92 Dr Hamilton m a Map of Ava, drats>n 
Civility was first probably introduced into the peninsula by 
the conquering arms of the kindred nation occupying China, in 
the third century before the birth of our Saviour ; but unfortu- 
nately, except in Tonquin and Cochinchina, this nation pre- 
served its footing for too short a period to give a sufficient weight 
to those wise institutions and parental form of government, 
which unite the Chinese under a more stable authority, and in 
some measure supply the want of a hereditary nobility ; al- 
though, even in China, the very frequent changes of dynasty, 
which naturally follow this defect, have been productive of the 
most dreadful sufferings. Still, however, the stability arising 
from a regular education, and from a gradual promotion through 
established degrees of power, recalls order along with the vigour 
of the first leaders of each new dynasty ; and the portion of this 
education that has been communicated to Tonquin and Cochin- 
china, seems to have rendered the inhabitants of these king- 
doms more happy than the natives of the countries detailed in 
this map, where the caprice of the mob, or of Tyrants, without 
any adequate check, have been long indulged in raising from 
the dust tlie most audacious, unprincipled, and mean adven- 
turers. 
Before the arrival of the Chinese, the country seems to have 
been occupied by numerous rude tribes, who, like the invaders, 
were of the great Tartar race; and these, united with their conque- 
rors, seem to have produced the offspring, which now constitutes 
the civilized portion of the nations termed by Europeans, Ana- 
mitic, Siammese, Burma, Malaya, and Pegu. These now oc- 
cupy the chief towns of the peninsula, although a very large 
proportion of the country is still held by tribes in the original 
state of rudeness, unacquainted with literature, divinity, law 
and medicine, and in a great measure with manufactures and 
arms, but very industrious cultivators of the soil, and inoffen- 
sive in their manners. 
At a later period than the Chinese invasion, along with the 
religious doctrines of the Buddhas, most of the civilized tribes 
received the literature of the Hindus, such as it existed under 
the kings of Magadha. On this account, in the JlpJiahefMm 
Ba/rmanorum^ their sacred language, a dialect of the Sangskrita, 
is called Magata, as well as Pali, the latter name being that of 
