a degree the type of the Chinese character, as
necessarily to be separated from the rest of the
group, although in all probability originally belonging
to it. The most civilized and leading
nations within this wide range are the Burmans,
the Siamese,- and the Peguans. Next to them
come the people of Kamboja, Lao, and Araean.
those of Cassay, Champa, Cachar, and Assam, constitute
a third order; and then we have a number
of petty races, in a savage or half savage
state,—such as the Kyen, Karian, Law’a, K?ha,
Chong, Moi, &c. &c.
The dialects of these nations bear each other
a common resemblance in structure and in idiom.
They have borrowed much from each other, yet
appear radically distinct. The foreign tongues
of which words are found most extensively intermixed
with them, are the Sanscrit, or rather
Bali, and the dialect of the Chinese province of
Canton, but the influence even of these appears to
be merely extrinsic.
In treating of the principal nations now referred
to, an important and interesting fact will
soon present itself, viz. the striking accordance
which they offer in all essential points amongst
themselves, ,and their no less obvious dissimilitude
to all other Asiatic races. They possess the
same physical configuration; their languages radically
„agree in structure and idiom; and their
manners, habits, and usages, are alike. This parallel
may, without any violence, be extended to
such matters as are little better than arbitrary or
accidental. Thus, one form of religion, with
scarcely a shade of difference, pervades all those
that are civilized; they have the same literature,
the same laws, and the same civil and political
institutions. I t may farther be observed, that the
history and revolutions of this group of nations
have been confined to t hems e lve s t h a t their social
state has been very little influenced by strangers;
and that judging from the evidence of lan-
guage, and the absence of historical monuments
to prove otherwise, they appear never to have
been subjected- to foreign conquest,—an immunity,
if it be one, which they owe to the strong
natural barriers which have arrested the tide of
conquest as well as civilization to the east, the
west, and the north. The great geographical distance,
and the trackless and impracticable wildernesses,
which divide them from Tartary, have
secured them from being overrun and subjugated
by the invasions of the nomadic tribes of the
north. I t is to similar causes they owe their independence
of the Chinese. The only external
agencies which seem to have made a lasting impression
upon them, are religion and commerce,
but especially the former. While secured, however,
from foreign aggression, their own history,
from all that is known of it to Europeans, has
presented a constant scene of internal warfare,