in this most useful science, in the East, being possessed of very rare talents for general Philology, which he has applied almost suddenly, and with admirable effect, to the Oriental Languages. If this erudite scholar should prosecute his researches for some years to come, with equal assiduity and success, he will promote, in the most effectual manner, the general civilization of the East, by opening the way for the future exertions of Christian teachers, and preparing them for the study of languages, the names of which are not yet known in Europe.

A

Penang, and the neighbouring settlement of Malacca, are most favourable stations for the study of the various dialects of the Malay and Chinese Languages; and for pouring forth from the press useful works for the civilization of

maritime and Austral Asia. Every week, boats of different nations are ready to carry off every thing that is printed to their respective regions. The Author found here a general spirit of inquiry, a communicative disposition, and an unusual thirst for knowledge; for the civilities of commerce have a tendency to weaken prejudice and superstition among barbarous tribes.

Although the Dutch introduced Christianity on every island where they established a Government,

yet the greater part of the Malay islands are involved in darkness. The natives are of three general casts, Pagans, Mahomedans, and Chinese. The Mahomedans chiefly inhabit the shores, and the Pagans the interior parts of the islands. The barbarism of the interior nations in Sumatra, Borneo, and other islands almost exceeds belief. Marsden, in his history of Sumatra, had informed us that it was usual with the natives of the interior, called the Batta tribes, to kill and eat their criminals, and prisoners of war; but the researches of Dr. Leyden have led to the discovery that they sometimes sacrifice their own relations. "They themselves declare," (says he,) "that they “ frequently eat their own relations when aged "and infirm and that not so much to gratify their "appetite, as to perform a pious ceremony. Thus, "when a man becomes infirm and weary of the "world, he is said to invite his own children to "eat him in the season when salt and limes "are cheapest. He then ascends a tree, round "which his friends and offspring assemble, and "as they shake the tree, join in a funeral

*

:

dirge the import of which is, 'The season "is come, the fruit is ripe, and it must de"scend.' The victim descends, and those that "are nearest and dearest to him deprive him

"of life and devour his remains in a solemn

"banquet *."

These cannibals inhabit the interior of the island of Sumatra, on the shore of which is the English settlement, Bencoolen, or FortMarlborough. We have been settled there for a long period, and trade with the inhabitants for their spices. In return for the pepper which the natives give us, it would well become our character as a Christian nation, were we now at length, to offer them the New Testament.

Another description of barbarians in the Eastern Isles, are the Haraforas, called by the Dutch, the Alföers.

They are to be found in "In their manners,

almost all the larger islands.

says Dr. Leyden, the most singular feature is "the necessity imposed on every person of, some"time in his life, imbruing his hands in human "blood and in general, among all their tribes, "no person is permitted to marry, 'till he can "shew the skull of a man whom he has slaughter"ed. They eat the flesh of their enemies like "the Battas, and drink out of their skulls; and "the ornaments of their houses are human skulls " and teeth t." When the Author was at Pulo

* Asiatic Researches, vol. X. p. 203.

+ Ibid. p. 217.

Penang, he himself saw a Chief of the Malay tribe who had a staff, on the head of which was a bushy lock of human hair; which he said he had cut from the head of his enemy whom he had killed.

The Author has mentioned the foregoing circumstances to shew what Paganism is in its natural state, and to awaken some desire of civilizing a people, who are now so accessible to us. Some Philosophers of the school of Voltaire and Gibbon, have been extravagant in their eulogium of man in a state of nature, or in some other state DEVOID of Christianity; and it is to be lamented that some Christian writers have tried of late to draw the same picture. But Paganism in its best estate, is well described by one line of the Poet:

Monstrum, horrendum, informe, ingens cui LUMEN ademptum. VIRG.

No quarter of the globe promises to be more auspicious to Christian Missions than the Malayan Archipelago. In regard to the probable success of our endeavours, the Dutch have already shewn what is practicable. The natives are of different casts, and are a divided people. The communication is easy from island to island; our own ships are continually plying on their shores. The

THE SYRIAN CHRISTIANS IN INDIA.

THE Syrian Christians inhabit the interior of Travancore and Malabar, in the South of India; and have been settled there from the early ages of Christianity. The first notices of this ancient people in recent times are to be found in the Portuguese histories. When Vasco de Gama arrived at Cochin on the coast of Malabar, in the year 1503, he saw the sceptre of the Christian King; for the Syrian Christians had formerly regal power in Malay-Ala.* The name or title of their last King was Beliarte; and he dying without issue, the dominion devolved on the King of Cochin and Diamper.

When the Portuguese arrived, they were agreeably surprised to find upwards of a hundred Christian Churches on the coast of Malabar. But when they became acquainted with the purity and simplicity of their worship, they were offended.

* Malay-ala is the proper name for the whole country of Travancore and Malabar, comprehending the territory between the mountains and the sea, from Cape Comorin to Cape Illi or Dilly. The language of these extensive regions is called Malayalim, and sometimes Malabar. We shall use the word Malabar, as being of easier pronunciation.