108 



An Essay on Early Relations 



[No. 37, 



Essay, fyc. 



It is known that a hint, or casual suggestion, may sometimes 

 lead to a train of thought or investigation, calculated to elucidate 

 truth ; and, if not finally to adjust any obscure question, yet at 

 least to point towards the appropriate conclusion. Some hope is 

 felt ; that this paper may serve in this latter respect. The islands 

 of the eastern Archipelago had never attracted, from me, any 

 portion of special attention till a former Editor of this Journal 

 did me the honor to refer to me a paper concerning the Battas, 

 and their language. Just as the subject then struck me I pen- 

 ned a few hasty remarks ; after an equally hasty consultation of 

 a few authorities. The coincidence of some Batta characters, 

 with some letters in then undeciphered inscriptions in India, was- 

 I readily admit the precise circumstance, that awakened my atten- 

 tion ; and though, as yet there is every thing to be done in trac- 

 ing out the clue so afforded, yet I hesitate not to think that it 

 will be followed to the end ; and greatly assist inquiries into the 

 more remote, and darker period of Hindu history, and antiquities. 

 Subsequently to the period alluded to, I have read more on the 

 subject, and more attentively, than time would then permit. As , 

 the result, I have found that the idea of Hindu relations with Ja- 

 va and Sumatra is not new ; though adverted* to with differing de- 

 grees of distinctness. Marsden, in his history of Sumatra, has 

 given some faint indications on the point, as his own opinion ; 

 though mingled with errors ; and when laboring under the disad- 

 vantage of not knowing any thing locally of India, or its languages. 

 Ley den, in his paper on the languages and literature of the Irj do- 

 Chinese nations, in the 10th vol. of the Asiatic Eesearches, has ad- 

 verted to Marsden, and thrown out a few additional ideas of some 

 value ; though yielding indications of superficial knowledge, as to 

 Indian languages. As to the Indo-Chinese languages, my own ig- 

 norance of them forbids remark. Wilford, in a paper preceding 

 this last one, in the same miscellany, has availed himself of Mars- 

 den' 3 account, and founded thereon some analogies, derived, as 

 he states, from Hindu purdnas. Anderson's Mission to the east 

 coast of Sumatra gives various unintentional indices ; the writer 

 having no intended reference whatever to India. Finally, Ranges' 

 history of Java is a store-house of information ; full of references 



