356 ON THE ARABIC LANGUAGE.

countries versed in Muhamedan learning, and therefore acquainted with the Arabic ; again, he might cross the widest part of the African continent from west to east, and would everywhere meet with persons acquainted with it, more particularly if he should follow the course of the great river called the Neel El Abeed, on the banks of which, from Jinnie and Tiinbuctoo, to the confines of lower Egypt, are innumerable cities and towns of Arabs and Moors, all speaking the Arabic. Again, were a traveller to proceed from Marocco to the farthest shore of Asia, opposite the islands of Japan, he would find the Arabic generallyspoken or understood wherever he came. In Turkey, in Syria, in Arabia, in Persia, and in India, it is understood by all men of education ; and any one possessing a knowledge of the Korannick Arabic, might, in a very short time make himself master of all its various dialects.

. The letters of this language are formed in four distinct ways, according to their situation at the beginning, middle, or end of words, as well as when standing alone ; the greatest difficulty, however, to be overcome, is the acquiring a just pronunciation, (without which no living language can be essentially useful,) and to, attain which, the learner should be able to express the difference of power and sound between what may be denominated the synony-The Oriental punctuation is here adopted.