His Anniver sari/' Discourses to the Batavian Society. 4i3 



tion of the members, to the necessity of first attaining an accu- 

 rate and extensive knowledge of the Javanese language, and of 

 acquiring, for that and other purposes, a collection of native 

 manuscripts, and fac-similes of ancient inscriptions. In advert- 

 ing next to the future prospects of the Society, Mr. Raffles an- 

 nounces that the exploration of the island of Banca, which had 

 lately fallen into our hands, and which had never been explored 

 by Europeans, had been undertaken by Dr. Horsfield ; and he 

 also notices, with much commendation, Mr. Muntinghe's contri- 

 butions on the native laws and institutions of Java, in force an- 

 tecedently to the introduction of the Mohammedan faith. 



The objects within the geographical limits to which the Presi- 

 dent wished to confine the especial labours of the Society — 

 those of the "Further East," — are next pointed out, and 

 their peculiar claims to investigation discussed, in a very ani^ 

 mating and a very philosophical manner. After noticing Suma- 

 tra and Banca, he dwells particularly on Bali, where the pristine 

 Hindu or Buddhaic faith of the Indian Archipelago is still pre- 

 valent ; and he advances thence to Borneo, of which an inter- 

 esting sketch is given, with many sagacious reflections on the 

 moral condition and mental state, both of the aboriginal tribes 

 and the Mohammedan inhabitants; together with suggestions as 

 to the proper means for their amelioration, and the manner in 

 which it should be attempted. Celebes next claims his attention, 

 afterwards Grilolo ; and he then alludes to the superiority of our 

 information respecting the natural history of the Moluccas, over 

 that which we possess of any other region of the East. 



Adverting, in conclusion, to the rapid progress of the Euro- 

 pean settlements on the more southern parts of New Holland, 

 and, successively, to the paucity ofour knowledge respecting the 

 Sulu isles, and that of Mindanawi, and the prospect of assistance 

 in the Society's researches on the Japanese isles, afforded by a 

 projected mission to Japan under Dr. Ainslie, the English 

 Secretary to the Society — Mr. Raffles congratulates the mem- 

 bers on the renewed activity of the institution, noticing their 

 having undertaken to publish a Malayan edition of the Sacred 

 Scriptures ; and he finally avows his determination to forward 

 their pursuits by every means in his power. 



