1 94 Voyage of the Novara. 



later to Mahometanism. The precise period at which the 

 first of these took place seems to be as yet quite uncertain, 

 but this much is known, that from the 13th to the 15th cen- 

 tury Brahmaism prevailed in Java. The conversion of the 

 Javanese to Islam, whose religion is at present professed by 

 the great majority of the inhabitants,* took place in 1478 

 under the ruler of Salivana, after Arabian, Persian, Malay, 

 and Mahometan Hindoos had since the year 1358 vainly en- 

 deavoured to introduce that faith, f 



In addition to the native population there is also a large 

 number of foreign settlers in Java, of whom the Chinese 

 constitute far the largest contingent. Their number is above 

 140,000, and would be much greater were their attempts at 

 colonization not kept down by numerous limitations, and 

 heavy taxes and imposts. The Chinese, who in more than 

 one respect may be regarded as the Jews of. India, are only 

 admitted by the Indian Government at certain points of the 

 coast, and in many of the Regencies must not transgress 

 those limits. Although they are extraordinarily industrious, 

 ingenious, and well-suited for hard labour, yet the govern- 



* Only two of the various races of Java have remained constant to the belief of 

 their fathers, and still honour, some of them Buddha, some Brahma. Among these 

 are the Badawis, who constitute all that remain of a once mighty race at the east end 

 of the island, among the hills of Kendang in the Residency of Bandang, on the 

 Tenggers, also at the east of the island in the Residency of Passeruwan, the former 

 numbering 1500, the latter about 4000 souls. 



t Garsick, the Grisse of modern days, was the first spot where these jealous 

 sectaries settled about the year 1374, and the two Arabic sheikhs Dulla and Moel- 

 lana are usually cited by later historians as the introducers of the Mahometan 

 worship into Java. 



