ABORIGINAL TRIBES: INTBODUCTORY, 
7 
type the writings of Father Schmidt and of Mr. Blagdeii 
are the best instances* While it is premature, perhaps, 
to discuss the Mon-Auuam affinities of languages so little 
known as the aboriginal tongues of the ^[alay Peninsula, 
there is no doubt that Mr. Blagden's analysis of these 
languages — in their relation to one another — is of very 
practical value. He shows us where one dialect ends and 
another begins^ — and inferentially he enables us to learn 
how many wild tribes there are in the country and how 
far the limits of each tribe extend. He gives us, in fact, a 
dialectic and tribal map ol: the aboriginal races of Malaya. 
There are, however, certain limitations that must be 
associated with the analytical work of Father Schmidt 
and Mr. Blagden. They worked in Europe, using such 
materials as were already in existence. If they lacked 
information on any point, they could not supplement 
their store of knowledge by making enquiries on the 
spot J they had to be content with what they had got. 
Moreover, they worked on linguistic data only. A student 
working in the J-^eninsula itself is at a great advantage. 
If his information on any point is insufficient he can 
supplement it; if it is doubtful he can check it. This 
advantage is my justification for the authorship of this 
little pamphlet on the aboriginal tribes. Its conclusions 
are based on the collection of nearly sixty type- 
vocabularies (of over 200 words each) filled up by 
workers in all parts of the Peninsula. Nothing has 
been left unrepresented or imcorroborated — ^each dialect 
being represented by two or more vocabularies taken 
down by different observers and independently of one 
another. In each case also the linguistic data have 
been supplemented by the collection of information 
regarding the culture and customs of the tribe. 
