362 The Present Condition of the Indian Archipelago. 



vancement ; — it is only by awakening an interest in Europe itself 

 that the inabitants of the Archipelago can hope for any amelioration. 

 So long as they only know one phase of European character, — the 

 ai'dent, steady, and inventive pursuit of gain, — the influence of Europe 

 will remain, what it has hitherto proved, more prejudicial than bene- 

 ficial. But let the deep human sympathy which dwells in England, 

 and overflows on so many sides, once effectually I'each the people of 

 this noble region of the world ; let England learn their many virtues, 

 their mild and engaging manners, their freedom from intolerance, 

 their docility, their aptitude for instruction ; and let her but take 

 seriously to heart the fact that on the seas where her flag has floated, 

 and her commerce largely profited for two hundred and fifty years, 

 the peaceful trader cannot at this day venture to embark without the 

 risk of being slain or enslaved, — that from the destruction of all na- 

 tional power, in which her own policy aided, a few thousand pirates 

 now keep the coasts of countries numbering millions of inhabitants 

 in a state of insecurity, — and her energy and resources will soon work 

 out the best means of suppressing these evils at once and for ever, 

 and of implanting fresh and vigorous elements of moral development 

 in the now stagnant minds of the inhabitants. Without this we may 

 continue for another hundred years to mingle in the trading commu- 

 nities of the Archipelago, without ever exercising any of that influence 

 which our predecessors, the Hindus and the Mahomedans, exercised. 

 But if we would seek to assimilate the natives of the Archipelago to 

 those of Europe, and take them with us on our path of advancement, 

 we must, like the Hindus and Mahomedans, begin by acquiring a 

 thorough and familiar knowledge of them. 



Their political and material wants are so connected, that whatever 

 tends to remedy the latter must I'eact on the former. It is no less 

 the duty of the Christian and the philanthropist for their ends, than 

 of the economist for his, to take every practicable measure for the 

 improvement of the external condition of the natives of the Archi- 

 pelago. We need not now suffer our minds to be distui'bed by any mis- 

 givings as to the benefit derivable from European influence. In the 

 first place, the influence hitherto has not been that of Europe in her 

 noblest characteristics ; or the lower and more selfish have so much 

 predominated, that they have not yet dreamt of Eui'ope in her 

 earnest devotion to the bettering of humanity, her pure and deep 

 love of all truth, spiritual and physical, and her ever- extending 

 knowledge of the secret springs of nature. For, although we fully 

 appreciate the earnest and noble labours of the missionaries who are 

 found in many of the islands, we cannot be blind to the fact, that 

 their numbers and resources are, as yet, far too limited to make 

 more than a slight impression on the great field which lies around 

 them. In the second place, we have no choice. We may deplore 

 that some tribes, happy in their simplicity and guilelessness, should 

 be roused from their repose of peace, to pass through the turbulent 



