3i* 
SUMATRA. 
favorable to the propagation of new opinions and cuftoms, (as the adop- 
tion of them by no one raja would ferve as authority to others, but the 
contrary) and which is not the cafe where people are united under one 
head, whom they look up to as the ftandard of their conduct. This 
was probably the reafon of the complete converfion of the fubjeds of 
Menangcahw to Mahometan! fm. And laftly, it may be prefumed that 
the idea maintained of the ferocioufnefs of the people, from their prad;ice 
of eating their prifoners, might probably damp the ardor, and reftrain 
the zealous attempts of religious innovators. 
