The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-18
FAITH OF ORIENTALs.
illustration of 1t in BOrneO-Pro-
phet's Promise of Flying

AAustratiOn Oh III IN bOrneO-FrO-
phet's Promise of Flying
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 inhabit-
ed by a race called Muruts, a semi
savage folk living in dirt and squa1or,
engaging in head hunting and other
barbarous practice, and annually re-
ducing themselves to the verge of fam
inc by converting the best part of their
crops into infamous native liquor, in
which they habitually indulge to ex-
cess. Their religion is a rude form of
pantheism, but they hold a belief in
future life, their theory being that
departed souls congregate upon the in
accessible submits of Kina-Bula the
magnificent mountain which dominates
the land in which they dwell. They
are alphabetically lazy and indolent,
prodigal and improvident to a degree,
and wholly unambtious of better
things. 1t might be thought that such
a people would be little likely to be-
come the victims of any insane ia
naticism or enthusiasm. In Them it
might have been believed, 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
a characteristic of the lower as it is
OF the higher breeds of ASia's chill
dren.
Devotees of n Prophet.
prophet suddenly appeared among
them. He came alone and untended, a
Taxed Murut like themselves, wander
ing northward through the mean for
est 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 ex-
cept an Oriental people he would not
have obtained a moments hearing:
but, with the boundless credulty of the
AsiatiC to aid him, he had no diff
Guilty in enlisting the whole country
side among the number of his disci-
Pies. Yet, apart from their lack of
proof, the temptation to reject his
teachings should surely have been ir-
resistible. The prophet demanded
enormous personal sacrifices from his
devotees as a step preparatory to their
initiation into the mysteries which he
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 it was only after this transfer had
been effected that the magician would
consent to undertake the long series
of incantations and other magic cere-
monies which were to precede the full
filment of his promsie.
This promise itself was perhaps the
most curious part of the whole trans
action. 1t was that he would be able
to confer upon the initiated the power
to fly! Why a naked Murut should he
ready and willing to part with all ma
terial things in exchange for the bare
prospect of an requirement so little
advantageous to him is not easy to
understand or explain, except on the
hypothesis that he hoped to use his
new power for the purpose of visit
Ing the crest of Kina- Balu. and So.
in manner, gaining heaven before his
time. This. however, is the only So
luton of the problem which is forth
coming, and it seems to argue a great
er affection for the departed. ana a
deeper feeling for things spiritual than
those who have known the Murut hest
both before and since, would have
dreamed of giving him credit for.
Jumps From Trees.
Whatever the cause of the subtle fas-
cination of the idea, fascinating IL I'M
questionably was to the Muruts. and
the prophet had no lack of followers.
Wherefore upon a certain day, when
the process OF initiation was declared