impossible, except by the despotic orders of chiefs whom
they have been accustomed to obey, as children obey their
parents. The free competition of European traders, however,
introduces two powerful inducements to exertion.
Spirits or opium is a temptation too strong for most
savages to resist, and to obtain these he will sell whatever
he has, and will work to get more. Another temptation
he cannot resist, is goods on credit. The trader offers him
gay cloths, knives, gongs, guns, and gunpowder, to be paid
for by some crop perhaps not yet planted, or some product
yet in the forest. He has not sufficient forethought to take
only a moderate quantity, and not enough energy to work
early and late in order to get out of debt; and the consequence
is that he accumulates debt upon debt, and often
remains for years, or for life, a debtor and almost a slave.
This is a state of things which occurs very largely in every
part of the world in which men of a superior race freely
trade with men of a lower race. It extends trade no doubt
for a time, but it demoralizes the native, checks true civilization,
and does not lead to any permanent increase in
the wealth of the country; so that the European government
of such a country must be carried on at a loss.
The system introduced by the Dutch was to induce the
people, through their chiefs, to give a portion of their time
to the cultivation of coffee, sugar, and other valuable
products. A fixed rate of wages—low indeed, but about
equal to that of all places where European competition has
not artificially raised it—was paid to the labourers engaged
in clearing the ground and forming the plantations under
Government superintendence. The produce is sold to the
Government at a low fixed price. Out of the net profits
a percentage goes to the chiefs, and the remainder is
divided among the workmen. This surplus in good years
is something considerable. On the whole, the people are
well fed and decently clothed; and have acquired habits
of steady industry and the art of scientific cultivation,
which must be of service to them in the future. I t must
be remembered, th a t the Government expended capital
for years before any return was obtained; and if they
now derive a large revenue, it is in a way which is far
less burthensoine, and far more beneficial to the people,
than any tax th a t could be levied.
But although the system may be a good one, and as
well adapted to the development of arts and industry in a
half-civilized people, as it is to the material advantage of
the governing country, it is not pretended that in practice
it is perfectly carried out. The oppressive and servile
relations between chiefs and people, which have continued
for perhaps a thousand years, cannot be at once
abolished; and some evil must result from those relations,
till the spread of education and the gradual infusion of
European blood causes it naturally and insensibly to dis