op THE li^DO-CIIINESE 5f ATI0N3. Sl2| 



Budd'ha, if we consider the dreadful superstitions 

 that they probably supplanted, and the brutal state? 

 of savage existence which they exchanged for civil 

 polity and social order. The Vanaras of Hunuman 

 are reckoned a tribe of mountaineers, even by many 

 of the Hindus. The barbarous, but brave antt active 

 Idan of Borneo, are termed Marut, wliich is the Savi' 

 scrit name of the forty -nine regents of the winds, 

 and companions of Indra. The standard of the 

 Battas is a horse's head with a flowing mane, which 

 seems to indicate a connection with the Hayagrivas 

 of Sanscrit history. In the present state of our knoM^- 

 ledge of these tribes, however, it is not conjecture, 

 but rigid and accurate description that is required; 

 and in the present instance, it is not my object tof 

 consider their civil, political, or moral relations, unless 

 as far as these affect the philological investigation of 

 their languages and literature. As the chief utility 

 that results from the examination of some of thesfr 

 ruder dialects, is to enable us to ascertain the limits 

 of languages, more interesting and important, per- 

 haps it may be thought that great minuteness would 

 be misapplied on objects of such secondary impor- 

 tance. It must, however, be recollected, that success 

 in important researches, often depends on the accu- 

 racy with which inferior investigations have been 

 conducted ; that in commencing an investigation it 

 is not always easy to predict what will ultimately 

 prove of superior, or inferior importance; and that, 

 at all events, it is safer to bestow too much attention, 

 than too little, on what must be the basis of historical 

 investigation. In all such inquiries, I therefore do 

 not hesitate to adopt the sentiment of the learned 

 Le Long, that " Truth is so interesting and satisfac- 

 tory, when perceived, that no pains should be spared 

 to discover it, even in the snialles.t matters." 



