117 
MR FREIDRICH’S RESEARCHES IN BALI. 
We have great satisfaction in presenting to our readers 
the commencement of the most important contribution that 
has yet been made to the knowledge of the literature and 
religion of the sole existing Hindu people in the Indian 
Archipelago—the Balinese. The almost universal influence 
which Hinduism at one period exercised in the Archipelago 
through its adoption by the most civilized and enterprising 
races, and of which every year brings to light new evidences 
in sculptures, superstitions and language, has invested Bali 
with the highest interest. Until recently however little 
progress was made in the investigation of its languages, 
sacred writings and prevalent worship. This we conceive 
is attributable to the same cause which has rendered our 
advancement in other directions so slow and imperfect, and 
which to this moment leaves the science of the Archipelago 
as a whole little better than a heap of fragments. This 
cause is not, as is sometimes said, the existence of insur¬ 
mountable or serious impediments in the nature of its 
countries and the character of their inhabitants. We know 
of no obstacles which may not be overcome by determina¬ 
tion, prudence, a conciliatory demeanour, and the exertion 
on behalf of scientific men of that direct and indirect influ¬ 
ence which European governments, and native chiefs in their 
interest, now possess in most parts of the Archipelago. 
The real barrier has been the want of explorers possessed 
of sufficient knowledge, leisure and means. The first 
however has been the grand deficiency, and nothing can 
shew this better than the fact that the three Englishmen 
who have accomplished most,—Marsden, Raffles and Craw- 
furd,—were charged with laborious official duties during the 
whole period of their sojourn in the Archipelago. Prepared 
however by preliminary studies for original research, they 
extended our knowledge of the Archipelago in various di¬ 
rections, and, we may also add, each of them in proportion 
to the extent of his preparation for the work. Raffles and 
Crawfurd directed their attention to Bali, and threw con¬ 
siderable light upon it. The latter visited it, and from his 
great Javanese knowledge, and his addiction to philological 
pursuits, would have accomplished much if he had remained 
for some time on the island. The results of his enquiries, 
necessarily limited as they were, are embodied in an ac¬ 
count of the Religion of Bali published ia the Asiatic 
Researches, wljicb has remained until now the chief 
