Imagined. A ll thofe numerous focieties, known under
the common name o f Malays, are unqueftionably defcended
from the ancient inhabitants o f Scythia o r T a r ta ry ; and it may
perhaps be added, that their conneftion with the Arabs and
their converfion to Iflamifm firft infpired, and have now rendered
habitual, that cruel and fanguinary difpofition for which
they are remarkable ; for it has been'obferved that the natives o f
thofe iflands, to which the baleful influence o f this religion has
not extended, have generally been found a mild and inoffenfive
people; as was the cafe with regard to the natives o f the
Pelew iflands when difcovered by Captain Wilfoa.
T h e perufal o f Mr, Marfden’s excellent hiftory o f Sumatra
leaves little doubt on my mind that a Chinefe colony at fome
early period has fettled on that ifland. This author obferves
that the eyes o f the Sumatrans are little, and o f the fame
kind as thofe o f the Chinefe; that they fuffer their nails to
grow long ; that they excel in working fillagree, making gunpowder,
& c . that they regifter events by making knots on cords ;
that they count decimally ; write with a ftyle on bamboo; that
they have little hair on their bodies and heads, which little, like the
Chinefe, they extra#. In their language, many words, I perceive,
are fimilar ; and the correfponding words exprefs the fame idea
in both languages; but on etymological comparifons Lwould be
underftood to lay little ftrefs, for reafons which will be aflignetj m
the fixth chapter. T he fimiiitude o f a religious ceremony is much
ftronger ground to build upon;, and the coincidence is fufli-
ciently remarkable, that the manner praftifed by the Sumatrans
in taking a folemn oath ihould exactly agree with the fame ceil
2 remony