MARITIME CODE. 17 



measures with the view of obtaining if not originals at Least more 

 perfecl transcripts, in which I have every reason to expect I shall 

 be successful. The two principal codes on this Island are those of 

 Macassar and Boni. The laws as well as the history of the Bugis 

 States are of considerable antiquity, perhaps Ear exceeding those 

 on the [sland of Java ; these are preserved in books, the greater 

 part of which are extant, but only to bo found in their purity 

 inland. 



"With respect to the Suln Cslauds, I have a short account of 

 their laws and usages, though no regular code. Several interesting 

 particulars connected therewith have been collected by Mr. &lex- 

 amiek Daletmple, and printed in the "Oriental Repository." 



Of the Moluccas, I have not yet been able to obtain further 

 information than what has tended to confirm, in every respect, the 

 detailed and t'nll account given by Yai.kntvn ; but as these [slanda 

 have lately fallen into the hands of the English, whatever may be 

 desiderated from that quarter may easily be obtained. Though the 

 interior of the Islands still possesses an original population, their 

 government has long been Malayan. 



As nothing beyond an imperfect description of a few original 

 tribes has yet been obtained respecting the inland population of 

 Borneo, it may be inferred, that as there appears to have been no 

 original nation of authority, or of extent adequate to reach the 

 shore or to be known by any of the Stales that have been establish- 

 ed on the coast, their institutes, if they possess any, cannot be im- 

 portant, as they have not had any effect on the general population 

 of the Eastern Archipelago. 



On Sumatra, Mr. MarsdEjS has so well and diligently trodden 

 the ground, that we cannot, perhaps, contrary to his assertion, 

 expect to find written laws and institutes among any of the original 

 nations. 



The compilation that has been made by the English Resident 



will form a, valuable standard for comparison with the laws and 

 customs of the more Eastern Islands, bub at the same time a 

 more extensive research into the interior, if unsuccessful in iis prin- 

 cipal object, cannot fail to be interesting, in as far as it may lead to 

 a more intimate acquaintance with the Battas and Meuangkabausj 



