598 
AMERICAN COLONIES IN THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 
I have purposely avoided speaking' of the trade and commerce of the islands in 
the Eastern Archipelago, as they are subjects which do not fall within the sphere 
of our enquiries, in a review like the present; although the productions, the trade 
and commerce of nations are properly a branch of ethnological enquiry, in a more 
enlarged view. An interesting pamphlet, embodying much valuable information 
on the commerce of the East, has been lately published by our townsman, Mr 
Aaron H. Palmer. This gentleman is desirous that the United States government 
should send a special mission to the East Indies, as well as to other countries of 
Asia, with a view to extend our commercial relations. The plan is one that deserves 
the attention of our people and government, and I ain happy to state that it has 
met with favor from many of our merchants engaged in the commerce of the East, 
as well as from some distinguished functionaries of the government. England, 
France, Prussia, Denmark, and Holland, have at the present moment, expeditions 
in various parts of the East Indies and Oceanica, planned for the pursuit of various 
scientific enquiries and the extension of their commerce. With the exception of 
Prussia, these nations seem to be desirous to establish colonies • and they have, 
within a few years, taken up valuable positions for the purpose. 
Is it not then the duty of our government to be represented in this new and 
wide field ? Our dominions now ext end from ocean to ocean, and we talk of the 
great advantages we shall posses in carrying on an eastern trade; but bow greatly 
would our advantages be increased by having a depot or colony on one of the fertile 
islands contiguous to China, Java, Borneo, Japan, the Philippines, &c. An ex¬ 
tended commerce demands it, and we hope the day is not distant when our govern¬ 
ment may see its importance. 
England, France, Spain, Portugal and Holland have possessions in the East. 
The former, always awake to her commercial interests, now has three prominent 
stations in the China Sea,—Singapore, Borneo, and Hongkong. But even these 
important points do not satisiy her, and she looks with a longing eye towards Chu - 
san, a point of great importance, commanding the trade of the nor then provinces 
of China, and contiguous to Corea and Japan. 
It is evident from what has been stated, and from the opinions expressed in 
foreign journals, that the attention of the civilized world lias been suddenly attract¬ 
ed to the Eastern Archipelago, and it is only surprising, considering- the knowledge 
possessed by the European nations, of the rich productions of these islands, and 
the miserable state in which a large portion of their inhabitants live, that efforts 
have not before been made to colonize them, and bring them under European rule. 
The Spaniards contented themselves with the Philippines, but the Dutch, more 
enterprising, as well as more ambitions, extended their conquests to Sumatra, Java, 
the Moluccas, and recently to Bali, Sumbawa, Timor and Celebes. But these 
are not all, for wherever our ships push their way through these innumerable 
islands, they find scattered, far and wide, their unobtrusive commercial stations, 
generally protracted by a fort and a cruiser. 
It is said that the natives feel no attachment for their Dutch rulers, which, as 
they possess so wide spread a dominion in the Archipelago, is much to be regretted; 
for tliis feeling of animosity against them, may effect the relations that may be 
hereafter formed between theohoriginat races and other Christian people. Attempts 
will doubtless be made to prejudice the natives against the English, but the popu¬ 
larity of Mr Brooke at Sarawak, in Borneo, his kindness to the natives, and the 
destruction of the pirates by the British, will no doubt gain for them throughout 
the Archipelago, a name and an influence which the jealousies of other nations can¬ 
not; counteract. The natives of these islands, except those of the interior, are 
strictly a trading and commercial people. Addicted to a seafaring life, and tempted 
by a love of gain, they traverse these seas in search of the various articles of 
commerce which are eagerly sought after by traders for the European, India, and 
Chinese markets. Piracy, which abounds in this region, grows out of tliis love of 
trade—this desire for the accumulation of wealth, and we believe that nothing 
would tend to suppress crime so effectually as the establishment of commercial 
ports throughout the Archipelago .—Mr Bartlett’s address to the American 
Ethnological Society 1848. 
