ward. It is not unfrequent to see one, two, or
three smaller villages depending upon a greater
one, although at several miles distance from it ; and
in many cases, the history of the emigration of these
little colonies can be traced to no very distant period
of years. Among the Malays, too, we find
traces of the same progress of population, in the
distinct names given to the dependent plantations.
When formed on a river, as in their situation they
must often be, they are very frequently denominated
“ child,’* or p progeny,” terms which at once
point at their origin. All the languages, it may
be remarked, have a copious phraseology on this
subject, while there is but one name in all for
town or city, and that a foreign one ;—in short,
one borrowed from the Hindus, ( Nagri.J
In tracing the progress of social order among
the tribes of the Indian islands, I make no reference
to the shepherd state, Such a form of society
could, in fact, never have existed in these countries,
from the very nature of things. In regions
abounding in rivers and narrow seas, and covered
with stupendous forests, emigrations would take
place by water, and not by land;—-an important fact,
which constantly presents itself to us. The abundance
of wild roots, honey, and game, but, above all,
of fish, would, in a rude period of society, suggest
these as materials of subsistence more easy and obvious
than the taming of cattle. Minor considerations
would contribute. The cattle of the Indian
islands, in common with those of other tropical
countries, afford milk in too meagre quantity to supply
a material of subsistence. The sheep does not exist
at all; and had it existed, would have been an
animal of very little value ; for its coat is hair, and
not wool; but had it even been the latter, it would
have little contributed to the useful necessities of savages,
inhabiting a soft and warm climate. The
taming of cattle in these countries, therefore, is a
considerable effort of civilization; and cattle were in
all probability first made subservient, to the purposes
of agriculture, after thac art itself had made considerable
advances. Among many of the savage tribes,
who procure some portion of their subsistence from
the growing of corn, cattle are still unknown. A
tribe which applies the labour of cattle to the purposes
of husbandry, necessarily adds so greatly to
its means of supporting an increasing population,
that it cannot long remain stationary.
The progress of government, from the simplest
form of elective magistracy, to the last verge of
despotism, may be traced in its various stages.
The office of leader, or chief magistrate, at first
elective from the whole body of society, would
in time become elective from a privileged family,
and, in course, hereditary in that family.
Wars, conquests, and the spoliation of a hostile
horde, would soon give a victorious leader such