paid in kind, generally amounting to one fifth of the
produce and one day’s labour out of five, were not
interfered w ith ; and the Prince being allowed hut a
limited number of soldiers as a body-guard, and shorn
of all real power, which is vested in the Dutch
Resident, received not only a certain annual grant, but
even, as a further incitement, some allowance on all
the crops produced within his district, the whole
of which, by treaty, had to be sold and delivered to
the Dutch Government at prices fixed by the latter.
This, prior to 1824, had been about one-tenth only of
the value of such produce in the Amsterdam market.
Thence, until 1833, continued warfare reduced these
provinces to a very low ebb, and little else but rice was
grown during the interval; after that a more liberal
scale of prices was established, and hence the old
system seems to have worked harmoniously to the
satisfaction of all parties concerned.
In order to remedy the annual deficit, which had
become chronic, and to enable the Government to
liquidate the heavy debt incurred during the period of
strife and trouble, it became necessary to adopt strong
measures, and it was thus that forced labour was introduced
in 1830 all over the island, excepting the two
so-called protected provinces, Solo and Djokjo; and
henceforth the producing power of the colony became
only limited by the amount of available labour, which
accounts for more than one-half of the island being still
uncultivated.
At first sight it may seem inexplicable that an entire
people should have quietly submitted to labour year
after year for the sole benefit of their great taskmaster,
nay, have done so even cheerfully, and in all
their relations showing the greatest respect for the
foreign conqueror. Two reasons exist for this apparent
phenomenon. In the first place, the character of the
native is naturally docile and submissive; the repeated invasions
of his country, first by the Hindus, then by the
Buddhists, and lastly by the Mahomedans, had tried
him severely, and had had the effect of gradually, but
completely subduing, if not extinguishing, every spark
of energy in him, and no wonder he values the peaceful
existence his last conquerors guarantee to him.
He is now no more harassed by religious persecutions ;
is not made to fight against his inclination; and in
return for his labour he enjoys the comforts of a neat
bamboo cottage, earns as much rice as he can eat, and
sufficient money to buy a new sarong. And, secondly, a
very important factor is the manner in which the Government
carried out these new measures for the gradual development
of unlimited resources, such as the rich soil of
Java pre-eminently possesses, namely, by availing itself