OATHS. 



pevly Understood by its votaries, am! were it not, at 

 the same rime, affectedly neutralizing circumstances. 



It is virtually, on the w hole, a religion of the tongue 

 and of street-corner prayer, and (lie more ostenta- 

 Uuii>f\ and repeatedly its fornw are observed, the 

 more holy is the professor considered by the multi- 

 tude. But, as, to the mahometan, the future rewards 

 lit the faithful are chit fly senswal, so he naturally 

 enough considers that sensual indulgence* in this life 

 are foretastes allowed him of paradise, and to the 

 qualifications of his passions therefore, he is led, too 

 costly, to sacrifice truth. 



When a follower of Islam is sworn in any of our 

 Courts in the Straits, the moulla, or other nppuintcd 

 oftiecr, places the koran on his head and lie repents 

 to creed — 1 there is no God but God, and Maliorntt 

 is his prophet'. He is then directed to speak the 

 truth, and nothing else; Tbis mode of adjuration 

 has not been imposed by British law. It is employ- 

 ed under the native Mala; an ^.vermnents, with ihi> 

 difference, that in the latter case a greater degree 

 of solemnity is observed. 



This religion came to the Malays directly from the 

 Joiiutaiu head, Arabia. The -bulk of the mahomcan 

 population of I Julia within the Ganges, has been, since 

 the coin ptest of that rei/inn hy iheir ancestors, embued 

 wftti many Hindoo superstitions which must weaken 

 Ae power of their proper faith, and insensibly detract 

 from the intensity of the usual oath. Amongst the 

 Islamites, also, of the Straits and adjacent countries, 

 many original superstitions have not yet been eradi- 

 cated by converting zeal, and exert an influence not 

 the less sure because unobtrusive in Iheir operation. 



It is important to note that whereas the Hindoos of 

 India have obstinate] \ resisted all attempts to cOttfferl 

 them from their faith, the Booddhists of the Straits 



