Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/53

 OF JAVA. 39 nations of the East at the same period, but the same nation with itself at every known period of its existence. While the nations of the West, like their seasons and productions, are liable to fluc- tuation and change ; now in the savage state ; now emerging from it ; now semi-barbarians ; now civi- lized, polished, and refined ; then decaying, and again relapsing into barbarity ; the nations of the East, in point of civilization, continue unchanged, — seem rapidly to advance to a certain state of im« provement, and then to continue in all ages the same unchangeable semi-barbarians, when circumstances have not detained them in the state of primeval J)arbarity and savage existence.