363 
A GENERAL SKETCH OF SUMATRA* 
tiges of the ante Hindu condition. From this point of view 
we may distinguish five principal social stages, although a 
more enlarged view will comprise others. 
1st. The aboriginal, barbaric Indo chinese condition: 
(the Polynesian condition has grown out of this, and in differ¬ 
ent places preserves more or less of its characteristics), 
Ex. The Abungs and the southern tribes of P. Nias, 
who take human heads and cannot marry till they have 
acquired one or more, like the Nagas of Assam, the Kukis 
N. E. of Chittagong &c. The Pagai who like the Nagas 
tatoo their bodies, adding fresh marks when they have killed 
an enemy, and like the Mishmees &c., expose their dead on 
stages till the flesh rots away from the bones, sacrifice fowls and 
hogs to avert calamities &c. The Orang Engano are a cruel 
and barbarous race divided unto communities sometimes at 
war with each other, and when better known will probably 
furnish many traits of this ethnic stage. 
2d. This condition partially hinduised, or a civilized con¬ 
dition retaining some broad traits of the barbaric stage. Ex. 
The Batta’ who preserve cannibalism, tatooing, shamanism &c. 
One section of the Malay race, the Korinchi, still live in sin¬ 
gle-housed communities in some places, like the Mishmees, 
JSinghpoos &c. On the other hand the vestiges of Indian influ¬ 
ence amongst the Battas are abundant, in their physical peculi¬ 
arities, names of places and persons, titles and cognomens, 
days of the week,* alphabet, architectural remains &e. 
3rd. A higher civilization produced either by a greater 
infusion of Indian influence, or, as seems probable, by a 
locality more favourable to the development of the Indo- 
Malay civilization. Ex. The Malays of Menangkabau. Not on¬ 
ly are the ancient Indian influences still manifested in the same 
manner as with the Battas, (excepting the calendar which is 
now Mahamedan,) and in a greater degree, but I think the 
very name of the people and a peculiar mode of inheritance 
still prevalent to a considerable extent amongst them, enable 
us to determine from what part of the Indian Peninsula 
the first port from Cape Comorin where vessels can He safely, and to navigator* 
of that port the discovery of Sumatra was probably due. 
* The names of the clays of the week are the same, allowing for dialectic 
changes, amongst the Batta,’ Javanese, Balinese and Siamese, and these idea* 
tical names with two excepUms are used by the Telugus of the Indian Peninsu¬ 
la to this day. The exceptions are Monday (Mongol Telugu, Angara Batta,* 
Java, Anghkan Siam) and Thursday which follows the Brihasputi bar of Beng¬ 
al &c. (Braspati Bat. Rtspali Jav. Bal. Prahat Siam) and not the Guru of 
the Telugu. It is the name for Sunday that enables us decidedly to refer the 
whole to southern India. In northern India it is Rubibar ; in Telugu Auditya, 
Bat. Haditya, Jav. and Bal. Dili or Daitya Siam, Athii. As far as I am yet 
informed Auditya is at present peculiar to the Telugu on the east coast, the 
