have given
1st. Mixed, _Eluabuli_, if I had to give
2d. Mixed, _Eluyeabuli_, if I should have to give
The _optative_ is formed of the subjunctive, or of the two mixed-tenses
of the indicative, by adding the desiderative particles _velem_, _uel_,
or _chi_; as _eluli velem_! Would to God that I might give; _eluabun
chi_! Would to God that I had to give; &c. The affirmative _infinitive_
is the same with the radical of the verb; or 1st person singular of the
indicative tense; so that there are nine peculiar infinitives, which are
distinguished from these tenses by some determinative particle.
ACTIVE PARTICIPLES.
1st Present, _Elulu_, he who gives
2d Present, _Eluquelu_, he who gives
Imperfect, _Elubulei_, he who did give
Perfect, _Eluuyelu_, he who gave
Pluperfect, _Eluuyebula_, he who had given
1st Future, _Elualu_, he who shall give
2d Future, _Eluuyealu_, he who shall have given
1st Mixed, _Eluabulu_, he who shall have to give
2d Mixed, _Eluuyeabulu_, he who should have given
GERUNDS
1st Present, _Eluyum_, giving
2d Present, _Elualu_, for to give
Imperfect, _Eluyubum_, when giving
PASSIVE VOICE.
INDICATIVE MOOD.
_Present. Elugen_, I am given
_Imperfect. Elugebum_, I was given
_Participles Passive._
1st Present, _Elugelu_, given
2d Present, _Eluel_, given
Perfect, _Elubuel_, that was given
Imperfect, _Elugebulu_, that was given
IMPERSONAL VERB.
_Indicative Mood._
1st Present, _Eluan_, that is giving
2d Present, _Eluchean_, that is giving
Imperfect, _Elubuam_, that was giving
Perfect, _Eluuyeam_, that was given
Pluperfect, _Eluuyebuam_, that had given
1st Future, _Eluayam_, that shall be given
2d Future, _Eluuyeayam_, that should be given
1st Mixed, _Eluabuam_, that had to give
2d Mixed, _Eluuyeabuam_, that should have to give
Imperative. _Elupeam_, let us give, &c.
Instead of the impersonal verb, the third person singular of the passive
may be used impersonally, as in Latin. The verb may be made negative
through its whole conjugation, by means of inserting the particle _la_
in the indicative, _qui_ in the imperative which then takes the
termination of the subjunctive mood, and by means of _no_ in the
subjunctive and infinitive moods, as in the following examples.
Part II. Book II.
Indicative, _Elulan_, I do not give
_Elulaimi_, thou doest not give
Imperative, _Eluquili_, let me not give, &c.
Subjunctive, _Elunoli_, if I do not give, &c.
Infinitive, _Elunou_, not to give, &c.
NUMERALS OF THE CHILESE LANGUAGE.
_Cardinals._
1. _Quigne_ 11. _Mari-guigne_ 21. _Epumari quigne_
2. _Epu_ 12. _Mari-epu_. &c.
3. _Cula_
4. _Meli_
5. _Quechu_
6. _Cayu_
7. _Relghe_
8. _Para_
9. _Aylla_
10. _Masi_
20. _Epumari_
30. _Culamari_
40. _Melimari_, &c.
100. _Pataca_ 102. _Pataca epu_
200. _Epupataca_, &c.
1000. _Huaranca_
2000. _Epuhuaranca_ 2003. _Epuhuaranca cula_, &c.
_Ordinals._
_Unen, Unelelu, Quignelelu, Quignegetu, Quignegentu, Quigmentu, once
Epulelu, epugelu, epugentun, epuntu,_ twice, &c.[55]
[Footnote 55: The translator seems here to have misunderstood the author,
as these ordinal numbers ought surely to signify _first_ and _second_.--E.]
_Numeral Adverbs._
_Quignechi, guignemel, quignemita,_ once
_Epuchi, epumal, epumeta,_ twice, &c.
_Distributives._
_Calique, mallquigne,_ one by one
_Epuque, mollepu,_ two by two, &c.
_Numeral Verbs._
_Quignen_, to be one.
_Quignelian_, to join.
_Epun_, to be two; &c.
_Abstracts._
_Quignegen_, unity.
_Epugen_, duality.
_Culagen_, trinity, &c.
_Indefinites._
_Quignelque_, several.
_Epulgen_, about two.
_Culalque_, about three.
* * * * *
It has not been deemed necessary to repeat a great number of minute
observations given by Molina on this singular language, nor to report
the shades of difference in its dialects. But it has been thought proper
to give a short list of words from the Moluches, a tribe inhabiting
Patagonia, but speaking a nearly related dialect of the Chilese language
with that of the Araucanians.
Vocabulary.
_P'llu_, the soul or a spirit _Autuigh_, the sun, a day
_Lonco_, the head or the hair _Voso_, the teeth or bones
_Az_, the face _Anca_, the body
_N'ge_, the eyes _Pue_, the belly
_Wun_, or _huun_, the mouth _Cuugh_, the hand
_Gehuun_, the tongue _Namon_, the foot
_Yu_, the nose _Pinque_, the heart
_Nahue_, a daughter _P'nen_, a child
_Peni_, a brother _Con'n_, to enter
_Penihuen_, own brothers _Tipan_, to go out
_Huinca_, a Spaniard _Cupaln_, to bring
_Seche_, an Indian _Entun_, to take away
_Huenuy_, a friend _Aseln_, to be adverse
_Cainie_, an enemy _Aselgen_, to hate
_Huincha_, a head fillet _M'len_, to be, to possess
_Makun_, a mantle _Mongen_, life to live
_Lancattu_, glass beads _Mongetun_, to revive
_Cosque_, bread _Swam_, the will
_Ipe_, food _Swamtun_, to will
_In_, or _ipen_ to eat _Pepi_, power
_Ilo_, flesh _Pepilan_, to be able
_Ilon_, to eat flesh _Quimn_, knowledge, to know
_Putun_, to drink _Quimeln_, to learn
_Putumum_, a cup _Quimelcan_, to teach
_Chilca_, writing _Pangi_, a lion
_Chilcan_, to write _Choique_, an ostrich
_Sengu_, a word, language, or _Achahual_, a cock or hen
a thing
_Huayqui_, a lance _Malu_, a large lizard
_Huay-quitun_, to lance _Cusa_, a stone an egg
_Chinu_, a knife or sword _Saiguen_, a flower
_Chinogoscun_, to wound _Milya_, gold
_Chinogosquen_, to be wounded _Lien_, silver
_Conan_, a soldier _Cullyin_, money payment
_Conangean_, one who is to be _Cullingen_, to be rich.
a soldier
_Amon_, to walk _Cunnubal_, poor, miserable,
an orphan
_Anun_, to sit _Cum panilhue_, red metal, copper
_Anupeum_, a stool or seat _Chos panilhue_, yellow metal, brass
_Anunmahuun_, to feel inwardly _Gepun_, colour, painting
_Poyquelhuun_, to feel or perceive _Cuyem, Kiyem_ a mouth, the moon
_Saman_, a trade an artificer _Tissantu_, a year
_Mamel_, a tree _K'tal_, fire
_Mamel-Saman_, a carpenter _Asee_, hot
_Suca_, a house _Chosee_, cold
_Sucu-Saman_, a house builder _Atutuy_, it is shivering cold.
_The beginning of the Lord's Prayer_.
_Inchin in Chao, huenumenta m' leymi, ufchingepe mi wi;_
Our Father, in heaven thou that art, hallowed be thy name;
_eymi mi toguin inchinmo cupape; eymi mi piel, chumgechi_
thy kingdom to us may it come; thy will, as it is
_vemgey huenu-mapumo, vemgechi cay vemengepe_
done in heaven, so likewise may it be done
_tue-mapumo, &c._
on earth, &c.