The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-09-30
.nper.,i,lan in Java.

The credulily and superstition Of the ia
vans exceed belief. Dreams, omens, lucky
and unlucky days, astrology. amulets. witch
craft, are with them matters OF faith and
reverence. They believe each bush and
rock, even the air itself, to be inhabited by
Dhero or spirits. Not satisfied with the
numerous varieties of supernatural beings
with which their own traditions supply
them. they have borrowed others from the
Indians, Persians, and Arabs. The Dhewos
are good spirits. and great respect is shown
to them. They regulate the growth of trees,
ripen the fruit, murmur in the running
streams, and abide in the still shades OF the
forest. But their favorite dwelling is the
Warinzie tree (fcus indica.) which drooPs
its long branches to the earth to form them
a palace. The Javans ming lie their super
sti;ions with the commonest events oil every
day life. Thieves, for instance, will throw
little earth, taken from a new-made grave,
into the house they intend to rob, persuaded
that the inmates will thereby be plunged into
deep sleep. When they have done this,
and especially il they have managed TO
place the earth under the bed, they set 10
work with full conviction OF IMMUNITY.
Bamboo boxes OF soil are frequently found
in the possession Of captured thieves who
usually confess the purpose Tor which they
were to be applied. During the English
Occupation, il was casually discovered that
buffalo's skull was constantly carried
backwards and forwards from one end oil
the island to the other. The Javans had
got notion that frightful curse had been
pronounced upon the man who should al,
low il TO remain stationary. After the skull
had travelled many hundred miles, it was
brought to Samarang, and there the English
resident had it thrown into the sea. The
Javans looked On quietly, and held the
curse to be neutralised by the white mans
Intervention. DIR. Selberg gives various
other examples, observed by himself, OF the
ridiculous superstitions Of these simple
islanders. A very remarkable one is gwen
in the works OF Raflles and Crawford. In
1914, il was found out that road had been
made up to the lofty summit Of the noun
tain of Stumbling. The road was twenty
feet broad, and about sixty English miles in
length, and condition Of its construction
being that ii should cross no water-course
it struggled in countless zigzags up the
mountain side. This gigantic work, the
, result of the labors Of whole province
and OF people habiually and constitution
ally averse to violent exertion, was finish
ed before the government became aware o
its commencement Its origin was mos
absurd and trifing. An old woman gave
f out that she had dreamed dream, and tina
, deity was about to alight upon the noun
tain top. A curse was to fall upon all whit
did not work al a road for his descent int
the plain. Such boundleSs eredulity as th
t is Of course easily turned to account b!
t mischievous persons, and has often beer
= worked upon to incite the Javans to revolt
D The history Of the island even in moderI
( times, abounds in Instructions, got up, 70
: the most part, by men of little talent, bu
/, possessing sufficient cunning to turn the in
i becility of their countTymen to their owl
: advantage. --BIaokleoOds Magazine.