1850.] of Continental India, fyc. 137 



The history of Java subsequent to the introduction of Mahomed- 

 anism is irrelevant to the subject of this paper. I have not minute- 

 ly followed out some indications of Mr. Raffles pointing to Mexico, 

 but they may be worth some tracing, by any other hand. I merely 

 notice in passing the singular history of the first Incas of Peru, the 

 story of MancoCapac representing himself and his wife to be ' 1 chil- 

 dren of the sun" — and teaching the Peruvians the art of spinning and 

 weaving cotton ; with the bringing them into a regular Government as 

 far as I can judge of a Hindu model.* I merely hint at the possi- 

 bility of an inhabitant of Menangkabau going thither, in consequence 

 of being driven out to sea. The modern peopling of some islands 

 in the South Sea may illustrate the manner : that is to say, a native 

 entering a canoe to go to a certain intended place, and being driven 

 by winds and current, to another place, or island. Instances of the 

 kind are specified in Ellis's Polynesian Researches. 



As regards the specimens of language given in Rallies' work, it is 

 perfectly evident that the Kawi, or sacred language, is a Pracrit, or 

 dialect of Sanscrit. It has as evident a relation to that language as 

 any of the languages of India ; and if the other evidence heretofore 

 detailed were wanting, the existence of that language — the Kawi i in 

 Java, would sufficiently, and incontrovertibly, establish the fact of 

 an intercourse between India and Java, in some early age. 



In a paper derived from Malayan annals by (the then Lieut.) T. 

 J, Newbold, published in Madras, there were some references to 

 an intercourse of Malays with the opposite continent. The paper 

 I think was contained in the Journal of Literature and Science, 

 but I am not quite certain, not having the number just now at 

 hand for reference : the general subject however I remember was 

 a greatly overcharged, and poetical, statement of conquests and vic- 

 tories ; in a style very familiar to me, in continental works. The 

 particular point of reference resting on my memory (perhaps imper- 

 fectly) was the conquest of a Raja Chulan, or the subjugation of a 

 person so named ; for I do not distinctly remember which of the two. 

 It appeared to me on perusal that, with the customary recklessness, 

 as to exact locality, the existence of the Chola kings was known 

 among the Malays ; and that the term which designated a dynasty 



* See Eobertson'e History of America, Book 7, also Humboldt's Bese arches, and Personal 

 Narrative. 



VOL. XVI. 50. XXXVII. S 



