sm THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES. ’]b 
M ell as from that of the characters found in the 
ancient inscriptions, the probability that Java has 
been colonised from different parts of the continent 
of Asia. “ The Budhist religion (says he) is by 
many deemed of higher antiquity than what is now 
called the Braminical, and it seems generally ad- 
mitted that the followers of Budh were driven by 
the Bramins to the extremes of Asia and the islands 
adjacent. The Javans and Budhists had probably 
the same worship originally, from which the Bra- 
mins or priests may have separated, after the man- 
ner in which it has been said the Jesuits of Em-ope 
once aimed at universal empire ; and when we con- 
sider that the religion of Budh, or some modification 
of it, is still the prevailing worship of Ceylon, Ava, 
Siam, China, and Japan ; we are not surprised to 
find indications of its former establishment in Java.” 
Leaving these subjects, however, and passing over 
what is said of the civil, political, and commercial 
history of the country, as well as of the learning 
and habits of the people, we shall advert briefly to 
some other points that are more akin to the nature 
and design of a work like the present, viz.^ the de- 
scription that is given of the country, of its phy- 
sical structure, and its animal and vegetable pro- 
ductions. 
The length of Java, in a straight line drawn be- 
tween its extreme points, is about six hundred and 
sixty-six statute miles ; its breadth varies from about 
one hundred and thirty-five to fifty-six ; and it is 
