3H HISTORY OF THE PROPAGATION nation, and, at the moment, as is proved in another place, for a long time on the decline, or unsupport- ed by an active priesthood, were no match, not- withstanding their numbers, for the zeal and ener- gy of their adversaries. The throne and govern- ment being subverted, and the leaders adopting the new religion, the progress of conversion among a people who, at this moment, would almost adopt a new religion on the authority of a royal mandate or proclamation, was necessarily rapid. * The political state of the island, previous to the subversion of Hinduism, maybe described as follows. — The eastern and central provinces, the richest and most populous districts of the island, were sub- ject to the king of Mojopahit, some in a vassal state, and others under his direct sway. Cheriboriy and the districts around it, were under petty independent princes. The rest of the island, comprehending
- If we are to credit the apochryphal authority of Mendez
PintOj and there is no good reason to distrust it, the Hindu religion existed entire in the independent knigdom cf Pasuru- han, 68 years after the fall of Mojopahit. The chief of Da- mak, and other Mahomedan princes, went against it in the year 154(5, and were defeated. Pinto accompanied the ex- pedition, along with some other Portuguese adventurers, and his narrative though crowded with the most palpable falsehoods in matters ^ detail, shows that he understood the country and the people ot which he was rendering an account. — Voyages and Adventures of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto, Chap, xliv.
