94 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THfi' which produces important effects upon the language of the weaker party, though the unskilfulness and weakness which belong to this condition of society, incapacitate the parties from making permanent conquests under circumstances of any difficulty. In this manner we account rationally for the great number of words common to all the neighbouring languages. It is the language of the more power- ful and civilized tribe, which naturally imposes words upon the weaker. Sometimes this communication is direct, but at others, no doubt, it is received in- termediately ; a principle on which it is, often, more reasonable and consistent to explain the wide-spread connection which we perceive, than by supposing enterprises and adventures of difficulty, incompati- ble with the genius of barbarians. We have, how- ever, positive and unquestionable evidence to assure us, that, from the more considerable nations of the Archipelago, expeditions, of no inconsiderable ex- tent, have been at times undertaken, both for set- tlement and conquest. The Javanese have had their expeditions to Borneo, to Sumatra, and the Pe- ninsula 5 the Malays to the Malayan Peninsula and to Borneo ; and the Bugis to Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Peninsula, — though the influence of the latter, or that of their language, towards the west, has been inconsiderable. The extraordinary facility of maritime enterprise, in the tranquil safe navigation of the Indian islands, and the difficulties so frequent- n
