ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

254 S U M A T R A.
dent to the introduction of the faith of the Caliphs, among the eaftern
people, this word might have found its way, and been naturalized
in the iflands; or perhaps its progrefs was in a contrary direction.
It has likewife a connexion in found, with the names ufed to exprefs a
deity, or fome degree of fuperior being, by many other people of this
region of the earth. The Bat tas; inhabitants of the northern end of
Sumatra, whom I ïhall defcribe hereafter; ufe the word " daibattah"
or " daivattah;" the Cbbtgalefe, of Ceylon, dewijoo; the Biadjoos of
Borneo, dewattah; the Papooas of New Guinea, 'wat; and the Pam~
pangos, of the Philippines, diuata. It bears likewife an affinity (doubtlefs
accidental) to the Deus of the Romans.
Veneration for The fuperftition which has the ftrongeft influence on the minds of the
tSmiToFtheir Sumatrans, and which approaches the neareft to a fpecies of religion,
anceftors. js that which leads them to venerate, almoft to the point of worfhipping,
the tombs and manes of their deceafed anceftors (nennay pooyang). Thefe
they are attached" to as ftrongly as to life itfelf, and to oblige them to
remove from the neighbourhood of their crammat (cimetieres), is like
tearing up a tree by the roots. Thefe, the more genuine country people
regard chiefly, when they take a folemn oath, and to thefe they apoftrophize
in inftances of fudden calamity. Had they the art of making
images, or other reprefentations of them, they would be perfect lares,
penates, or houfehold gods. It has been aflerted to me, that in very
ancient times, the Sumatrans.made a practice of burning the bodies of
their dead, but I could never find any traces of the cuftom, or any cirxumftances
that corroborated it.
•Metempfy- They have an imperfect notion of a Metempfychofis, but not in any
choiis. degree fyftematic, and I doubt its having any original connexion with
the doctrines of the Hindoos. Popular ftories will often prevail, and be
generally received, of fuch a particular man being changed into a tiger,
or other beaft. They think indeed that tigers in general are actuated
with the fpinits of departed men, and no confideration will prevail on a
countryman, to catch or to wound one, but in felf defence, or immedi­
ately