The principal evidence was extorted from the
conspirators themselves on the rack ; and much
of it, therefore, may well be discredited; but,
whether the particulars be real or imagined, they
afford so curious an illustration of the character of
the Dutch administration, that they ought not to
be passed over in silence. After being frequently
put to the question, the conspirators confessed to
the following circumstances: The first object
was to massacre the Dutch with all the Europeans^
and the Christians of every denomination ; after
which, the conspirators were to be joined by all the
Asiatics in the island. Erberjeld, the chief conspirator,
took the name of Ywang Gusti,” or
The Lord; and Cantadia, the second conspirator,
the title of Raden, or Noble. The plot was
laid at the house of Erberfeld without the walls of
the city; and it appeared that the conspirators had
been in the practice of holding frequent meetings
at a country house of their leader, and there conducting
a correspondence with several native chiefs
and princes, both in the-island and in the neighbouring
countries. Some of the conspirators were
engaged, according to the superstitious notions of
the Javanese, and, as always happens on similar
occasions, in distributing charms and amulets to
render the possessors invulnerable. The attack
was to have commenced on the first day of the new
year, and with the first opening of the gates of the
citadel in the morning. Each conspirator had his
particular post and office assigned. The chief
conspirator was to have governed in the city and
citadel ; and the second to have administered the
territory extending to the mountains. The inferior
conspirators, under the titles or official designations
of Panger an, Tumanggung, and M antri,
were to fill the subordinate situations. The
conspiracy was wide spread, and the arrangement
for its execution to have been supported by a
force of seventeen thousand men. It originated
with Cantadia, a native of Cartasura, who
had, it appears, laboured for two years to seduce
Erberfeld. The conspirators were mostly natives
of Java, and almost all of them of mean origin.
It was detected but three days previous to the
time appointed for putting it in execution. Nineteen
of the conspirators, among whom were the
wives of three of the male prisoners, were tortured,
found guilty, and sentenced to the most cruel
and horrid punishments, which were carried into
execution fourteen days after sentence was passed.
* On Sunday, two days after the execution,
* The following is the record of this abominable sentence :
et We, the judges, having heard and examined the information
preferred exfrfficio by Henry van Steel, drossard of thelow eoun-
frjs against the betore-inenttoneii criminals, who have confessed
the whole, and submitted themselves voluntarily to this