Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/9



With reference to the subjoined notes on the spread of Buddhism to the east, as connected with the notice of the Siamese MSS. lately presented to the Society, I will briefly state in explanation that, during a period of service in the Straits, my attention was powerfully attracted, by the prevalence of Hindu words in the construction of the language of the Malays, and in the names of places met with in their historical MSS., to a consideration of their literature, religion, and written character prior to the introduction of Mahomedanism.

From the almost total absence of records, among the Malays of the peninsula, anterior to this important era, I was compelled to seek their history through the medium of that of their neighbours, the Siamese—the Aborigines of the peninsula—the Javans, the Bugis, the Battaks, the inhabitants of Menangkábowe, and even from the Chinese. In the course of these enquiries, made, as opportunity offered, from natives of these countries themselves, the great prevalence and antiquity of the religion, and alleged similarity of the written language of the Buddhists of eastern and western Asia came under discussion. The result was an impression on my mind that Buddhism, propagated either from Ceylon or the continent of India (in a few instances supplanted by Brahminism), was originally engrafted on the rude, natural religion of the islanders, on the Sinterism of the people of Japan, the tenets of Taou, and the doctrines of Confucius in China—that the Sanscrit, prevailing in the dialects of the most civilized nations of the Archipelago, was introduced through the medium of the Pali, the language in which it appears the religions writings of Buddha were brought from