r 



01 THE ETHNOLOGY OP THE TVDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



Humboldt titan occasion may seem to call for, it is from a fear 

 rhat \X\>' r^jwi I entertain lor ihtni might unconxrioitslv interfere 

 with the free and unbiassed expression of the opinions which I may 

 be letl to form, or at least necessimto a more detailed examination 

 of their arguments, when I do not adopt their eonclnsions, than 

 there is space for in this Journal. The explanation of my own 

 views and their grounds, when completed, will I trust be found to 

 mett most doubts that may, in such cases, occur to those who are 

 familiar with their works. At the conclusion of the enquiry I 

 f.hall review the history of the progress of oro knowledge of Oceanic 

 ethnology, when I shall endeavour to form a jnst estimate of the 

 opinions of each writer with reference to the bodv of facts of 

 which lie was in possession at the time of proroulgatinpf them ; and 

 I believe the new data which 1 shall by Uiat time have communi- 

 cated, will tend, in a considerable measure, to reconcile some of 

 the more imi jrtant opinions where they sire discordant. An 

 opportunity will also be thus afforded of doing justice to many other 

 able English, Dutch, French, Spanish and German writers, much 

 of the more essential matter of whose contributions will be em- 

 bodied m the ethnographic part of this enquiry. 



It may be gathered from what we have Raid that no endeavour 

 has yet been made to investigate Malayu-Polynesian ethnology 

 as a "whole, and with the aid of all the kinds of evidence which are 

 available. The languages have been partially compared, and the 

 physical data, which he more upon the surface, have been sufficient 

 for a more full examination of that portion of the subject. But, 

 although admirable descriptions of the arts, religions, manners, 

 customs and other characteristics of the Malays, Javanese, and 

 Polynesians have been given, they have not been treated as a 

 who'le, nor have those of all the " tribes, barbarous and civilised, 

 l>een compared with a view to ascertain whether any positive 

 fundamental connection can be traced amongst them.* 



As a sufficiently distinct and comprehensive idea of the objects 

 of ethnology, and the nature and difficulties of its enquiries, is not 

 very generally prevalent, for indeed it has hardly vet been brought 

 into shape, it will be necessary to offer some remarks on the subject, 

 with special reference to the Indian Archipelago, and as a preparation 

 for the task before ub. It will save much digression hereafter if the 

 mind of the reader embraces, at the commencement, a mora 

 enlarged conception of the scope of such enquiries than many are 

 accustomed to entertain, and if he can bring himself to contemplate 

 the possibility of the history of the Archipelago proving to be 

 more ancient and complex than he may have hitherto supposed. 



Ethnology, in its etymological and narrowest sense, is the science 



• Mr Crawford's Hbtnry of the Indian AreMpehgo containi n number of 

 rihnnlogieal «ss*v* t mure origins] and more ingenious than any other* of the kind 

 In ihe English language, but they refer chiefly to the more watern [wrtioou of Uk 

 Archipelago. 



