ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A, 169
Comparative fate of the Sumatrans in civil fociely—Difference of
Characler between the Malay and other inhabitants. Govern**
ment—Titles and power of the chiefs among the Rejangs. Influence
of the Europeans—Government in Pajfummah*
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V_y.ONSIDER.ED as a people occupying a certain rank in the fcale A 0 ^ 1 ? 11 *'
of civil fociety, it is not eafy to determine the proper fituation of the
inhabitants of this ifland. Though far diftant from that point to which
the poliflied ftatcs of Europe have afpired, they yet look down, with an
interval almoft as great, on the favage tribes of Africa and America.
Perhaps if we diftinguifti mankind fummarily into five claffes; but of
which each would admit of numberlefs fubdivifions; we might aflign a
third place, to the more civilized Sumatrans, and a fourth, to the remainder.
In the firft clafs, I ihould of courfe include fome of the republics
of ancient Greece, in the days of their fplendor; the Romans,
for fome time before and after the Auguftine age; France, England, and
other refined nations of Europe, in the latter centuries, and perhaps
China. The fecond might comprehend the great Afiatic empires at the
period of their profperity; Perfia, the Mogul, the Turkifh, with fome
European kingdoms. In the third clafs, along with the Sumatrans,
Xoloans, and a few other ftates of the eaftern archipelago, I fhould
rank the nations on the northern coaft of Africa, and the more polifhed
Arabs. The fourth clafs, with the lefs civilized Sumatrans, will take
in the people of the new difcovered iflands in the South Sea-, perhaps
the celebrated Mexican and Peruvian empires; the Tartar hoards, and
all thofe focieties of people in various parts of the globe, who, poffefling
perfonal property, and acknowledging fome fpecies of eftabliïhed fubordination,
rife one ftep above the Carribs, the New Hollanders, the
Laplanders,