96 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE of these, — adopting, as in savage society, the con- quered as captives. TJie tribe would be increased in numbers and strength to enable it to undertake new conquests. The languages of the conquered and conquerors would amalgamate, the latter chief- ly giving it its form and character. Progressive conquests of this nature would, in the course of ages, though after many reverses and fluctuations, reduce a country under the sway of one people, and reduce to one its many dialects. The neces- sity of supporting an increasing population would be the incentive to industry, invention, and im- provement, and, in this manner, we can trace the progress of the savage state to semi- barbarism, un- til some natural obstacle, as the barrier of seas and mountains, interrupted the geographical progress of improvement. This, in short, is the progress of so- ciety in every part of the world ; but, as an examina- tion of its consequences will tend to make us bet- ter acquainted with the state of society in the In- dian islands, I shall illustrate the subject with a few examples : — Nine-tenths of the population of Java speak the same language, and this portion occupies the whole of the low and fertile portion of the island. The mountainous nature of the country occupied by the remaining tenth has hin- dered them from being subjected, and has kept their language distinct. The conquests and lan- guage of the Javanese have penetrated as far as
