Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 12 August 1897, Page 3

Notes and Events.

■ » In Africa the prefix serves for the purpose that the affix serves for in European languages. For example : — Spain, Spaniard, Spanish — so in our mother tongue ; but in Africa, Uganda is the name of a State, Waganda are the inhabitants thereof, and Ma'ganda the language. One of the hills near Mount Sinai bears the name of Jebel Nagus, or the Mount of the Bell, because of the musical sounds which proceed from it in certain circumstances. The western side, facing the Bed Sea, is a sandy slope. Any one walking up this slope sink 3in the sand almost up to the knees, and by soloing, sets the minute partioles of sand in vibration. This produces sounds, at first faint, like the soft tones of a violin, but gradually increasing in strength, until they resemble the deep pealing of a Church bell, and finally the loud roar of distant thunder. After the sand has settled down again, the sound waves cease and silence reigns once more. \ In the phrase " dowse the glim " (put out the light), the word " clowse " is from the dialect verb 11 doubt," that is to do out or put out ; and " glim " is a modification of " glimmer," an uncertain light.