M A DISCOURSE, &C, 



of thinking or acting among the people of this 

 coüiitry. Much valiiable itiformation niaj be 

 espected to be found in their books^ and when 

 they are more generalij known^ an attempt maj 

 be made to develope the early history of the 

 ïslandj which^ with the exception of sonne lead- 

 iog facts^ remains anterior to the introduction of 

 MahoKiedanisrn^ involved in obscuritj and fable. 



I have alreadj ia my possession three detail- 

 ed histories of the Isicind, stated to betaken from 

 their owfi written aceounts ; hut as they have 

 passed through one, and in somc cases two in-t 

 termediate languagps, and the persons intrusted 

 with the first translation not perhaps under- 

 standing the subject^ I cannot depend upon them. 



Vocabiilaries have already been colleeted of 

 the different d il lects of the Javanese, and also of 

 the principal Ian« uages in the Eastern seas, and 

 from the imremitting and indefatigable exertions 

 of Colonel Mackenzte, whose researches into the 

 history and antiquities of Western India, so 

 eminently qnalify him for simiiar pursuits ia 

 this quarter, we are justified in the expectation 

 that many of thedoubtful points regarding the 

 early connection of Java and the Eastern Islands 

 with the Continent of India will be cleared up. 



