184 Memoir on the Expediency of [MARCrt, 



dren, while of the multitudes of quadrupeds that inhabit the 

 Indian Isles, we know very little, except when, now and then, a 

 specimen chances to meet our eye in the traveUing showman's 

 caravan, brought home by some captain of the sea, and appended 

 to it some idle tale fit only for the nursery. 



Nay, even of man as he exhibits himself in those climates, we 

 have notices the most meagre and marvellous, though his history, 

 in regard to many essential points, be there both curious and 

 important, while in the remotest islets of the South Sea, every 

 variety of colour, feature, and form, under which he appears 

 has been delineated with the utmost degree of minuteness. 



Though I am ready to admit that the general view here taken 

 is open to some few exceptions, yet I know that in the main it is 

 correct. Had all that has been just urged taken place with 

 respect to China or Japan, those countries of civilized barbarians, 

 who have shut themselves up from the rest of the world by the 

 impassable barriers of despotism and prejudice, we might have 

 felt disappointment and regret. But happening in regard to 

 countries that hold out every enticement to our research, every 

 creek of which is approachable, on seas over which our powers 

 of locomotion are unlimited, it does assuredly seem strange that 

 so few attempts have been made to gain an acquaintance from 

 which advantages immediate, important, and permanent, must 

 have resulted. 



I have said that my statement is liable to a few exceptions, 

 and they are few ; for I really am not aware of the existence of 

 any works to which the stamp of truth can be affixed, beyond 

 those of Marsden, Raffles, Crawford, Dr. Jack, and of Dr. Hors- 

 field. (Perhaps to this list, a small number of foreign works, but 

 of inferior reputation, may be added.) These, however, have all, 

 except Marsden's Sumatra, made their appearance since the 

 period when the comprehensive and energetic mind of Lord 

 Minto furthering the liberal views of the British Government at 

 home, burst the spell of directorial thraldom and Dutch tyranny 

 at the same moment, and brought a little into play the activity 

 and genius of the country. During those fortunate years when 

 Java and its dependencies were under the British dominion, and 

 which may well be styled their years of jubilee,* much was 

 effected, and of the vast harvest still remaining to be reaped, 

 particularly in the departments of natural history, some idea may 

 be formed from the earnest given by the distinguished authors 

 and naturalists now cited. All, however, that has been effected,, 

 is but partial and incomplete, as indeed I may fairly infer from 



* Unhappily for the cause of science and humanity, the bright prospects which the 

 possession of Java by Britain held out, have been blasted by the restoration of that 

 highly important island to its Batavian masters, whose baneful policy will probably soon 

 undo the whole of that beneficent system instituted by our Government for ameliorating 

 the condition ofan intelligent, attached, and rapidly improvable people. 



