( 64 )
In the archives of the princes o f Java are deposited histories of tlreir
country, extending from a remote antiquity to the' latest date. It is principally
from abstracts of.-these, made at mÿ'réquest, in three different'parts
, of the country, by the Panambâhan of Sûmenap, ■ the late Kidd Adipaii of
DemaJc, and. the secretary of thé Pangéran Adipdü of Snra-kérta, all distinguished
among their countrymen^ for literary attainments, that, the tyro’
following chapters have been compiled. The abstract presented b y : the
Kidd Adipdü of Denidk being the móst continuous, forms the wain stream
of the narrative.
Copies, versions, and detached fragments of history, are found ib the
possession of every family o f distinction. Of these'! have occasionally
availed myself. '
jf 3o much of the native accounts as relates to .the period anterior-to the
establishment of the empire of Jang*gala, in the ninthf century*,' is ' confused,
obscure,' contradictory,' and interpolated with the fabulous and
heroical histories of continental India ; but from that epoch théÿ-eorresbfed
essentially, and from the subversion of paganism ,(JA.D. 1475) they* are
circumstantial, and claim attention, not only .as illustrative of the character
o f the people, but as historical records of the transactions of the times.
Much abridgment; has been requisite: .the passages . between inverted
commas arc however literal translations from the native Writings'; qnd those
so distinguished, subsequent to the arrival, of the from' the
original histories. ' In^the'. course o f the narrative, a. Dutch abstract c»f"the
native history, by MivMiddlecoop, ■ has occasionally been consulted.
. Besides these historical relations, called Rabat, as Èdbaffanjfgâta, Rabat
Matât'em, k c . thë^fràiiÿè princes and iclm^s haveVbeen'1 in" file i'hÉiit o f
keeping , a register:,-;óf the principal evcritivpa!. . form ó f . a çÉrohpîogical
table. Theâe. are nöt. vèry' consistent in what rpgariis evërits.anterior tb/'th e
Mahometan conversion. From these tables is formed th a t w ïic& ii^ n n èx e d
to the following, history. -AH .that is subsequent to the estabÈs^ment of
Matarem is translated from the, records o f th e court o f Siirdfcprta.
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C H A P T .E R X .
iTfie Historyfydfa Java from the'earliest-. Traditions till the Establishment o f
, Mahometanism.
"Amongst the various' traditions "^regarding* the. manner in, which Java
and the ESstèrnTslands were originally peopled, andHhe sdurte (whence- its
^pulation prdefeeded," it has been related,1 that) the-first’in habitants came in
vessels fróm'the Red Sea (Ldut Mira),- and’-thk, in their passage,«they
coasted'*'along- the shores »^Hindustan'; that peninsula them forming» an
unbroken-continent with the land in the • Iridian^Archipelago; from- which.it
is^nowivo widely separated, arid which, According to thfe traditionss has
since beert divided into so jmahy’ distinct7islands,' by sómé- eorivulstorif; of
nature orft&yölution of- the elements.*”
^ These‘péople7- are“ supposed to have beènJbanished^fram Egypt, -and
III have -Consisted of individuals professing different, jedijgious^ persuasions,
who carried along with them tol the. land of their exile; their-differerit
modes of worship and articles, of belief.'"« Soriië are said to have adored the
s u n ; .Others", the mpon some the elements oft fire or watej,^ and, others the
trees Of^wei forest! Like all other uncivilized men, - 1hey were" addicted to
the arts of divination, and-particularly; to. the practice o f astrology. ■ In
h’ttber- respects;- they are described as savages} living in. hordes, without
fixed habitations, without the1 protection«- of'fegülar government, or the
Restraint óf established :law. Respect" for age was the only, substitute for
civil,obedience. Tjie'.cJdest man of the horde was considered its chief,
and regulated its simple movements, or - prescribed its .political, duties.
When thé crop was gathered and the accustomed'devotions performed, ! t
was he who appointed the mode and time of- its departure from one place-to
another. On these occasions, the' ^Me,"'aaerv offering their.-sacrifices and
feasting in an open plain, left the remains of their -repast to-attract the
h voi. i f ... K . ' • ■ biïd
’ * Middlekoop’s Collection. •