Creole and mixed races partake at least as muchs
of the native character as of that of the genuine
Hollander. Without the means of acquiring a liberal
education, living under a suspicious and perverse
order of government, as a privileged caste,
exercising a tyranny over the great body of the
population, and entirely served by slaves, it cam
not be supposed that such untoward circumstances
should beget a character of many virtues. The
mixed races of the Dutch are, accordingly, with very
partial exceptions, a timid, servile, sensual, indolent,
and uneducated people. Their manners and
habits will be best described in the language of a
Dutch traveller of good sense and sound observation,
who had ample opportunity of noting them,
and who cannot be suspected of harbouring any
undue prejudices against his countrymen. About
the year 1770, and there is not much difference
since, Admiral Stavorinus gives the following sketch
of the Dutch colonists of Batavia.
“ Europeans, whether Dutch or of any other nation,
and in whatever station they are, live at
Batavia, nearly in the same manner. In the morning,
at five o’clock, or earlier, when the day
breaks, they get up, Many of them then go and
sit at their doors ; but others stay jn the house,
with nothing but a light gown, in which they
sleep, thrown over their naked limbs ; they then
breakfast upon coffee or tea ; afterwards they dress
and go out, to attend to the business they may
have. Almost all, who have any place or employment,
must be at their proper station, at or before
eight o’clock, and they remain at work till eleven,
or half past. At twelve o’clock they dine, take an
afternoon’s nap till four, and attend to their business
again till six, or take a tour out of the city in
a carriage. At six o’clock they assemble in companies,
and play or converse till nine, when they
return home 5 whoever chooses to stay to supper
is welcome, and eleven o’clock is the usual houi
of retiring to rest, Convivial gaiety seems to
reign among them, and yet it is linked with a
kind of suspicious reserve, which pervades all
stations, and all companies, and is the consequence
of an arbitrary and jealous government. The
least word that may be wrested to an evil meaning,
may bring on very serious consequences if it
reach the ears of the person who is aggrieved,
either in fact or in imagination. I have heard
many people assert, that they would not confide
in their own brothers in this country.
“ IS 0 women are present at these assemblies 5
they have their own separate companies,
“ Married men neither give themselves much
concern about their wives, nor show them much regard,
They seldom Converse with them, at least
not on useful subjects, or such as concern society.
After having been married for years, the ladies