far better than they are in many civilized lands. The
teachers are all well paid. Those on this island are
all natives. They are remarkably awkward, probably
because they feel dressed u p ; for, on such an important
occasion as the present, every one who holds
a government office must appear in a black suit.
A gain and again I found it required great self-command
to keep from smiling when it was expected I
should look very grave and dignified; for here, on the
outskirts of civilization, I beheld all the fashions of
Europe, apparently for the last two hundred years.
All the petty officials wore dress coats, some with tails
almost on the ground, and others with sleeves so long
that you could scarcely see the ends of the fingers,
and still others with the waists so small that they
seemed to be in corsets. Some of these coats had
narrow collars, and had evidently been worn by the
most dainty exquisites, while others had lapels
broad enough for the outer coat of a coachman. As
soon as the inspection is over these precious articles
are carefully rolled up and thoroughly smoked, to
prevent their being destroyed by the ants. They are
then placed away till the next year, when they are
again unrolled and at once put on, entirely filled with
wrinkles, and giving out the strongest odors.
On entering the school-house the Resident is
greeted with a welcome that has been prepared long
before by the teacher and committed to memory by
a small boy, who now steps forward, and, stretching
out both arms at fall length, repeats the oration at
the top of his voice, occasionally emphasizing certain
sentences by making a low bow, but taking care all
the time not to bend his extended arms. This ordeal
finished, the children join in singing a psalm, all
keeping time by striking the forefinger of the right
hand with the palm of the left. It was most amusing
to see the little ones perform their part of the ceremony.
The four classes, into which the schools are
divided, are now successively examined. The two
younger classes in reading and spelling the Malay
language, written in the Roman alphabet, according
to the Dutch rules of pronunciation. The two older
classes are likewise examined in these branches, in
penmanship, and the simple rules of arithmetic.
As I visited school after school I became more
and more surprised at the general proficiency of the
children, and I am certainly of the opinion that they
would compare very favorably with the children of
the same ages in our own country districts. This
remarkable promise in childhood is not, however,
followed by a corresponding development during
youth and manhood.
The population* of these islands is divided into
the following kinds: first, that of Europeans, which
also includes the mestizoes, or, as they are always
called here, n half-castes,” who are of all shades of
mixture, from those who are as white as Europeans
to those who are as brown as the natives. - Outside
* In 1855 the population of the islands east of Amboina was thus divided.
and so little change has occurred that these figures closely represent
the relative numbers of each class at the present time:
Islands. Mestizoes. Burgers.
Villagers.
Total.
Christians. Mohammedans.
88 288 8,204 3,544 64 7,188
162 2,912 7,340 1,154 97 11,665
Nusalaut......................... 4 63 3,386 26 3,479