5 JD M A T R /f. 
verfion of the fpedtators, and mortification of the pretender to fuperior 
gifts, who vowed revenge^ and would have taken it, had not means been 
ufed to keep him at a diftance. But a fingle detection of tharlatanerif^ 
is not efFed:uaI to deftroy a prevalent fuperftition, Thefe impoftors are 
ufually found among the Malays, and not the more fimple country people, 
Ko attempts, 1 have reafoa to think, have ever been made by mif- no mUEohi* 
fionaries, or others, to convert the inhabitants of the ifland to Chrifti- 
aaky, and I have much doubt, whether the moil zealous and able would 
meet with any permanent fuceefs in this pious wofk. Of the many 
thoufands baptized in the eaftern iilands, by the celebrated Francis Xa* 
vier^ in the fixteenth century, not one of their defcendanti are now found 
to retain a ray of the light imparted to them ; and probably, as it was 
novelty only, and not convidlion, that induced the original converts to 
embrace a new faith,, the impreffion lafted no longer than the fcntiment 
which recommended ir, and difappeared as rapidly as the itinerant apoftle. 
Fortugueze and Chriftians are confounded, in the Malay language under 
the fame general name, the former being called orang Zeranif* by 
corruption for " Nazsram,^ This neglect of miffions to Sumatra, is 
one caufe that the country has been fo little known to tke civilized 
world*- 
