SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES. 7^ 



well as from that of the characters found in the 

 ancient inscriptions, the probability that Java has 

 been colonised from different parts of the continent 

 of Asia. " The Budhist religion (says he) is by 

 many deemed of higher antiquity than what is now 

 called the Braminical, and it seems generally ad- 

 mitted that the followers of Budh were driven by 

 the Bramins to the extremes of Asia and the islands 

 adjacent. The Javans and Budhists had probably 

 the same worship originally, from which the Bra- 

 mins or priests may have separated, after the man- 

 ner in which it has been said the Jesuits of Europe 

 once aimed at universal empire ; and when we con- 

 sider that the religion of Budh, or some modification 

 of it, is still the prevailing worship of Ceylon, Ava, 

 Siam, China, and Japan ; we are not surprised to 

 find indications of its former establishment in Java." 

 Leaving these subjects, however, and passing over 

 what is said of the civil, political, and commercial 

 history of the country, as well as of the learning 

 and habits of the people, we shall advert briefly to 

 some other points that are more akin to the nature 

 and design of a work like the present, viz. the de- 

 scription that is given of the country, of its phy- 

 sical structure, and its animal and vegetable pro- 

 ductions. 



The length of Java, in a straight line drawn be- 

 tween its extreme points, is about six hundred and 

 sixty-six statute miles ; its breadth varies from about 

 one hundred and thirty-five to fifty-six ; and it is 



