THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 117 



South Sea: and, if we may depend upon the affinity of Ian- 1777- 



•' * * _ ' _ _ January. 



guages as a clue to guide us in difcovering the origin of 

 nations, I have no doubt but we fliall find, on a diligent 

 inquiry, and when opportunities offer to colle(51: accurately. 

 a fufficient number of thefe words, and to compare them, 

 that all the people from New Holland, Eaftward to Eaflei' 

 Ifland, have been derived from the fame common root *." 



* We find Mr. Anderfon's notions on this fuhjeft conformable to thofe of Mr, 

 Marfden, who has remarked, " that one general language prevailed (however muti- 

 " lated and changed in the courfe of time) throughout all this portion of the world, 

 " from Madagafcar to the mofl: diftant difcoveries Eaftward ; of which the Malay is a 

 " dialecft, much corrupted or refined by a mixture of other tongues. This very ex- 

 " tenfive fimilarity of language indicates a common origin of the inhabitants ; but 

 " the circumftances and progrefs of their feparation are wrapped in the darkeft veil of 

 " obfcurity." Hi/lory of Sumatra, p. 35. 



See alfo his very curious paper, read before the Society of Antiquaries, and pub- 

 W^cA \n thexT Jrchaologia, Vol. vi. p. 155; where his fentiments on this fubjeiSt are 

 explained more at large, and illuftrated by two Tables of correfponding Words. 



CHAP. 



