42 



THR ETHNOLOGY OF SOUTH P\*TKR.\* ASIA. 



Mekong basin, The Anam again, although now confined to the 

 most eastern maritime districts, connects itself with the west by the 

 languages of the Malays, the aborigines of the Malay Peninsula, 

 &c. The intruding Gangetic peoples were propahly more advanced 

 than the aborigines on the eastern side of the Bay. But the 

 existence of numerous inland tribes, expending to the head of the 

 Irawadi hasin and into Yun-nan, must have prevented their 

 permanent occupation of the Bea board. 



In the succeeding era Ultraindia appears to have undergone 

 great revolutions, which were probably connected in the first in- 

 stance, with the predominance of some of the nations of the Hoangho 

 and Yang-tse-kiang that had gradually been absorbing smaller 

 tribes and extending their race and language to the westward. 

 The pressure caused by this advance of the Chinese population and 

 power is probably connected with the movements in the Transin- 

 dian basins, which led successively to the dispersion of the Gange- 

 tic communities* or their melting into more numerous native 

 tribes, perhaps the Kyens or Karens ; to the occupation of the Ira- 

 wadi basin and partially of that of the Mekoug by Mon tribes ; to 

 the advance of the Mayaraa tribes along the northern basins, their 

 occupation of the marginal basins to the W. of the Irawadi, and 

 eventually of all the middle part of the Irawadi-basm ; and to the 

 movement of the great Lau trihe from Yunnan, its occupation of 

 all the. Mekong basin save the southern extremity, its spread into 

 that of the Menam, and its eventual movements into the Mayaraa 

 lands and thence into India. The tribes that were successively 

 advanced to the shores of the Bay of Bengal came within the 

 operation of its commercial and civilising influences. Its naviga- 

 ble rivers have been frequented during the historical em by Hini- 

 3'aritic, S. Indian and Gangetic vessels, the first probably from 

 an extremely remote period when the Sabeans were yet under strong 

 Egyptian influences, and maybe said to have conducted the eastern 

 maritime trade of Egypt, as the Phaenicians did the western. 



The Mon appear to have been forced into their present restricted 

 location at the southern extremity of thelrawadi and Saluen by the 

 advance of the Mayama, and the Kambojans into a similar position 

 on the Mekong by the pressure of the Lau. The Kyens, Karens 

 &c. had probably yielded in a like manner to the Mon. 



• # - In the papers on particular tribes full references will be given for ail factt 

 mentioned in the^e reviews that are not well known or derived from personal obser- 

 vation and enquiry. Thia will prevent the occupation of several pagea in each 

 number by lists of authorities. See " The SUong tribe" In last number for an 

 example of the method that will be followed. 



• It is worth enquiry whether the Ka-kyens are not a remnant of the Oangetieo 

 — Polynesian race. They differ totally in their physiognomy from all the surround- 

 ing races. 



