Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/128

 lid GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE lar dialects, that wherever Sanskrit words most abound, the language will be found to be the most artificial and refined. The polite dialect of Java, or language of respect, which is strictly a factitious speech, uses the Sanskrit liberally. The ordinary written language does the same, and the Kami or recondite language of the priesthood wantons in Sanskrit words nearly in a state of primitive purity. In some instances it is impossible to account for the caprice of language, for Sanskrit words extend even to the objects of sense. In Malay we have Jmpala for the head, in Javanese sira for the same object. In Bugis and Macassar, as well as in Ma- lay and Javanese, we have rupa for the face, and all belonging to the most common dialect, being, in- deed, the only words for these objects in all but the Javanese. Words of this nature are, however, ex- tremely few in number, and are here adduced as exceptions to a general rule. Let us suppose the case of a few Hindu missionaries arriving among the Indian islanders for the purpose of con- verting them. It would surely, in that case, be a hopeless task to attempt to teach the rude natives their language ; prudence would at once dictate to them the necessity of acquiring the dialect of the country, and their own tongue would not once be referred to. When religious instruction w^as to be given, the Sanskrit, the language conse- crated to religion among all Hindus, would be had