Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1861-10-05
HONOLULU, OCTOBER 5, 1861.
Ghe polpnesian,
DISCOURSES ON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CONDITION.
BY WALTER MURRAY GIBSON.
IContinued.f

lCOntinued.I
/ The religious condition of Malaysia, is a vast
and varied theme presenting equal novelty and
/ variety with the other aspects and conditions of
Malaysia. There are as numerous, and as striking
! diversites of faith among the East Indian island
/ ers, as there are varieties in their animal and
vegetable kingdom. The thirty millions Of Malay
slams are more varied in creed than the sectaran-
| ism of nominal Chrstendom. There is Islamism,
with its two great antagonist branches those of
| Omar and Ali like Latin and Greek, the two
great sects of the West. The hereto Mahometan
Wahabees have here party; and the Rinchis or
Padries, the Puritans of Islamism, threatened for
time, like their Western prototypes under Crom-
well. to dominate over all opposing creeds. Bud
dhism, and the worship of old Jain and all that
is ancient in Asatc record of creeds, still has
some remnants of temples and worshippers in Ma
laysia. Brahminism is maintained in one part,
unchanged as it was thousand years ago in In
dia. There is a mythology in some parts like the
old Grecian peOpling with fairy beings, every
| grove, and stream, and cave. There is demon
ology, which leads to worship of the deities, who
are the imagined authors of evil, and favors an
utter contempt for those that are benefcent.
There is paganism, as varied, and fantastic; as
cruel, and absurd as the savage and semleivilized
mind can be led into. There are besides. many
tribes in Malaysia, that have no religion; not
speculative sceptcs, like many thinkers and sim
ners of ChristendOm but atheists because they
have no speculation no knowledge; and no Wis
| 4 Ed Tba,-o
fruits in and fish in streams, for their use,
but no gods. They have had no revelations and
no one has invented any story for them of another
world. They hope for no heaven; they fear no
hell; and with them, when tho die, they sleep
for evermore. But enough of these generalities
it is my object to enieavOr to entertain you with
some variety of details respecting the beliefs and
unbeliefs of Malaysia.
First, will speak of Mahometanism, the great
est iD influence, and introduced into Malaysia by
Islamite missionary enterprise, not many hundred
years ago. About the time that Christians were
sIaughtering thousands of their fellow men on the
plains of Palestine, and storming ut the gates of
Jerusalem for the possession of supposed tomb of
| Christ, several Jealous, adventurous, and poor
Mussulmen missionaries, were preaching to the
idolators of Achin, in the island of Sumatra, the
excellence of the worship of one Holy God, whose
will had been revealed to his servant Mahomet of
Arabia These faithful preachers of Islsm's gOs-
pei and salvation. mingled intimately with the
Sumatrans. The missionary imaums had come
poor and must needs dwell in the abOdes of the
islanders. They introduced improvements in the
rude island architecture both in dwellings and
sea going vessels. They pointed out articles for
commerce and stimulated industry in their col
lection. They introduced the Arabic written char
acters which have superseded the ruder alpha
bets of the country. They made wise suggestions,
in respect the government Of the country, with
out ambitious pretentions. They did not interfere
with the old habitsand sports of the people; those
interviewer With their national life; except to
temper those that were cruel and destructive Il
human life. The Mahometans of Arabia did n
Introduce into Malaysia, strict Arabian Mahomety
ism in all its forms, such was adapted to, or
had been developed by, the civilization of Western
Asia but they introduced the principles of the
Koran to the Malay mind. caused the absurd va
ship of one Almighty and merciful God, and then
left the minor points, in outward forms of worship,
to be shaped by the peculiarites in the habits,
characters and condition of the Maays.
The Mahometan missionaries very success
full because they readily inspired the love and
confidence of the people they went to teach. And
what be said of any missionary success with
out this evidence of love and gratitude pervading
u people "a cordial love without shade Of
any low influence ;-exuberant, expressive; and
meeting the inquriug stranger at every point.
Judging by results, the Arabian priests were en-
inently successful with their influence in Malaysia.
They became, many of them, ths rulers, as well as
the teachers Of the land and yet they had come
without shadow of political influence and not
associated with the power of ships, of armies, or
in any way connected with the prestige of strong
government. They became and continued rulers,
simply by reason of their superior wisdom and
able administration of affairs. They became
rich, through the enlightened commerce which
they established with other nations and .nly en-
lched themselves they enriched the people they
came TO teach. Their wealth, and comforts, and
eleganeles dlu not contrast strlklngly with the
condition of their proselytes. They opposed the
building of costly mosques. whilst the people oc-
cupied miserable palm leaf huts but when the
people could build more durable, commodious and
tasteful mansions, they then reminded the Malays
of their ability to erect imposing structures for
the worship Of the true God and thus, the over
I towering place Of prayer was not surrounded, in
painful contrast, by miserable places of abode.
And in other ways, the Mahometan missionaries
labOred, and devised, for the good-present as
well as prospective-Of the idolatrous people of
Malaysia and they succeeded and the result OF
their success is striking and predominant at this
daz Ihez canmanced tha;z Iah.,-s in the KIM