ieading circmnstances relating to the conversion 



ofthepeople; but ffom the ad vaneed state of 



their civilizatian compared with that of the 



*Arafuras, it raust be inferred^ that at the period 



of its introduction^ ihej had attained a coiisi?- 



derable degree of improvemeat beyond t]ie bulk 



of the population; and indeed, we are bora^ out 



by tradition and history in the belief that in this 



part of the Island there existed a povverful Na- 



tion, long antecedent to the introduction of Ma- 



boinedanism. We are not, however^ prepared to 



saj from what foreigo quartec this portion of 



the Native population v/as fust civilized, and 



we are not jet informed, whether^ as in Java, 



any traces are to be found of Hinduis[2. Ou 



these points, and in short on every essential 



point, we have much to learn ; and the field is 



so important and iritere^ting, that I Hatter mv- 



self the period is not far distant^ vyhen the pages 



of our transactions naay throw much light oa 



the subject. We have already, as I before no- 



ticcdj obtained through the assistance of Captain 



FJullips, the Resident, very extensive vocabula- 



ries of the language, and the enquiries which 



have been set on foot by thai Gentleman at the 



suggestion of the Society, promise the most ia^ 



teresting result» 



