166 ON THE LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE 



As the Malayu language, from its wide extent and 

 the adventurous spirit of thf nation, seems to have 

 exerted, ni the eastern isles, a modifying influence, 

 similar to that oF the Sanscrit in Hindostan and 

 Dekhin, and of the Pali among the Indo-Chinese 

 nations; it hecomes necessary to examine it somewhat 

 more particularly ; especially as some of the opinions 

 I have heen led to adopt concerning it, are somewhat 

 different from those which have been entertained by 

 names of great authority. . 



The Malay language, according to Marsden, 

 whose opinion has been rather admitted than con- 

 firmed by Sir W. Jones, is "a branch or dialect of 

 the widely extended language, prevailing throughout 

 the islands of the Archipelago, to which it gives 

 name, (which may be understood to comprehend the 

 Sunda, Ph'dippine, and Molucca islands) and those of 

 the South Sea; comprehending, between Madagascar 

 on the one hand, and Easter Island on the other, 

 both inclusi\e, the space of full 200 degrees of lon- 

 gitude. Tliis consideration alone," adds that able 

 author, " is sufficient to give it claim to the highest 

 degree of al)tir;'.:i^y, and to originality, as far as that 

 term c<m be applied. The various dialects of this 

 speech, rhouyh tiicy have a wonderful accordance in 

 many essential properties, have experienced those 

 changes which separarion, time, and accident pro- 

 duce; and in respect to tlie purposes of intercourse, 

 may be classed hito seveiai languages, differing con- 

 sicer-ibiy from each other*." In another paper, 

 pub'.i hcvi in the Arclueologia, vol. VI. this able 

 autlior has sviccessfuily exhibited a variety of in- 

 stances of coincidence, both in sound and signifi- 



* Asial. llesearch. Vol. IV. 



