Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c13.64

v2.c13.64

It must be remembered, however, that considering the scanty and uncertain data on which the above conclusions are necessarily based, they can only be regarded as provisional. Nor should it be forgotten that the settlement of the vast region of Malayasia could not possibly have been a simple process of migration of a body of people from the mainland to each of the islands. There must have been currents and cross-currents from different quarters that swelled the tide, and we have to postulate migrations and emigrations, not only many in number but probably also varied in character. It will be outside the scope of this book to pursue the ramification of this fascinating problem any further. But there is another point of view regarding this question which is virtually connected with the subject-matter of this book and must be treated at some length. Recent linguistic researches have established definite connection between the languages of some primitive tribes of India such as Muṇḍā and Khāsi with Mon-Khmer and allied languages including those of Semang and Sakai. The great philologist Schmidt has thus established the existence of a linguistic family, which is now called Austro-Asiatic.¹ Schmidt believes that ‘the linguistic unity between these peoples which is now definitely established, points to an ethnic unity among them as well, though positive and satisfactory evidence on this point is lacking yet.’²