A grammar of the Malayan language, with an introduction and praxis..

INTRODUCTION. xxvu
those who shall contend that the Bali or Pali has had a principal
share in contributing to the dissemination of the Hindu
language and mythology throughout the eastern islands. This
document is a letter from m. a. coupekus,* a servant of the
* " Mv np.AR SrR, CalcidUi, 25ik Uct. J 810.
late
I have the pleasure to send you a copy of two of my Java
drawings, taken fi"om two stones found, with more than an hundred of the same
kind, in the interior part of the island. The numerous inscriptions seen on the
back of many of these stones, as also on the back of several metal idols found at
the same place, but of a much smaller size, are in a language of which the cha-
racters are no longer known ; the language appearing to be entirely lost. A spe-
cimen of these characters, taken with the utmost possible exactness from two
stones, I forward also with this. They differ in all respects from the Javanese
and other characters in use amongst the natives of the neighbouring countries.
There is no hope that we shall get any information from these natives upon sub-
jects of antiquity, as they liave no proper records, nor have they preserved any
branch of learning, which they, or those inhabitants who in old times worshipped
the idols, undoubtedly possessed. I have proofs that they had even a knowledge
of astronomy ; but the present inhabitants are in respect of arts and sciences,
most ignorant and superficial beings. I had hopes that some learned gentleman
or Bramin here in Bengal would have been found able to ascertain the language
of the inscriptions, but it appears that the characters are also unknown in Ben-
gal; which I consider as a great loss to letters, as the inscriptions are so very
numerous and almost all perfectly visible : and I have no doubt that some inte-
resting historical events would be discovered. Amongst the idols found in Java
tliere are many of Brahma, Vismi, and other inferior deities of the Hindus; so
that all the benefit history has gained by this discovery is, that it proves beyond
doubt that the inhabitants of Java, in very remote times, were idolaters of the
Brahma sect. A native of the Lampung country (in Sumatra) seeing some of
those figures at my house in Batavia, informed me that many similar stones and
figures are to be seen in the interior part of Lampung. The same information I
got from an inhabitant of the 3lrisi country (inland of Palemhang) who had tra-
velled through the Lampung district, and had seen similar monuments there.
A'ery