Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/403

 SEQUEL OF JAVANESE HISTORY. 359 training the natives to a predatory and desultory war- fare, the only one which a barbarous enemy, in a close country i can with any success conduct against a civi« lized and disciplined one, and that even in the event of success, they would acquire but a desolated and ruined conquest, hardly worth the occupation. Oppression on the part of the government act- ing on the singular credulity and superstition of the people, gives rise in Java to those rebels, called, in the language of the country, Kraman^ a word which literally means " an impostor or pretender to royalty." Whenever the country is in a state of anarchy, one or more of these persons is sure to appear. Sometimes they affect to be descended from some ancient line of sovereigns ; at others, pretend to redress grievances, and now and then to propagate some absurd and nonsensical opinions, under the name of a new religion. Sometimes the individuals themselves are designing fanatics, at others, mere boys, or simple peasants, the puppets or tools of more designing and artful persons. Who- ever they be, they are quite sure of finding follow- ers, and they have been often known to subjugate whole provinces, and to disturb the peace of the country for whole years, defying the legitimate authorities. The reign of Pakubuwono was fruit- ful in these insurrections. The fate of one of these impostors is worth narrating, because it affords but too true a picture of native manners. Mas Dono set up the standard of rebellion in the district of Mata*