"It is incumbent upon every man of condition to be well versed in the history of former times, and to have read all the chiríta (written compositions) of the country: first, the different _Ráma_, the _B'rata yúdha_, _Arjúna wijáya_, _Bíma súchi_; secondly, the different accounts of _Panji_; thirdly, the _Júgúl múda_, _Pralámbang_, and _Jáya langkára_; also to know their different tunes, as well as the mode of striking the _gámelan_; he must know how to count the years, months, and days, and comprehend the _Sangkála_, understand the _Káwi_ language, and also must be clever in all _Niúng'ging_ Painting; _Ukir ukir_ Carving in wood; _Pándi_ Iron-work; _Kemásan_ Gold-work; _Argénding_ Musical instrument making; _M'ráng'gi_ Kris-sheath making; _N'gapús_ Compositions (literary); _Gárdji_ Sewing with the needle; working; _Anyára-wedi retna_ Jewellery; _Anyádur-rasa_ In gilding and the application of quicksilver. And he must also be skilled in horsemanship, and in the management of an elephant, and have courage to destroy all bad men, and drive away all women of loose character." The _Níti sástra_ is a work of the greatest celebrity on Java: the original is in the _Káwi_ language, but there are many versions. The following is translated from a modern version in the present language of Java. "Praise be to _Batára Gúru_, who is all powerful! to _Batára Vishnu (wísnu)_, who purifieth the minds of men! and to _Batára Súria_, who enlighteneth the world! May they render their divine assistance to the author who composeth this work, _Níti Sástra_, which contains an account of the truths to be found in the sacred writings, and which are highly necessary to be known by all public officers. "A man who cannot regulate his conduct according to circumstances, and to the situation in which he may be placed, is like unto a man who has lost the senses of taste, and enjoyeth not the advantage of _síri_, for such a man doth not shine in the world, however fair may be his appearance. "A man who is ignorant of the sacred writings, is as one who has lost his speech; for when these become the conversation of other men, he will be under the necessity of remaining silent. "It is an abomination to the Divinity to worship him in an unclean place; and the man who does so may be compared to one who eats another man's bread without his consent. The food is unwholesome to him, even as if he ate of his own bread with aversion, in which case he resembles the poor man who overeats himself and afterwards suffers from hunger. "A woman who takes not a husband until her hair becomes grey and her teeth fall out, is despicable in her own eyes, because men will no longer feel any inclination to her.