the history of Java that at Palembang, in Sumatra,
was established the Javanese colony, which to this day
speak the language of Java, and exhibit the peculiar
manners, customs, and forms of government of that
country; and it was by the sameprinces, though Javanese
story or tradition be wholly silent on the subject,
that the Malayan state at Singhapurawas subverted.*
The ruins of the city of Mojopahit are still visible
in the district of Wirosobo, and both from the extent
of the area which they occupy, not less than several
square miles, and the beauty of some of the relics
of architecture, we are inclined to form a respectable
opinion of the power of this native state, estimating
it by a just standard, and rejecting those
exaggerations which the imagination is prone to
indulge with regard to all that is involved in the
mystery of antiquity. We must not forget, however,
that much of the celebrity which it enjoys,
in the legends of other countries of the Archipelago,
was probably owing to the missionaries of
Islam, who disseminated and exaggerated the fame
of a conquest they had themselves made.
* T he invasion of the territo ry of a sm aller tribe by a g rea ter,
is an affair of higher im portance in the history of the form
er than in th at of the latter, and m ore likely to be preserved
in th eir records or traditions. in investigations of this
natu re, this circum stance ought to be kept in rem em brance.
I think it a supposition not im probable, th at Mojopahit is
ignorantly applied by the M alays to all the eastern portion of
ancient Java, and to every period of its ancient history.
CHAPTER III.
H ISTO RY OF T H E PROPAGATION OF MAHOMEDANISM
IN JAVA .
Many of the circumstances connected with the introduction of
Mahomedanism involved in fable— Mahomedanism introduced
among some o f the more Western Tribes, 150 years
before it was established in Java.—Decay of Hinduism in
Java facilitated the propagation o f Mahomedanism.—Ma-
homedan Merchants had long frequented the Island, previous
to the establishment o f their Religion.—An unsuccessfu
l attempt to propagate Mahomedanism in the Western
Districts.—Missionaries o f Islam, in Java, were not alien
stranger's, but persons familiar with the Habits and Language
of the People.— Shelch Rahmat the f r s t Missionary.—
Raden Patah, a Javanese o f the Colony of Palembang,
the principal Agent.—His story, according to the Javanese.—
He intrigues for the Subversion of the National
Religion o f Java.— TheMahomedans defeated in thefirst Action.—
Mahomedans Victorious in the second Battle.— They
take and destroy the Hindu Capital o f Mojopahit. Strictures
on the Javanese Accounts of these Transactions Abstract
of the true story of the Introduction of the Religion
of Mahomed.—Political State of Java, immediately before
the Triumph o f Mahomedanism.— The nine Apostles o f Mahomedanism
usually designated Susunan.— Their Character.—
Shelch Maulana the ablest o f them.— Account of
his Converting the People of the Western Districts.— Che-
ribon..—Banian.—Pajajaran,—General Reflections.