1839.] on the Tenasserim Provinces, fyc. 987 



They have a peculiar language, but too little is known of it to de- 

 termine whether it is a mixture of the languages spoken around them, 

 or a peculiar tongue. 



Their civilization. — It may well be imagined, that they are on a 

 very low scale of civilization, one should think far below the North 

 American Indians ; yet the term savages, so lavishly bestowed 

 upon so many nations not meriting that epithet, is not applicable to 

 them. 



Their communities. — They form communities, divided into families, 

 governed by strictly determined usages, which are always punctually 

 adhered to; they accommodate themselves willingly to the laws of the 

 government on which they are dependent ; they carry on a petty trade 

 of exchange ; they have a correct notion of right and wrong ; crimes 

 are little known, and the transgressors rigidly punished ; they live in 

 peace and harmony amongst each other ; their food is the sponta- 

 neous productions of nature ; they are totally ignorant of what exists 

 beyond their rocks and islands ; they have no established form 

 of religion, pretending, as they express themselves, never to have 

 thought whether there be a future existence or not. 



Their former relations with Burmah. — At the time of the Burmese 

 rule they were the most independent and unharassed people of 

 the provinces. The Burmese have always been very bad seamen, 

 scarcely able to retain possession of the islands belonging to their 

 territory, and never could cope with the skilful Malay pirates. The 

 Seelongs however, though freed from Burmese oppression, were never- 

 theless not better off, for they were a prey to all the numerous bucca- 

 niers not long ago infesting these seas. 



Their seclusion — It is very difficult even to this day to meet this 

 roaving tribe amongst the islands which they visit ; they hide them- 

 selves whenever they see a strange sail approaching, and it can- 

 not be denied, that they have reason to be apprehensive, for to 

 this day irregularities can easily occur in the Mergui archipelago, 

 where not a shadow of British authority is permanently establish- 

 ed, on account of these parts having hitherto been entirely useless 

 and unknown ; and it is only to be wondered, that depredati- 

 ons on a larger scale have never occurred in those parts in late years. 



The whole population considered. — These are the different races 

 inhabiting the provinces. The small number of all (taking them 

 collectively, not exceeding one hundred thousand) spread over an area 

 of thirty thousand square miles, proves clearly that these unfortunate 

 countries have been the constant scene of contest ; that as the one or 



