Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/431

 HISTORY OF CFXEBES. # 387 about were of the lowest order, and on this ac- count, perhaps, the fitter for their occupation. No extraordinary exertion seems for a long time to have been made in behalf of the new religion. An abhorrence of innovation, and a most pertina- cious and religious adherence to ancient custom, distinguish- the people of Celebes beyond all the other tribes of the eastern isles ; and these would, at first, prove the most serious obstacles to the dis- semination of Mahomedanism. It was this, proba- bly,* which deferred the adoption of the new reli- gion for so long a period, and till it had recommend- ed itself by wearing the garb of antiquity. Inde- pendent of the mere effect of habit, it is not pro- bable that the ancient religion of Celebes was one which laid a deep hold of the imagination of its vo- taries. Three years after the conquest of Boni, or in the year 1643, the Boni people rebelled, and a large force being sent against them, they were sub- dued, and, according to the custom of the coun- try, reduced to a state of bondage, being deprived of every privilege of an independent people. From the conversion of the Macassar state to Mahomedan- ism, in 1 603, it had been engaged in a rapid career of conquest, for the Macassars not only rendered tributary to them the principal states on Celebes, but carried their arms to Sambawa, the Xiilla Isles, Butting, and other countries. This brought them t