Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-08
FAITH OF ORIENTALS
PROPHETS PROMISE OF FLYING.
Credulity of the Semi-Savage Muruts-
Victims Of Infamous Ma
tive Liquor.

From the London Spectator.
A curious instance Of the blindness Of the
faith Of orientals Is supplied by events
which took place in northern Borneo during
the last decade of the nineteenth century.
The interior Of that portion Of the island
Is Inhabited by a race called Muruts, a
semi-savage folk living in dirt and squalor,
engaging in head hunting and other barbar-
GUS practices, and annually reducing them
selves to the verge Of famine by converting
the best part Of their crops into infamous
native liquor, in which they habitually in
dulge to excess. Their religion Is rude
form Of pantheism, but they hold belief
in future life, their theory being that de-
parted souls congregate upon the inacces-
sible submits of Kina-Balu, the magnifl-
cent mountain which dominates the land in
which they dwell. They are alphabetically
lazy and indolent, prodigal and improvident
to a degree, and wholly unambitious Of bet
ter things. 1t might be thought that such
a people would be little likely to become
the victims of any insane fanaticism or en-
thusiasm. In them, 1t might have been be-
lieved, the energy, the Imagination, the
brain power and the desire for an improved
outlook upon life which Is at the back of
every religious system would all be equally
to seek. But once again the quality which
we have called the faith of the oriental
proved itself to be as innate characters
tic Of the lower as it is Of the higher breeds
of Asia's children.
Devotees Of Prophet.
A prophet suddenly appeared among
them. He came alone and INTENDED, a
naked Murut like themselves, wandering
northward through the mean forest country
that lies at the back of Brunei and the
Limbang valley, and bringing with him no
credentials save his own lying tongue.
Among any except an oriental people he
would not have obtained a moments hear
ing; but, with the boundless credulity of
the Asiatic to aid him, he had no difficulty
in enlisting the whole countryside among
the number of his disciples. Yet, apart
from their lack Of proof. the temptation to
reject his teachings should surely have
been irresistible. The prophet demanded
enormous personal sacrifices from his dew
otees as step preparatory to their initia-
ton into the mysteries which ne taught.
The disciple was required to give up his
wife, his cattle and all his other property,
which straightway passed into the keeping
of the prophet, and 1t was only after this
transfer had been effected that the magi-
clan would consent to undertake the long
monies which were to precede the fulfill
ment Of his promise.
This promise itself was perhaps the most
curious part OF the whole transaction. It
the initiated the power to fly! Why naked
Murut should be ready and willing to part
with all material things In exchange for the
bare prospect OF al dcQulreueut 80 llttic
advantageous to him is not easy to un-
derstand or explain, except on the hypothe-
sis that he hoped to use his new power for
the purpose of visiting the crest OF Kina-
Balu, and SO. in a manner. gaining heaven
before his time. This, however, is, the only
solution of the problem which Is forthcom-
ing, and 1t seems to argue greater affec-
ton for the departed, and a deeper feeling
for things spiritual than those who have
known the Murut best, both before and
since, would have dreamed of giving him
credit for.
Jumps From Trees.
Whatever the cause of the subtle fasci-