348 The Present Condition of the Indian Archipelago. 



have been accustomed to have from you. They may appear foreign 

 from my subjects ; but, there are times when it seems a duty to 

 express individual opinion, and raise the voice against what is mon- 

 strous. I have faith that the sentiments I have now expressed will 

 have your approval and sympathy, and so received and approved, 

 individual opinion acquires the character of public opinion, and 

 carries with it its weight. 



Apart from virtue and vice, right and wrong, it is a problem, 

 merely economically considered, in the minds of many reflecting per- 

 sons, which kind of labour is most profitable — slave or free labour. 

 I trust, Gentlemen, it is your destiny to prove, and it will be a high 

 destiny in regard to its probable consequences, that the free — the 

 right labour, is truly that which makes, in the long run of time, the 

 best return. And let this be but proved, — then, even amongst 

 merely money-making men, slavery should fall, being without even 

 a plausible support. 



The Present Condition of the Indian Archipelago* 



Physical relation of the Archipelago to the Continent of Asia. — Hypo- 

 thesis of their former connection. — Influence of its geological develop- 

 ment on the distribution and form of the islands, on climate and vege- 

 tation. — Luxuriance of the latter, character thereby given to the small 

 islands, to the mountains. — Change caused by volcanic eruptions. — 

 Forests of the Archipelago, their character, wild animals. — The life 

 of the sea-marshes, beaclies, and banks. — Testimony of naturalists to 

 the exuberance and beauty of animal and vegetable life. — Influence 

 of the physical on the human history of the region, — population an 

 extension of that of the continent. — Two great eras in its civil his- 

 tory. — Wild nomades of the forests and the sea. — Hindu civilization. 

 — Mahomedan. — Rise of dominant nations. — European influence. — 

 Great diversity of tribes, languages, customs, forms of government. — 

 Human and life industry in the Archipelago at the present day. — 

 Great piratical communities. — Slave trade. — Social and personal con- 

 dition of the inhabitants. — Present degeneracy of the governments 

 from the influence of the European dominations — foreign elements of 

 change — means of amelioration — duty of England. 



The first and most general consideration in a physical review of 

 the Archipelago is :ts relation to the Continent of Asia. In the 

 platform, on which the largest and most important lands are distri- 

 buted, we see a great root which the stupendous mass of Asia has 

 sent forth from its south-eastern side, and which, spreading far to 

 the south beneath the waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and 

 there expanding and shooting up by its pjutonic and volcanic energy, 



* As the Journal of the Indian Archipelago, already recommended to public 

 attention in this Journal, has scarcely reached Europe, we have pleasure in lay- 

 ing before our readers part of an introductory memoir by the liditor. 



