T. Leighton Wilson, perhaps one word in
two is the same, or obviously from the same root; consequently
verbal resemblances are by no means striking. The orthography of
the two differs materially, and in this respect Dikele more
resembles the languages of the eastern coast than its western
neighbour, at the same time less than the Fiote or the Congoese.
It has a larger number of declensions, and its adjectives and
pronouns are more flexible and complicated. On the other hand, it
possesses few of the conjugations which form so conspicuous a
feature in the tongues of the Lower River, and, reversing the
usage of the Mpongwe, it makes very little use of the passive.
Running the gauntlet of cheer and chaff from the noisy inmates of
the many Bakele villages, and worried by mangrove-flies, we held
our way up the muddy and rapidly narrowing stream, whose avenues
of rhizophoras and palms acted as wind-sails; when the breeze
failed the sensation was stifling. Lyamba (Cannabis sativa) grew
in patches upon the banks, now apparently wild, like that about
Lagos and Badagry. Not till evening did the tide serve, enabling
us to send our papers for visa on board the guard-ship "L'Oise,"
where a party of young Frenchmen were preparing for la chasse.
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