The History of Java, v. 1-2Raffles, Thomas Stamford, Sir
History
The History of Java, v. 1-2
Raffles, Thomas Stamford, Sir
Java (Indonesia) -- History
Having, in the foregoing pages, attempted to introduce the inhabitants
of Java to the reader, by an account of their person, their manners,
and employment in the principal departments of agriculture,
manufactures, and commerce, I shall now endeavour to make him, in some
degree, acquainted with their intellectual and moral character, their
institutions, government, and such other particulars as may contribute
to enable him to form some estimate of their relative rank in the scale
of civilized society.
From what has been stated of their progress in the manufacturing and
agricultural arts, their general advancement in knowledge may be easily
estimated. There are no establishments for teaching the sciences, and
there is little spirit of scientific research among them. The common
people have little leisure or inclination for improving their minds or
acquiring information, but they are far from being deficient in natural
sagacity or docility. Their organs are acute and delicate, their
observation is ready, and their judgment of character is generally
correct. Like most Eastern nations, they are enthusiastic admirers
of poetry, and possess a delicate ear for music. Though deficient in
energy, and excited to action with difficulty, the effect probably of
an enervating climate and a still more enervating government, they
are capable of great occasional exertion, and sometimes display a
remarkable perseverance in surmounting obstacles or enduring labours.
Though ignorant and unimproved, they are far from wanting intelligence
in the general objects of their pursuit, and frequently astonish
Europeans by the ingenuity of their expedients, and the facility with
which they accomplish difficult operations by apparently inadequate
means.
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