THE TAGALESE ALPHABET. 407 



Javanese alphabet is written from right to left, 

 and the Batta alphabet, in Sumatra, from bottom 

 to top, exactly contrary to the method of the 

 Chinese. The Batta characters are carved on 

 trees or sticks with a creese ; the Lampung and 

 Rajang are varieties of it, written on different 

 materials in a different order. The Bugis in Ce- 

 lebes, seems to agree with the Javanese, in respect 

 to the order in which it is written. * 



We have not been able to procure, nor even to 

 get a sight of any thing written or printed in the 

 Tagalese characters; though this writing is not 

 entirely out of use in some remote provinces, no- 

 body in Manilla was able to give us any account 

 of it, and the Tagalists leave us in doubt respect- 

 ing the order in which it is written, t 



In whatsoever order the above-mentioned alpha- 

 bets are written, the Indian mode of writing is not 

 to be mistaken in it. The Tagalese writing 



* Asiatic Researches, vol. x. London edition, p. 158. 

 On the Languages and Literature of the Indo-Chinese Nations, 

 by T. Leyden, pp. 190. 193. 205. 



f El modo de escribir era formando los renglones de alto 

 abajo cmpexando por la isquierda, y acabando por la 

 derecha al modo de los Hebreos y Chinos sus caractcres eran 

 enteramente diversos de los nuestros, no tenian vocales, &c. 

 Historia de Philippinas, por Fr. J. Martinez de Zuniga. Sam- 

 paloc, 1803. p. 30. Solian antes dc agora (y aun muchos 

 oy dia) escrivir de abajo hazia arriba, poniendo el primer 

 renglon hazia la mano izquierda. Ezguerra, 1. c. p. 1. " They 

 write on bamboo, palm, and plantain leaves." Poblacion de 

 Manila. 



D D 4 



