258 SUMATRA. 
The Sumatrans are firmly perfuaded that various particular perfons, 
are^ what they term htQoah" (facred^ impafBve, invulnerable, not 
liable 
The exc«ffiv« indolence and fupiaeneR of tLU pepple, ts evident from their having no written 
account of their rdigion, govcmraent, or hiftory. All their knowlc<lge chtrcin was founded on 
traditioDf or handed from father to foa in fong-s, %vhich they repeat in their voyages, feafls, and 
funerals. In thefe baUads are related the fabuloue gcnsatogy and deeds of their gods and great 
men. Superior to the rc/l of their 4dties, they u-orihippfed one whom the S^jfo/jj called Bath^da 
Meyca^aff which figniftcs tjod ttic MaKiir. Tln^y tulnr^fl alfo the Ain, moon, and rainbow, 
and different kinds of auvmak and birds. They reverenced a blue bird of the du of a Aailiog^ 
to which al£o they attributed the name of Batbaht 4nd adored the crow, caJliog it Miyh^a^ or 
iord of the earth ; they held the ctumrtt or aJigatorj in great reverence^ and when they &w him 
they called him msQi or grandfather! prajfing with great tendenier* tliat he would do tliem no 
harm, and to this end, offered him of whatever they had in tlieir boatsj throwing it into the 
water. There was not old tree to which they did not offer divine wor£bip, efpcdally that 
called ifaitU ; juid even at this time they have ibme refpe^ for them. Befide tbtjfe they had cer- 
tain idoU inherited from iheir anccftors, wliich the ^agalas called AitUo, and tlie Bi/ayans, 
Di*iiala^ Some of thefe were f^r the mountains ar4d plains, and diey aiLed their leave when they 
would paf* them ; others for ihe corn fields, aniJ to tbefe they recommend them, tha£ they might 
be fertiie, placing meat and drink in the helds for the ufe of the MH^s, There was one, of 
the fea, who had cai« of their Mung and navigation j anoilicr of the hoii£e» whole favor thejr 
implored at the birth of a child, and under whofc protcQion they placed it. They made Anstos 
alfo of tlidr deccafed anceilorSj and to thefe wck their firA invocations In all diSicuhics and 
dangers. They reckoned amongft thefe being», all thofe who were killed by lightning or aligatorSf 
or had any difalbous deaths and beheved that il^y were carried up to the happy Sate, by the rain- 
bow, which they call BalaJt-giM,. In general they endeavored to atcrtbute this kind of divinity 
to their fatlier^i when they died in years, and the aid men, vain with this barbai-ous notion^ af« 
fe£ied in their fickneffi a gravity and compofure of mind, as they conceived, more than human, 
bccaufe they thought themfclves commencing Anlwu They were to he interred at places marked 
out by 4hf mfeivps, that they might be difcoTcred at a diftance and worlhipped. The jMifTionaries 
have had great trouble In demoUlhlng their tomhs and Idols^ but the Indians, inlanci, (lill con- 
tinue the cuftom of f>^fing tali fa nmOf or aJkiog perroiffion of dieir dead anceftors, when ihey 
enter any woodj loountain, or corft field, for hunting or fowing % and if they omit lliis cereraooj, 
imagine their nems will punilh chem with bad fortuoe. They had no temples or places of 
worfhip, but the idols weiie placed in their houil*S| or fome cave, or like place, with a pan of ia* 
ocnfe bumiog before them i but they had ^reat numbers of priefts and prieftefics, which the 
Tagaim called CatGlonattt and the Bifa^mSj Bahajlan, Their facrifices had different ceremonies, 
agreeable 10 the occafion of making them. If it was in compliment to any of their chiefs, they 
called it, for greater oftentation, the feaft of B^b&kt Meycafsit and they raifed an aibour befoce 
the lioufcj ornamented with different colored cloths, in which the guefts affemblcd, and the Com 
H't'ojum or prieftefs ordered a girl of the belt appearance among them^ to kill the animal, which 
was brought for this purpoTe j accompanied with mufic and dancing* The beait being killed. 
