C r 7 1 2 3 
Notwithd nd’ng Ptolemy bus mentioned the Phi- 
lippines ; yet we don't imagine that any of the per- 
fons from whom heacqiii od his information had ever 
been there: but that they had heard of thcie places 
at Java (to which they might eafiiy have tailed), 
either from the Javanefe thcmlelves, or from the in- 
habitants of the circumjacent ifl mds, who reforted 
to Java for the fame advantages of commerce which 
they themfelves came in purfuit of \ 
However, although they muff almoft necedarily 
have been acquainted with Sumatra, yet it is evident 
they had never failed quite round it; for, if they had, 
they would certainly not have mentioned Ceylon as 
the larged illand in the ocean k . 
From hence it would appear that they only knew 
part of Sumatra and Java ; and either conjectured 
thefe were iflands, or depended upon fome informa- 
tions they might probably have received from the in- 
habitants of thefe places, relative to this particular. 
So that here we may venture to fix the limits of 
Ptolemy’s knowledge; for, as thefe idands at that 
time were but a late difeovery, they were very im- 
perfectly known ; and unfortunately the geographers, 
who lived after him, were all fo prepofTeded with his 
fuperior abilities, that they imagined his accuracy 
would bear no correction, and that he had exhauft- 
ed the fubject. For no other author mentions any 
difeoveries to the ead of thefe, taken notice of by him; 
1 The diftance between Malacca and Java was lefs than be- 
tween Malacca and Cattigara ; befides, the fouth weft monfoon 
was a fairer wind to the firft than the laft place, and of confe- 
quence this voyage muft have been much {horter. 
k Agathem. 1. ii. c. c. 8. 
3 
and 
