The kingdom of L40, or Laos, which borders on Siam to the north-east, and is separated from the western border of China by the kingdom of Tonquin, is perhaps the remotest from Bengal, and the nearest to China, of all those kingdoms to the eastward which exclude the Chinese Characters; and there is reason to think, that the alphabetic system prevailing there is nearly that of the Siamese. Respecting this, Kampfer, says; "Their reli gion agrees with that of Siam, nor do they differ much in their language and writing, except only that the inhabitants of Laos cannot pronounce the letters I and r." Nay he afterwards describes them as, "boasting that the Siamese have learnt the art of writing, and the language of their holy books, from them. These holy books are no other than legends relative to Boodh, whose doctrine has been so much cultivated here, that both the Siamese and Burmans profess to have derived their religion from the kingdom of Laos. Pilgrimages are made to Laos by devotees of the religion of Boodh, who repair hither to worship at the traces of the sacred steps of Pra-Samullakodom, the Burman Gotama, and of some of his chief disciples ; although it is pretty certain that Boodh, or Gotama, was born in Hindoostan. information since obtained contradicts the statements of Kampfer.

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COCHIN-CHINA, which Barrow says, is included by the natives themselves, together with Cambodia and Tsiampa, under the general name of AN-NAN, and which therefore comprises the whole of that track of country lying between the ninth and the seventeenth degrees of north latitude, is parted from China itself on the south only by the little kingdom of Tonquin, once a province of China. Respecting this country, we are informed by Barrow,

*See Kæmpfer's History of Japan, vol. i. p. 26.

+ Leyden's Dissertation, p. 104.

that the written character is precisely the same with that of the Chinese.* Into these countries, Chinese literature has been introduced as well as the Chinese character. Yet they are said to have a kind of alphabetic character besides, which is probably some modification of the Siamese. Dr. Leyden indeed affirms, on the credit of an intelligent Chinese who had resided some time both in Siam and Cochin-China, that the proper Anam character greatly resembles that of the Siamese. By Anam or An-nan, however, it is probable that the Chinese of whom Dr. Leyden speaks, meant the three small kingdoms already mentioned, and not Tonquin, which, Barrow informs us, the natives do not include under this general name. These languages are monosyllabic, and have all of them the Chinese Intonations.

In TONQUIN, as it once formed a part of China, it may well be supposed that the Chinese characters generally prevail. All printed books are in the Chinese character, as well as all their public documents; it is therefore with me matter of doubt whether there be any alphabetic characters current in the country. It is possible, however, that in petty affairs of trade, the alphabetic characters current in Laos, and partially so in Cochin China, may obtain in a certain degree, particularly among those who trade with these countries.

Thus while the Sungskrit alphabetic system prevails almost throughout the eastern part of Asia where alphabetic symbols are used, the moment it passes the bounds of Bengal to the north or the east, it finds a different colloquial medium in possession of these countries, of which, for aught we know, it may have had possession from time immemorial. This medium, in various degrees,

*See Barrow's Travels to Cochin China.

refuses to be identified with the Sungskrit alphabetic system, and has such firm hold on these respective countries, as to induce the inhabitants while they receive the Sungskrit alphabet, to reject some of the letters wholly, and change the sound of others which they still retain. But this colloquial medium, as it recedes from the Sungskrit alphabetic system, is found to approximate in precisely the same degree toward the Chinese colloquial system. While this approximation is visible in the countries nearest Bengal, such as Bootan, Tibet, Arracan, and the Burman dominions, it seems to increase in the countries nearer to China, till the alphabetic symbols of the Sungskrit are debarred an entrance by the use of the Chinese characters, as well as of their colloquial medium.

These facts seem to indicate, that there was a time when all the countries west and south of China up to the very borders of Bengal, comprizing an extent of country nearly a thousand miles in length, used the Chinese collo. quial medium.* But in after ages some event seems to have carried the Sungskrit alphabetic system into these countries, and to have caused its adoption in those nearest to Bengal, with such alterations however, as were necessary to accommodate it to the colloquial medium already current in them. Still, such was the resisting power of this colloquial medium, that this propelling cause, powerful as it might be, was unable to carry the Sungskrit system fully to China, or even into certain of the countries contiguous thereto : there the Chinese characters have kept their ground to this day, as well as the colloqui-, al medium. Whether the latter be indigenous in these countries; and if

Mr. F. Carey, in his introduction to his Burman Grammar, says; "I have reason to believe that the Burman language was originally a dialect of the Chinese."

T

it be, whether it has maintained its ground from the beginning, or regained its hold after being, at some time, overpowered by the Sungskrit system, are questions which time, and a further investigation of the subject, must be left to determine.

In looking out for some cause adequate to this great effect, the spread of BOUDHISM Seems to present itself as the most probable. Conquest, it is granted, made way for the introduction of the Arabic characters and language into many nations; but Mahometanism has carried them into countries never subjugated by the Mahometan arms. Of this the Negro tribes in Africa, and the Malay tribes in the east, furnish sufficient proof. Boodh was born in Hindoost'han, and died there; but his doctrines, clothed in the Sungskrit language, have pervaded nearly one half of the family of man. If this antagonist of the Brahmans has been execrated by his own countrymen, and his doctrines regarded with detestation, he has been sufficiently revered elsewhere. In Ceylon, the Burman empire, Siam, and Laos, under the name of Godama or Gautama, throughout China under that of Foe, and in Japan by the name of Siaka, he is worshipped to this day, and his doctrines are implicitly received. Regard for these, would raturally lead those countries nearest to Hindoost'han and least familiar with any written medium, to adopt the Sungskrit alphabetic system, for the sake of the language in which these doctrines were contained; but still in a way as nearly adapted to their prior colloquial medium as the system would admit. In countries remote from Hindoost' han, and in possession of a written medium, the necessity for introducing the Sungskrit system would be less felt, as the doctrines of Boudhism might be transfused into their own language.

This

seems to be the case with China, and one or two of the contiguous countries; and also with Japan. As the reception of the doctrines of Boodh in the Sungskrit language, however, would bring the powers which the Sungskrit alphabet possesses beyond the Chinese colloquial medium, in some measure before these different nations, they might acquire them in an imperfect degree. This may account for b, g, d, and r, (pronounced in a certain way,) being found in Cochin-China, and even in Tonquin.

The precise period in which Boodh lived, has not yet been fully ascertained: in vol. viii. of the Asiatic Researches, it is mentioned by Mr. Harington, now First Vice President of the Asiatic Society, as still a desideratum.* A fact however so closely connected with the history and literature of Hindoost'han, of the surrounding nations, and in some degree of China itself, cannot be unworthy of our examination; and were the scattered rays of light thrown on this subject since that volume was printed, collected into one focus, if they did not at present wholly dispel the darkness which hangs over this period of history, they might at least assist others in availing themselves of facts which may be hereafter brought to light.

Of the period of BOODH'S BIRTH-his COUNTRY-PECULIAR DOCTRINES, &c.

Henry Thomas Colebrooke, Esq. now President of the Asiatic Society, whose judgment on facts connected with Sungskrit literature, deservedly