Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/209

 ASIATIC NATIONS. 103 Ptolemy has done, it seems to be no more than a rude attempt to give form and position to the countries which lie on the maritime coast between India, and China the country from which silk came. Among a mercantile people, it would naturally enough take its name from its most distinguished production, and, when the clove, nutmeg, and even pepper, were unknown, this production would un- formation in his power respecting Java, is at a loss, in the year 1 583, seventy- two years after the Portuguese had been na- vigating the seas of the Archipelago, to say whether it was an island or a continent, is it not unreasonable to expect any precise information from the ancients respecting those coun- tries, and even absurd to enter into any serious discussion concerning their knowledge (their ignorance, as Mr Gib- bon calls it) of them ? " This Hand," says the writer in question, " beginneth under seven degrees on the south side, and runneth east and by south 150 miles long, (Ger- man miles,) but touching the breadth, it is not founds be- cause, as yet, it is not discovered, nor by the inhabitants them- selve well known. Some think it to be firm land, and parcell of the countrie called Terra Incognita, which being so, should reach from the Cape de Bona Speran^a, but, as yet, it is not certainly known, and, therefore, it is accounted for an island." Wolfe's Translation, p. 34. We see from this description, as well as from the chart of Java, given by Linschoten, that where their business took them, the Portuguese were suffi- ciently well-informed, but knew nothing beyond it. With less means, and less skill, in less curious ages, what right have we to expect more curiosity and enterprise in a few strag- gling Hindu or Arabian merchants, or even in Greek mer- chants of Alexandria ? VOL. III. N