_G_, like the Greek _a_ or _anti_, generally signifies "opposition" or "negation;" _ca_ is, as aforesaid, intensitive, and is employed, for example, to convert _afi_, "to breathe," into _cafi_, "to speak." _Cr_ is by itself an interjection of abhorrence or disgust; in composition it indicates detestation or destruction: thus, _craky_ signifies "hatred;" _cravi_, "the destruction of life" or "to kill." _L_ for the most part indicates passivity, but with different effect according to its place in the word.

Thus _mepi_ signifies "to rule;" _mepil_, "to be ruled;" _melpi_, "to control one's self;" _lempi_, "to obey." The signification of roots themselves is modified by a modification of the principal vowel or consonant, _i.e._, by exchanging the original for one closely related.

Thus _avi_, "exist;" _avi_, "be," in the positive sense of being this or that; _afi_, "live;" _afi_, "breathe." _Z_ is a diminutive; _zin_, "with," often abbreviated to _zn_, "combination," "union." Thus _znaftau_ means "those who were brought into life together," or "brethren." I may add, before I quit this subject, that the Martial system of arithmetic differs from ours principally in the use of a duodecimal instead of a decimal basis.

Figures are written on a surface divided into minute squares, and the value of a figure, whether it signify so many units, dozens, twelve dozens, and so forth, depends upon the square in which it is placed.

The central square of a line represents the unit's place, and is marked by a line drawn above it.