he saw a fish," (lit: going down to the river, a fish was seen.)
Umma a-o wa oman, "he went on a horse," (lit: he went, a horse being ridden.)
Chep asatke otta neyakka a-eiwange, "it is also used for drying fish," (lit: it is also used for fish to be dried.)
The passive particle a is not, in every case, immediately prefixed to the verb to which it belongs; e.g.
A-wakka tare yakka kopan, "he disliked even to draw water."
The a really belongs to tare; thus, Wakka atare yakka kopan, is quite as correct as, a-wakka tare yakka kopan, and either may be used.
In compound passive verbs the particle a is placed in the middle; thus:—
Kashiobiuki, "to save."
Kashi-a-obiuki, "to be saved."
A polite way of asking for things is with en kore; thus:—
Wakka en kore, "please give me some water."
Ye wa en kore, "please tell me."
In prayer the following peculiar idiom is often heard.
Nekon ka newa.........en kore wa un kore. Please give us (lit: please giving me give us.)
The way in which pretence is expressed is worthy of special attention. Thus:—
(a.) Nouns take the word shi before and nere after them, e.g.
Shi-chironnup nere, "to pretend to be a fox."
Shi-nishpa nere, "to pretend to be a gentleman."
Shi-okkai nere, "to pretend to be a man."
(b.) Qualified nouns take shi before the adjective. Thus:—
Shi-pirika gun, nere, "to pretend to be a good person."
Shi-ponbe nere, "to pretend to be a small thing."
Shi-shiretokbe nere, "to pretend to be a handsome person."
