ON THE ARABIC LANGUAGE. 369 established, it will still be difficult, perhaps, to persuade the learned that such an author could be mistaken on such a subject. My account tlierefore must remain for a future age to determine upon, when the languages of Africa shall be better known than they are at present; for it is not a few travellers occasionally sent out on a limited plan, that can ascertain facts, the attainment of which requires a long residence, and familiar intercourse with the natives. Marmo I had also misled the world, in saying that they write a different language ; the fact is, that when they write any thing of consequence, it is in the Arabic ; but any trifling subject is written in the Berebber words, though in the Arabic character. If they had any peculiar character in tlie time of Marmol, they have none now ; for 1 have conversed with hundreds of them, as well as with the Shelluhs, and have had them staying at my house for a considerable time together, but never could learn from any, that a character diflerent from the Arabic had ever been in use among them.

In addition to these languages, there is another spoken at the Oasis of Ammon, or Siwah, called in Arabic (U3\ \J\) El Wah El Grarbie, which appears to be a mixture of Berebber and Shelluh, as will appear from the list of Siwahan words given by Mr. Horneman , « In reading Mr. William Marsden's observations on the language of Siwah, at the end of Hornenian'i Journal, ia B B