384

NG GROUP.

　Here n-p, n-r, nng-p, nng-r, are followed by -p, -r. This use of - before every noun which has a genitive depending on it has led to that syllable becoming the common prefix of most nouns in the language, and being prefixed not only to the governing word, but also to the word governed. It is, in fact, the ordinary particle indicating relation, and thus comes to be prefixed to adjectives, e.g., rnm keth, God the Almighty; l kb bng, that younger one; and not only to adjectives, but to postpositions: phn, to, has - when used with the third person: l-phn, to him; jngrs phn, to the orphan; but n-phn, to me; nng-phn, to thee. The only post- positions used without this prefixed -are pn (pn-s), with; l, at, in; and s, in: pn and pn are sometimes found. As already observed, this - frequently takes the form -; e.g., hijai-hur, a pack of jackals; hm-p, widower; hm-p, widow (literally, the male or female owner of a house).

　The other cases are formed by postpositions, which, however, are often omitted when the sense is clear without them:-

　The Instrumental is generally indicated by -pn (pn, pn) or -pns, as phk- pn, with husks; Tntn-ingchin-ni-pn kekk, tied by Tenton with an iron chain.

　The Dative takes phn, to or for (frequent after verbs of saying and asking), which is also occasionally used for the accusative. The sign of the Dative of Purpose is pt, for, for the sake of: p-pt, what for, why? kop-pts, id.; phn is also used in this sense in the phrase jirp-tum-pn ning-rng chipj-phn, with my friends in order to make merry.

　The Ablative is formed with -pn (pn) or -pns: hlring-do-k-pn, from afar off; nn-pn, from now; dk-pn, from here. per (Assamese par) is also used.

　The Locative is formed with -s: hm-s, in the house; dt-s, in the country. We also have rl, in, inside, under. L (properly the conjunctive participle of l, to arrive) is often used as a locative postpositions, for 'at, in'

　Other common postpositions are,-

thk, upon, on.

ngsng, above, upon, over.

rum, below.

br, below.

lng, together with (lng = place).

dung, dun, beside, close to.

dk, between.

ng-ng, in the middle of.

phi, after.

　ADJECTIVES are regularly formed by prefixing ke-, k-, or ki- to the root, and do not change for gender, number, or case. Thus, m, being good; kem, good: hl, distance; khl, for off: dk, savour; kedk, savoury: h, bitterness; keh, bitter: lk, whiteness; kelk, white: ri, wealth; kiri, rich. The form of the adjective is precisely the same as that of (1) the present participle of the verbal root used to form the present

　 It may be noted that -, the pronoun of the first person plural is sometimes used in the same way as this prefixed -. Thus, -mu, a younger brother or our younger brother. The pronoun of the first person is used similarly in other Ng languages. Hence, in some cases, -, also, probably, originally represents the first person, and not like -, the third. -G. A. G.