To add to the difficulties of the country, a religious schism has appeared. It is curious, though very difficult to be understood. I will endeavour to give a clear account of my view of the case. About twenty years ago, a Bornean haji, named Mahomed, taught that God had no personality; to say he had, was to acknowledge oneself an infidel. Being pressed for an explanation, he said, the personality might be allowed in the thoughts, but to express it in words was to compare the Deity to a human being, which was a gross impiety. The religious world, shocked at this heresy, sent a deputation to Mecca, who returned denouncing haji Mahomed as a false teacher. He replied by accusing the hajis of deceiving the people; that his was the true doctrine, as taught by the elders of the Church, and that he would go and inquire for himself. After an absence of two years, he arrived full of Arabic and learning to uphold his former opinion. The controversy waxed hotter and hotter, deputation and counter-deputation went off to Mecca; but each party always asserted that the learned doctors had decided for them. Rival mosques were built, with their rival imams and preachers. The people of the capital, not understanding the question, ranged themselves under their chosen leaders, and added to their political differences their religious quarrels. The present sultan, and the family of the late rajah Muda Hassim, with about a tenth of the city, but nearly all the hajis, support the orthodox or personality theory; while the pañgeran tumanggong, the rest of the family of the late sultan, and most of the sections of Brunei, are followers of haji Mahomed’s doctrine. This controversial haji died about four years ago, and the present sultan was very loth to permit him to be buried in the usual cemetery; but his friends mustered too strongly to be resisted, and all opposition was withdrawn. The two parties have a difference in the length of the fast month: one reckons it at twenty-nine days, the other at thirty; and both are ready to apply the term infidel to their opponents. I may mention, whilst speaking of the fast month, that on its termination the sultan and rajahs proceed in gay procession to visit and have cleaned the graves of their ancestors. It is a pretty sight: some fifty long prahus, urged on by from ten to fifty paddles, gliding over the waters, with gay flags, bright-coloured umbrellas, in which the royal yellow, and the white, black, green, and red of the viziers are conspicuous. Gongs and drums are beaten, and the crews shout, to give life to the scene.