292 the binba op johore* 
would of course need to be made gradually and with prudence; and to 
overcome the direct and indirect opposition which might be expected 
from the Malays great temper and firmness would be requisite. But 
with the sincere concurrence of the Tamungong all difficulties would 
in time be overcome, and he would derive so much advantage from 
the increased prosperity of the most laborious class of his subjects 
that interest alone would prompt him to continue the good work 
when once begun. Johore is now the only Malayan country oyer 
which we have a direct and almost absolute influence, and we derive 
little credit from the fact that while the small Settlements which we 
have acquired on its coast, Singapore and Malacca, absorb nearly all 
its trade, we have never made the least effort to improve the con¬ 
dition of its people* What its capabilities are I shall have an oppor¬ 
tunity of shewing when I enter upon its geography. In the mean 
time I hope that the facts contained in this paper may awaken some 
interest in its aboriginal inhabitants, and that, from one quarter or 
another, protection and sympathy, which their ignorance prevents 
them from seeking, may come to them. 
In the course of tills paper I have had occasion to compare or con¬ 
trast the aborigines of the south of the Peninsula with the Malays, 
the Battas and the Dyaks. In comparing their language with that 
of the aboriginal tribes of Sumatra, with the Javanese, Sundanese, 
Bawean, and Madurese, with the known Dyak languages and the pe¬ 
culiar Malay of Borneo, and with the languages of the northern 
boundary of this circle, the Peninsulas of Eastern Asia, where the 
whole originated and where many words are still found in common 
I shall have an opportunity of entering into a more critical examma-. 
of all the ethnological affinities of these people than would he suited 
to the nature of this paper even if I were already in possession of all 
the requisite materials. Here I will only remark that the character 
of the Binud, the Dyak and the Bdtta is essentially the same, and 
may still be recognized in the Malay, 
The Binua has less developement of intellect, and less corruption 
of the passions. Natural influences are with them greater than ar¬ 
tificial. Every individual and every family lives more in the pure 
and fresh presence of nature than of men. Detached in family group s 
f The success which recently crowned Colonel Butterworth sendea>ou 
to induce the Tamungong to send his sons to the Revd. Mr. ^easberry^ 
school shews how much might have been accomplished ere now 1 
successors of Sir T.S. Raffles had recognized the improvement.of thena 
fives of the country, and the advancement of knowledge, as obje y 
ef the effective aid of government. 
