THE 



MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 



CHAPTER I. 

 PHYSICAL GEOGEAPHY. 



TF we look at a globe or a map of the Eastern hemi- 

 sphere, we shall perceive between Asia and Australia 

 a number of large and small islands, forming a connected 

 group distinct from those great masses of land, and having 

 little connexion with either of them. Situated upon the 

 Equator, and bathed by the tepid water of the great tropical 

 oceans, this region enjoys a climate more uniformly hot and 

 moist than almost any other part of the globe, and teems 

 with natural productions which are elsewhere unknown. 

 The richest of fruits and the most precious of spices are 

 here indigenous. It produces the giant flowers of the 

 Eafflesia, the great green-winged Ornithoptera (princes 

 among the butterfly tribes), the man-like Orang-Utan, and 

 the gorgeous Birds of Paradise. It is inhabited by a 

 peculiar and interesting race of mankind — the Malay, 



VOL. I. B 



