MIGRATIONS BY SEA. 



291 



though a range of coral-reefs, would seem to present attractions to but 

 one branch of the human family. The geographical position, and 

 reported enterprising character of the inhabitants, seem to indicate, 

 That these islanders may have taken an important part in colonizing 

 the surrounding regions; and I can even conceive of the possibility, 

 of the whole population of the Malay countries, having been origi- 

 nally derived from such a limited source. 



e. The Arabian Seas. 



We come now to the fifth and last 

 remove in the main route of marine mi- 

 grations; the tract of ocean, interposed 

 between Hindoostan and East Africa, 

 and terminating in two separate ap- ^^^^ 

 pended seas. Voyages in this quar- ~^ 

 ter, are made by following the coasts ; and the navigation, is chiefly 

 in the hands of the Arabs. The vessels they employ, are of uniform 

 model, and are called 'dows.' A figure of one of them, is annexed. 



The Arabs, however, for several centuries, have exceeded these 

 precise limits; as may be inferred among other circumstances, from 

 the extension of Islarnism to the East Indies without its undergoing 

 the modifying influence of Hindoostan. Of late years, since the 

 Arabs have procured European ships, and have learned to quit the 

 coasts, this direct intercourse has much increased. I have myself 

 seen at Mocha, vessels arriving from the East Indies; and I met with 

 the circular-bladed oar of the Persian Gulf, both at Singapore and in 

 the harbour of Manila. 



Arabia, being situated entirely within a Desert region, the timber 

 used by the inhabitants, is all imported from abroad; either from the 

 Malabar coast, or from Zanzibar. And leaving the absence of natural 

 inclination for maritime pursuits, it would seem a fair inference: 

 That navigation, did not take its rise in a country devoid of the 

 materials of construction. 



South of the Arab colonies of East Africa, we have Malay influence 

 of unknown antiquity, at the Comoro Islands and Madagascar. Here, 

 too, the outrigger makes its appearance; an article not used by the 

 Arabs, but which is general in the Pacific, and occurs at Sooloo, and 

 if I am rightly informed, at Ceylon. The Maldive islanders, make 



