S/celch of the Malayan Countries. 27 



Phlllipine Islands, within about ten degrees of latitude on each 

 side of the equator. The three largest islands of the group, 

 Borneo, New Guinea, and Sumatra, are also, next to New Hol- 

 land, the largest islands on the globe. 



In geological consdtntion, and in the resulting characters of the 

 soil and organic productions, the Asiatic Isles may be said to con- 

 sist of two minor groups, the one of primary, the other of volcanic 

 formation. From the vast chain of primary mountains, called the 

 Himalaya, the position of which has been stated in the Introduction, 

 proceed many subordinate ranges, two or perhaps three of which 

 form the geological bases of both the Indian peninsulas. One of 

 these traverses Hindustan, and terminates in the Island of Ceylon, 

 whilst the other, extending through Aracan, Pegu, the Birman 

 empire, and Mal?ya, disappears at the southern extremity of Su- 

 matra, but first sending off an inferior ridge through the smaller 

 islands of Banca and Biliton. Borneo and Celebes appear to be 

 the continuations of another great branch of the Himalaya, nearly 

 parallel to the former, from which, indeed, it may possibly arise. 

 Java, however, though separated from J^umatra only by the narrow 

 straits of Sunda, is entirely of volcanic constitution. It deviates also 

 from the south-easterly direction of Sumatra and the Malay penin- 

 sula, by striking off nearly due east and Avest, being succeeded by 

 the isles of Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Endi, Timor, and many 

 smaller, which agree with it in geological character, and are con- 

 nected by the volcanos of Banda and the Molluccas, with those of 

 the Phillipiiie group. An immense volcanic chain is thus formed, 

 which first bounds the Indian Archipelago towards the south, ex- 

 tending eastward for about twenty-five degrees, and then intersects 

 it in the direction of its greatest width from south to north. 



A corresponding distinction is observable betwecMi the characters 

 of the nations respectively occupying these two groups of islands. 

 The primary tracts of which the Malayan peninsula consists, toge- 

 ther with the isles of Sumatra, Banca, Borneo, and Celebes, being 

 rich in the metals and the precious stones, are inhabited by com- 

 mercial and warlike people. The volcanic range, on the contrary, 

 destitute of the metals, &c. but from the nature of its soil, arising 

 from the decomposition of lava, sustaining the most luxuriant 



