Answer to Mr. Crawford's letter. Ikk. 



offences, arid death fof many crimes, among the lower classes; 

 but with those who are possessed ot property, it is in general 

 commuted to fines proportioned to the means of the delinquent, 

 not having any fixed sum as an equivalent for the life of a 

 man, as in Celebes and Sumbava. » (pag. 61.) 



« The religion of the Island is pagan, most of the Princes, 

 however, profess Christianity but are at the same time, entirely 

 guided by their pagan priests and customs. There does not 

 appear Jo be a single dOriVetY to Islamism in the Island. 

 I heir Deities are represented by particular stones or trees, and 

 although the same stones and trees are generally worshipped 

 by successive generations, instances are said to occur of their 

 exchar.gingt berth They style them Pfiets otevil spirits, considering 

 the sun and^mdon as good spirits, the latter as superior. They 

 conceive k' to be impossible that their good spirits should oc- 

 casion them any harm, and therefore deem it unnecessary to 

 pray to them, but they pray to the Niets, to avoid the evils they 

 are otherwise liable to suffer. » 



i Sacrifices are common, generally buffaloes, hogs, sheep or 

 fowls, ana sometimes of a human being. An annual sacrifice 

 of a- virgin was made to the sharks end alligators close to the 

 town of Coupang, until the Dutch Government put a stop to it 



about thirty years ago They place great dependence on 



auguries, particularly from the entrails of animals, and indeed 

 never embark in any undertaking without first obtaining a 

 happy omen. On occasion which concerns the State, a buffalo 

 is generally slain, but on private account generally a chicken. 

 The liver is the part chiefly attended to. » (Pag. 7.) 



Papers on Rotti. — > Some of the Rajas of Rotti profess 

 Christianity, but the religion of the Island is nearly the same 

 as Timor. Their marriages are merely civil contracts, but a 

 man cannot divorce or separate himself from his wife without 

 her consent, except in cases of adultery ; a plurality of wives is 

 allowed, but seldom occurs except among the higher classes. 

 They also inter their dead under their houses (wbich as is 



