ciety, which mere barbarians never attain; nor,
did they even attain them, could- a knowledge of
naval affairs be supposed compatible with that necessary
for conducting land operations. A predatory
’warfare is the only one suited to the genius
of the Indian islanders j even their plundering incursions
they have scarce ever carried beyond the
limits of the Archipelago. These important facts
ought to be kept in mind in every attempt to trace
the history of their migrations, and in forming an
estimate of their character and state of society.
In discussing the general features of the topography
of the Archipelago, there are two promir
nent and important facts regarding the condition
of the different races of inhabitants, which are of
great interest and importance. The first of these
refers to an original and innate distinction of the
inhabitants into two separate races. In the Indian
Archipelago there are—an aboriginal/»«* or brawn
complexioned race,—and an aboriginal negro race ;
and, the southern promontory of Africa excepted,
it is the only country of the globe which exhibits
this singular phenomenon. The second
fact is not of less importance, and relates to the
influence of food in forming the character of
the different races. We may judge of the physical
character of each country by the moral character
of its inhabitants, or of the latter by the former.
No country has produced a great or civilized race,
In t r o d u c t io n . 15
but a country which by its fertility is capable of
yielding a supply of farinaceous grain of the first
quality. Man seems never to have made -progress
in improvement, when feeding on inferior grains,
farinaceous roots, on fruits, or on the pith of trees.
The existence of fine spices, odoriferous gums,
and, it may be added, gold, gems, and the rarer
productions of the animal and vegetable kingdom,
has no tendency in the state of society in which
the Indian islanders are, to promote civilization.
One might be almost tempted to think they were
prejudicial to it, for the very countries in which
they are most abundant, are among the least civilized
of the Archipelago. It is the country of the
cannibals of Sumatra which chiefly produces gold
and frankincense ; that of those of Borneo which
produces gold, frankincense, camphor, and diamonds.
The inhabitants of the Spice Islands never
acquired the use of letters, and were wandering almost
naked in their spicy forests, until the Hindus,
the Javanese, Malays, and Arabs, in times comparatively
very recent, taught them to clothe themselves
with some decency. The savages of New
Guinea, surrounded at this day by the most splendid,
beautiful, and rare objects of animal and vegetable
nature, live naked and uncultivated. Civilization
originated in the west, where are situated
the countries capable of producing corn. Man is