PREFACE. 



Tina work, it is hoped, may be only the first of a series on 

 Eastkun GkoctEia I'll V T the Mci, and to some extent the plan, of 

 vrhitth are due to the enlightened public spirit of the Hon. A. 

 M. Skinner, President (188 j) of the Straits Branch of tlia 

 Royal A sin tic Society. During his official connection with the 

 Ad mini strut-ion of Singapore^ that gentleman has practically 

 Co-operated in supplying a want which the Governor, Sir F. 

 Weld, had long desired ta supply. Under these auspices there 

 appeared in 1884 at Singapore a treatise on tho Malay Peninsula 

 which has served as the groundwork of the first part of the 

 present volume. Some materials collected on tho spot were also 

 kindly placed at toy disposal, of which I have gladly availed 

 myself in the treatment of other sections. 



For the general plan end con i| »m Hon of the volume in its 

 present form I must in other respects accept the entire responsi- 

 bility. My primary aicn has been to produce a work which 

 may raoet the requirements of teacher and pupil in tho Straits 

 Settlements} ami in the other colonies directly interested in 

 the regions here dealt with. At the same time, those regions, 

 notwitlistiiinling thoir growing political and commercial imporl- 

 nnn 1 , ecui tinm- tu W lamiUed in smnh a pi»rf micleiry milliner in 

 popular works at hoirui, that English students may also perhaps 

 be glad to welcome a work which can at least claim to be tbe 

 first exclusively devoted to those remote lands. 



