Ferguson — On Links between Asia and Central America. 139 



Javanese Scenic Shadows. 



K.I. A. PHOC. — VOL. I., SER. II., POL. LIT. AN]) ANTIQ. 



" In the wayangs, 

 or scenic shadows, the 

 subject of the perform- 

 ances is taken from the 

 earliest period of his- 

 tory and fable, down 

 to the destruction of 

 the Hindu empire of 

 Majapahet. These are 

 distinguished accord- 

 ing to the periods of 

 the history which they 

 represent, by the terms 

 wdyang purwa, wayang 

 gedog, and wdyang Id'i- 

 tik 



" The different cha- 

 racters in the history 

 are in these ivdyangs 

 represented by figures, 

 about eighteen inches 

 or two feet high, stamp- 

 ed or cut out of pieces 

 of thick leather — ge- 

 nerally of buffalo's 

 hide, which are painted 

 and gilt with great 

 care, and at considera- 

 ble expense, so as to 

 form some supposed re- 

 semblance of the cha- 

 racter of the individual 

 intended to be personi- 

 fied. The whole figure 

 is, however, strangely 

 distorted and gro- 

 tesque, the nose in par- 

 ticular, being unnatu- 

 rally prominent. There 

 is a tradition, that the 

 figures were first so dis- 

 torted by the Susunan 

 Mdria, one of the early 

 Mahometan teachers, 

 in order to render the 

 preservation of the an- 

 cient amusements of 

 the country compatible 

 with a due obedience 

 to the Mahometan pre- 

 cept, which forbids any 

 exhibition or dramatic 



X 



