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in composition yet they have neither collected the ancient books, nor investigated the ancient religion of these islanders.
But besides these desiderata, one of no common magnitude remains, which relates to the Papúas or oriental negroes. Of the languages of this singular race we have no specimens whatever, which can be depended on; nor have we any observations which throw the least light on their religions or mythological system.
In those languages which have a written character, a fair copy of the alphabet, as used by the particular tribe, together with the numerical figures, is of the first importance. As several of the eastern tribes have, at different periods of their history, employed different written characters, specimens taken from ancient monuments are extremely to be desiderated. Ancient written monuments are chiefly to be expected, on the Indo-Chinese continent, among the tribes of Aracan, Siam, and Laos, as these countries are generally denominated, instead of Rakheng, T'hái, and Láw. Among the eastern islands they are known to exist in the interior of Sumatra, Java and Celebes, but it is not known if they are to be found in any other quarter. One might perhaps expect them in the great island of Borneo, but it does not appear that any of the native tribes of Borneo have ever attained any high degree of civilization, and, at all events, we are at present equally ignorant of their languages and their habits. The languages of the Tadong tribe on the coast of Borneo, of the Bajáw tribe of sea-rovers supposed to be of Macasar origin, of the TA-RAJA tribe in Celebes, of the islanders of Ternate and Tidore, and of the brave people of Maba; on the east of Gilolo, deserve particular attention.
