Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/340

 296 ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA. neighbours, and thus extended their dominions; and, on one or two occasions, we see approaches made to a dominion over the whole island. But the duration of these more considerable states is but momentary, and marked with constant anarchy and rebellion, while the natural determination of the society to subdivide into small states, is distinctly marked in every period of the history of the island. We shall perhaps, however, underrate the improvement of the Javanese, by applying to them too rigidly this test of civilization. They possess the necessaries, the comforts, and some of the refinements, — per- haps of the luxuries of life, — in a far superior de- gree to most of the Nomade tribes, who effected and retained the mighty conquests of Europe, Western Asia, and China. The shepherd state, the offspring of the cold and immeasurable plains of Tartary, and the school both of war and govern- ment, could have no existence among the woods, the narrow valleys, and soft climate of Java. The Javanese are naturally an unwarlike people, and it is the necessary consequence of their luxurious climate, that they should want the hardihood and manly virtues of the semibarbarians of sever* er regions. The fertility of their soil, and the be- nignity of their climate, are a sort of hot-bed, in which has sprung up a sickly civilization, wanting the vigour and hardihood of the plant of a rougher ch'me, and more stubborn soil.