Arabic, and make pretence to superior piety,
give Arabic names to their children. This is
common with the Malayan tribes. The Javanese
content themselves with native names. The love of
progeny with all is declared in the frequency of the
practice among the lower orders, throughout the
different countries of the Archipelago, of the father
and mother dropping their own names as soon
as their first child, particularly if a boy, is born. Tf
the child, for example, be called, as is frequent
enough, by such names as “ the Handsome One,”
or “ the Weak One,” &c. the parents will be called
the « father and mother of the handsome one, or
the father and mother of the weak one,” &c.
The names bestowed among the Indian islanders
may frequently be considered as titles, and are
changed at every promotion of one’s state or circumstances.
From the age of eight to twelve years, the
ceremony of circumcision is performed on the
male children, and in Java, I do not know whether
the custom be general, a corresponding ceremony
is observed in regard to the young women. *
* “ They circumcise the males at eleven or twelve years of
age, or older; and many are circumcised at once. This ceremony
is performed with a great deal of solemnity. There had
been no circumcision for some years before our being h e re ;
and then there was one for Raja Laut’s son. They chuse to
The funerals of the Indian islanders who are
Mahomedans are conducted with a decent solemnity,
usually without clamour and without ostentation.
When a person dies in the evening, the body
is kept until the following morning, but if he
die whilst the sun is up, it is usually interred
the same day. The observances of the funeral
are almost purely Mohamedan. The body, after
the customary ablutions, is wrapped in white cloth,
and without a coffin deposited in the grave. A
simple mound of earth, and a temporary wooden
frame, mark the place of interment ; it is seldom
that the grave is covered by a stone, and still
rarer that there is any inscription. In Java
there is a beauty and simplicity in the native
burying grounds, which will not fail to attract the
notice of a person of good taste. They are generally
in a romantic spot, particularly a hill, at
some distance from the village, and consist of
have a general circumcision, when the sultan or general, or
some other great person, hath a son fit to be circumcised ; for
with him a great many more are circumcised. There is
notice given about eight or ten days before for all men to ap-
near in arms, and great preparation is made against the solemn
vday. In the morning before the boys are circumcised, presents
are sent to thé father of the child, that keeps the feast ;
which, as I said before, is either the sultan, or some great person
; and about ten or eleven o’clock the Mahomedan priest
does his office. He takes hold of the foreskin with two sticks,-
and' with a pair of scissors snips it off.”—Dumpier's Voyages,
Vol. I. p, 339-