savages of all climates are nearly assimilated, for
the influence of physical and local circumstances on
the character of our species, does not become obvious
and striking until society has made considerable
advances. Beginning from the west,
whence civilization appears to have originated, and
from whence it spread to the east, the first division
comprehends the Malayan Peninsula,—the
island of Sumatra,—the island of Java,—the
islands of Bali and Sombok,—and about two-
thirds of the western part of Borneo, up to
the parallel of longitude 116° east. The animal
and vegetable productions of this quarter are
peculiar, and have a higher character of utility
than those of the other divisions; the soil is of
superior fertility, and better suited for rearing vegetable
food of the first quality. The civilized
inhabitants have a general accordance in manners,
language, and political institutions j they are far
more civilized than those of the other divisions,
and have made considerable progress in arts, arms,
and letters. Rice is their food, and it is generally
abundant.
The island of Celebes is the centre of the second
grand division, which comprehends, besides
that great island itself, the smaller ones on its
coast, as Bouton and Salayer,—the whole chain of
islands from the parallel of east longitude 116° to
124?, with the whole east coast of Borneo within
the same limit, and up to about 3° of north latitude.
The animal and vegetable productions
of this quarter have generally a peculiar character,
the soil is of inferior fertility to that of the last,
and less suited to the rearing of rice or corn of the
first quality. The civilized inhabitants have made
considerable progress in the useful arts, but their civilization
is of an inferior type to that of the first division.
In language, manners, and political institutions,
they agree surprisingly among themselves, but
differ widely from their western neighbours. Rice
is their principal food, but it is not abundant, and
some sago is occasionally used.
The third division differs in a most remarkable
manner from all the rest. Its extent is from the parallel
of longitude 124° to 130° E., and from south
latitude 10“ to north latitude 2°. The character
of the monsoons is here reversed. The eastern
monsoon, which is dry and moderate to the west,
is here rainy and boisterous j the westerly monsoon,
rough and wet in the two first divisions, is
here dry and temperate. The greater number of
the plants and animals of the two first divisions
disappear in the third, where we have strange productions,
in both kingdoms, unknown to any other
parts of the world. This is the native country of
the clove and nutmeg, and the only country in the
world which produces them in perfection. For
raising the higher classes of vegetable food, the