live in the African desert or the American forest, among the snows of Siberia or
on the table-land of Tibet, will bear its distinctive and appropriate character. We
do not doubt, therefore, but that Sherard Osborn is right in the explanation he
offers of the superstitious credulity of the Malays, that the wonderful phenomena
peculiar to the seas and islands of the great Eastern Archipelago could never be
intelligible to an uneducated and highly imaginative race except on the
supposition of supernatural agency. Of course, this superstitious temperament is
not confined to the Malayan race. It is found, as we have said, in all savage
peoples, and springs from that profound though often vague and undefinable
sense of an overruling and mysterious Power which the influence of Nature
impresses on the heart of man.
There were proofs by the thousand among the Malays with whom Admiral
Sherard Osborn came in contact, of that connection with the Unseen World
which men in every stage of civilisation seem to accept and to be desirous of
developing. And he relates a striking instance of their great credulity, which we
may quote here as not wholly without illustrative value.
Sherard Osborn’s gunboat was lying one night close to the southern point of the
Quedah river, where it flows into the Strait of Malacca. The air was chill and
damp, and the sky obscured with clouds, through which a young moon sped
occasional shafts of silver light.
About eleven o’clock his attention was directed to his look-out man, a Malay,
who, seated upon the fore-deck gun, was spitting violently, and giving rapid
utterance to expressions apparently of reproof or defiance. Another Malay
quickly joined him; pointed towards the jungle-loaded shore; and then he too
began the spitting and ejaculatory process. After awhile, with an evident air of
relief, the second Malay went down below. Unable any longer to restrain his
curiosity, Sherard Osborn walked forward. The look-out man had turned his
back to the jungle, but ever and anon threw a furtive glance over his shoulder,
and uttered sentences in which the name of “Allah” frequently occurred. He
seemed delighted at the coming of his captain, and, springing to his feet, saluted
him.
“Anything new?” said Osborn; “any prahus in sight?”
“Teda, Touhan—no, sir,” was the reply; and then observing that his officer was
looking in the direction of the jungle, he made signs that it was better to look
anywhere but there.