(or rather paraphrases, for they principally contain prayers and invocations to the Deity, in a language the meaning of a few words only of which are retained, while the idiom and grammatical construction has long been lost,) have been made, and will be found in the pages of our Transactions. It has fallen to my lot to succeed, not only in decyphering the MSS recently discovered in Cheribon, but also the inscriptions on the copper plates so long deposited among the records of our society as unintelligible; the results will be communicated to the society in another form, and the subject will be more particularly adverted to, when speaking of the languages and literature.

These inscriptions, which, in general, contain dates, are of the first importance in enabling us to trace the source whence the language and literature may have flowed, and to satisfy our minds of the prevailing worship at any particular period. It is only by an assemblage of as many data as can be collected, from this source, from the remains of the arts, from the language, literature, and institutions of the people of the present day, compared with the best information we can procure of other countries of the East, which may have been civilized at an earlier period, that we can come at any fair and just result. The question is too extensive, too important to be lightly treated, or to be decided upon from any pre-conceived opinion or partial views.

Did not other striking and obvious proofs exist of the claims of Java to be considered at one period far advanced in civilization, it might be sufficient to bring forward the perfection of the language, the accession which that language must in early times have received from a distant but highly cultivated source, and the copiousness for which it stands so peculiarly and justly distinguished.

In the island of Java, two general languages may be considered as prevalent. The Sunda language, which prevails in the western, and the Javanese, which is the language of the districts east of Cheribon. The first is a simple dialect accommodated to all the purposes of the mountainous classes who speak it, and perhaps differs from the Javanese, not so much in its construction, as in the portion of original and of Malayan words which it contains. One-fourth of the Asiatic Journ. No. IV.

language, at the least, may be considered to be the same as the Javanese; another fourth is perhaps original; and the remaining half Malayan. At what period this extensive portion of the Malayan was adopted, or whether any part or the whole of this portion may not originally have formed the common language of this part of the country, is yet to be decided. In the Javanese, or language of the eastern division of the island, and also of the lower parts of Bantam and Cheribon, the natural or vernacular language in like manner contains a considerable number of words in common with the Malayan, and the general principles of construction are found to have a striking accordance. We thus find strong proofs in support of one common origin of the prevailing languages of the Archipelago, notwithstanding that a large portion of the Malayan words now used in Java may be ascertained to have been received at a comparatively recent date, and in the course of long and continued intercourse with the neighbouring countries.

The Javanese language, properly so called, is distinguished by a division between what may he considered as the vernacular language of the country, used by the common people among themselves, and which is adopted when addressing an inferior, and what may be considered as a second or court language, adopted by all inferiors when addressing a superior. The same construction, as well as the idiom of the language, is, I believe, pretty generally preserved in both the languages; the latter, however, consists of a more extensive class of foreign words which would appear to have been picked and culled for the purpose. Where different words have not been found from the common language of the country, an arbitrary variation in the sound of the word belonging to the common language is adopted, as in changig the word progo into pragi, dadi into dados, Jawa into Jawi, &c. and, the more effectually to render the polite language distinct, not only are the affirmatives and negatives, as well as the pronouns and prepositions varied, but the auxiliary verbs and particles are in general different.

So effectually, indeed, does this arbitrary distinction prevail, that in the most common occurrences and expresVOL. I. 2 Z

ten character or not; at a place, however, called Batu Tulis, on the site of the ancient capital of Pajajaran, is preserved an inscription on stone in very rude characters; and several similar inscriptions in the same character have been recently discovered at Kwali in Cheribon, where some of the descendants of the princes of Pajajaran took refuge. This character, till lately appeared widely different from any other yet noticed in Java, but is now found to contain some of the letters and vowel marks in common with the Javanese. The date inscribed on the stone at Batu Tulis has fortunately been decypher ed, and the character was doubtlessly used by the Sunda people at the period of the destruction of the western government of Pajajaran.

No less than seven different characters are represented to have been in use at different periods of Javanese history; and although those at present adopted appear at first sight to be very different from the more ancient, yet, on examination, the one may without much difficulty be traced to the other, by observing the gradual alterations made from time to time. Specimens of these different characters, with the periods in which they were respectively used, are submitted to the inspection of the Society; and I regret that the absence of an engraver precludes them from appearing in the volume of our transactions.

The literature of Java, however much it may have declined in latter days, must be still considered as respectable. The more ancient historical compositions are mostly written in the Kawi language, to which frequently the meaning of each word, and a paraphrase of the whole in Javanese, is annexed. Of these compositions those most highly esteemed are the B'rata Yud'ha or Holy War, and a volume entitled Romo or Rama, the former descriptive of the exploits of Arjuno, and the principal heroes whose fame is recorded in the celebrated Indian poem of the Mahabarat, the latter of those who are distinguished in the Ramayan. These poems are held by the Javanese of the present day in about the same estimation as the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer are by Europeans. Until translations are made, and can be compared with the more extensive works in India, it would be pre

mature to form any judgment on their relative excellence. The B'rata Yud'ha is contained in about two hundred verses; but, in rendering the Kawi into Javanese, it is found necessary, in order to convey any thing like the meaning, to render one line of Kawi into at least three of the modern Javanese. I should not omit to mention that the belief is general among the Javanese, that the scene of this celebrated romance is on Java. They point out the different countries which are referred to, such as Hastina, Wirata, and others in different districts of the island, which have since assumed more modern names; and the supposed mansion of Arjuno, as before noticed, is still traced upon Gunung Prahu,

These works, in common with almost every composition in the language, are composed in regularly measured verses; and, as far as we can judge, from the partial translations which have been made from them, through the medium of the Javanese, they do credit to the power of the language and the genius of the poet.

Historical compositions are divided into two general classes, termed Pakam and Babat; under the former are considered the Romo and B'rata Yud'ha; the institutions and regulations for princes and the officers of state and law, entitled Kopo Kopo, Jogol Muda and Kontoro; works on astronomy and judicial astrology, termed Wuku; and works on moral conduct, regulations and ancient institutions, termed Niti Sastro and Niti Projo. Under the Babat are classed chronological, and other works on modern history, since the establishment of the empire of Mataram.

There are in use, for ordinary and popular compositions, five different kinds of regular measured stanzas, termed Tembang, adapted to the subject treated of, whether heroic, amorous, or otherwise; these are termed, Asmoron Dono, Dandang Gula, Sinom, Durmo and Pankgur. In the higher compositions, and particularly in the Kawi, these measures are still more varied, and in number upward of twenty, twelve of which correspond in name with the stanzas used in the poetry of continental India.

In repeating these compositions, they are chaunted, or rather drawled out, in regular metre, according to rules laid

burst from his heart. This was too much even for the stoicism of the uncle, who then pressed him affectionately to his bosom, and exclaiming, "'tis my brother's child," bursts into tears himself. I do not remember that I was ever more sensibly affected.

If it is not then to the structure of their language, nor to the refinements of education, that this delicacy of ideas and language is to be ascribed, may we not suppose that the genial warmth of the climate, and universal luxuriance of nature, unite to produce a physical tenderness and susceptibility in the various organs of sense, and thus render the nerves on which they act, more "tremof blingly alive all o'er," than our hardier and more rigid climate?

I am aware that these opinions of the Hindoos will find but little credit with the generality of my countrymen in India; who will be apt to regard them as the visionary offspring of prejudice and romance. With them there are but two, though very distinct, opinions upon this subject; one party regarding the inhabitants, manners, productions, &c. of India, when compared with those of Europe, as utterly unworthy of notice; while their opponents, fewer indeed in numbers, but equally strong in argument, give to every thing in the East a preference, as decided and probably as unjust. To profess impartiality, and to be only laughed at for the profession, is so common, that however sincerely I may believe myself endued with so rare a quality, I should get but little credit by avowing it. Let me therefore endeavour to secure the favour at least of one of the contending parties, by avowing a predilection for the simple character and manners of the unsophisticated Hindoo. I can admire the superior genius of Europe displayed in laws, commerce, lite

rature, and all the arts and sciences which tend to the refinement of human life; as well as her stouter nerve, and loftier courage, evinced in many splendid and glorious conquests: yet I am inclined to believe, that the consequences of this superiority, the long train of multiplied wants, increasing luxury, vicious habits, political corruption, religious scepticism, &c. &c. are not quite counterbalances to that moderate state of happiness, which a people who are far advanced in all the arts of civilization, yet still remain some steps below perfection, may be supposed to possess: an happiness less brilliant and less glorious perhaps, but at the same time more tranquil and diffused, and less liable to be overthrown. Such a state of public happiness I imagine the Hindoos to have enjoyed under the government of their ancient princes. The laws of Brimha, believed to be of divine origin, were obeyed without cavils or murmurs; and though like all other productions of human understanding, they doubtless contain many imperfections and errors; they may nevertheless boldly challenge the praise of great wisdom : and the merit of being admirably adapted to the genius of the people for whose guidance they were intended, and the climate in which they were to be exerrised. By what has been termed "the unnatural division of the people into castes," they at least put a powerful check upon domestic ambition; with the crimes and miseries which too often attend upon that unruly passion: while we have ample proof that emulation was not extinguished in the honours which we know were paid to men distinguished in any branch of science, and the beautiful specimens of art and manufacture, which are still to be found in every part of this immense empire.

DIRGE

On the Death of the Poet
HAFIZ. (a)

In those fam'd bow'rs let fancy stray, Of Shiraz and of Mosellay,

(a) This dirge supposes the European reader already acquainted with some of the celebrated

Where Hafiz once in vernal grove Pour'd forth his minstrel strains of love, poems of Hafiz, that have been versified in our language by Sir William Jones, Nott, Hindley, and others, more especially with the Gazel of the ** Maid of Shiraz," that of the " Belle Idol," and that of "Ask me not," &c. &c. all or most of which may be found in Hindley's versions, as well as some interesting particulars in the introduc