DESCRIPTIVE VOCABULARY.
N.B. The terms Northern, Southern, or other Dialects refer to Perth as a centre. V., Vasse, K.G.S., King George's Sound; denote that the word is chiefly used in that locality.
A
AL
A, long, as in Father; ă, short, or a, at the end of a word, as the first a in Mămma. See Preface.
Ăb, or Ăp.—An abbreviation of Ăbbin. A particle which, when affixed to words, expresses to be, or to become; as Djulăp, Bugorăp, Garrangăb, to become bad, or a champion, or angry.
Ăbba—A word of friendly salutation with the natives about Augusta, accompanied by the act of rubbing the breast with the hand, and spitting at the same time. This was, perhaps, at first a superstitious ceremony on their part, to avert any evil consequences which might ensue from holding communications with beings whom they probably, at that time, considered to be supernatural. There does not appear to be any established mode of salutation customary among themselves. To hold up the open hands is used now by the white and black people as a sign of amity; but this if chiefly to show that the hand is unarmed, or the disposition friendly. Green boughs were presented to the settlers at York, by the natives, on the occasion of their first interview.
Ăbbin—Getting; becoming. Gwabbăbbin, becoming good; Durdakabbin, getting well, recovering from sickness.
Adjo, pers. pron.—I, an imperfect pronunciation of Ngadjo.
Adjul—I will. See Ngadjul.
Ăk, or Ok—Of; an affix denoting possession—as Winatak Gatta, the head of Winat.
Allija, or Alli, pron.—It; that is it.
