144» An Essay on Early Relations [No. 37, 



in that article, there is at least a degree of evidence added, from this 

 source, in favor of a commercial intercourse between the peninsula 

 of India, and Sumatra. 



On such a traditionary story I would not found conclusions too 

 weighty. But, from the time of first reading Marsden's Sumatra, 

 it always appeared to me that Sumatra was the true Ophir of the 

 east : concerning the precise locality of which, I need not state, 

 much learned discussion has occurred. And it may be possible that 

 Phenician, and other vessels trading in gold-dust procured their 

 commodity, at an intermediate distance : the farther one being made 

 by periodical trips of vessels, trading between Sumatra and Continen- 

 tal India. 



Although incidental topics occurred to me by the way, which I 

 did not deem it advisable to pursue, some of them perhaps of suffi- 

 cient consequence to betaken up distinctly; yet whether this be 

 hereafter done or not, the immediate inquiry before me is now 

 brought to a close. From a faint clue afforded by Marsden's work, 

 I have traced out verbal references to languages, persons, or things, 

 which are sufficient to indicate the general bearing of the subject. 

 Such brief notices as could be gathered from the writings of Ley- 

 den, or Wilford, have been stated, and weighed. The vast mass of 

 evidence contained in Raffles' work, chiefly with a reference to Java, 

 has been patiently, and fully adduced. Slighter references, or in- 

 dications, have not been overlooked. And, from the whole I adduce 

 the general conclusion that an early intercourse between India and 

 Java has been fully, and conclusively, proved ; as also that an inter- 

 course between India and Sumatra is distinctly proved ; though 

 whether it were by way of Java, or direct, is not so conclusivelv 

 shown, by the evidence, as in the other instance. A few brief re- 

 marks result : 



One of them is that our knowledge of general history is yet very 

 imperfect : there being extensive portions of the globe concerning 

 past events in which we know but little. It was fashionable, some 

 centuries since, to call a revived knowledge of the Latin and Greek 

 languages a revival of learning, and a period of light after dark ages. 

 To the present day the term ' learning' is an epithet very much con- 

 fined to either a school, or a university education, which gives far 



