b PREFACE- 
The Portiiguefe being better warriors than philofophers, and 
more eager to conquer nations, than to explore their manners 
or antiquities, it is not furprizing that they flioald hav^ been 
unable to furnJ£h the world with any particular and juft defcrip- 
tion of a country, which they muft have regarded with an evil 
eye* The Dutch were the next people from whom we had 
right to exped information. Tkey ha<l an early intercouffe 
with the ifland, and have at different times formed fet- 
tlements in almoft every part of it; but they are filent with 
refpetfl to its hiftory. This might perhaps be popularly ac* 
counted for, from the fuppofed hebhude of their national 
character, or their attachment to gain, which is apt to 
divert the mind from all liberal purfuits. But I believe the true 
reafon ifi to be fomid, in the jealous policy of their commercial 
fyftem, which deems it matter of expediency to prohibit the 
publication of any refearches, that might tend to throw a light 
on the fources of their profit, and draw the attention of the reft 
of the world. But to what caufe are we to afcribe the remiffnefs 
of our own countrymen^ wliofe opportunities have been equal 
to thofe of their predeceflbrs or cotemporaries > It feems difficult 
to accourit for it, but the fad is, that, except a ihort Iketch of 
the manners prevailing in a particular diftrid of the ifland, 
publiftied in the Philofophical Tranfadions of the year 1778, 
not one page of information refpe£ting the inhabitants of Sumatra, 
has been communicated to the public, by any Engliihman who 
has refided there. 
To 
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