Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. XI SAVAGE MALA YS OF MALACCA 539
in consequence of which the greater number of Mantra
left their houses and became scattered far and wide
about the country.^
At the same time it must not be forgotten that the
enmity of the Malays is often limited considerably by
a superstitious fear of their victims."
Amongst the Malays themselves the " tuju," or
Pointing charm, and other supernatural arts are also
to some extent practised, but their practitioners are
considered inferior in power to those of the aborigines.
The very circumstance of these tribes remaining
unconverted is probably a principal cause of the belief
crediting them with the possession of unhallowed
powers. In no country where new creeds are received
is there a total immediate abandonment of the ancient
ones. So long as the existence of the old gods and
demons of the land is believed in there will always be
multitudes ready either to ask their aid or deprecate
their wrath, in spite of the fact that they believe it
sinful to do so. To this day neither Hinduism, Islam-
ism, nor Christianity itself have totally extinguished
the ancient superstitions of the countries where they
prevail. And this same unreasoning fear of the
aborigines has doubtless in numberless cases operated
more powerfully in their defence than the best of laws
could have done.^
Of the visit of a party of Mantra to Singapore,
Logan has left a most interesting and valuable ac-
count.'' On the occasion referred to his IVIalay writer
(one Inche Mohammed bin Haji Abdul Fatha, whom
he had sent to Malacca to collect additional materials
for a comparison of the languages of the aboriginal
1
J. /. A. vol. i. pp. 32S*, 329*. •' 3 Jbiii. p. jzS*.
* loici. p. 332*^ -f'V'/-