THE REFORMERS OF KORINCHI. 471 



whetlier that place or Pagaruyong was the more an- 

 cient site is undecided. 



The first European who reached this region was 

 Sir Stamford Raffles in 1818. He had the good for- 

 tune to discover at Suruasa two inscriptions on stone 

 in the Kawi, or ancient Javanese character, thereby 

 proving that the early civilization of Java was trans- 

 planted to this land. At Pagaruyong he also dis- 

 covered a Hindu image, " chastely and beautifully 

 carved, corresponding with those discovered in Java, 

 and e\T.dently the work of similar artists and the ob- 

 ject of a similar worship." Thus the ancient religion, 

 as well as the ancient language of Java, was adopted 

 to some extent by the early inhabitants of this coun- 

 try. 



There appears to be no reason Avhy we should 

 suppose that Mohammedanism was first introduced 

 into Java and thence brought to this land, as there 

 is in the case of the Hinduism that prevailed here 

 centuries ago. We may rather infer that soon after 

 that religi(m had found followers on the north coast, 

 its teachers were not long in making their way into 

 the Menangkabau country, the influence and reputed 

 wealth of which must have been pictured to them in 

 the most glo^vdng colors as soon as they fii'st landed 

 at Achin. 



About the year 1807 three native pilgrims re- 

 turned from Mecca to their liomes on the shores of 

 Lake Korinchi, which is situated about thirty miles 

 southeast of the great mountain of Tahing. As they 

 had just left the grave of their prophet, they burned 

 with zeal to discipline their lax countrymen, and to 



