among the common people, on' account of its length* is!tod oftep ffithy in
thé Axtreme* f They are accustomed to arrange the hair with a:cöarseicomb,
but .theuse of the small-tDothed comb is unknown, its office being invariably
performed, . the hands of women. Near Batavia, and some of thcldw
capital« of the coast, it is not unusual to see oh the road side-women thus
employed for the benefit of passengers, at. a dertanr.rate -per bead, who
submit to it :as naturally as an English labourer goes, into a barber s shop to
be sh&ved for a penny. The Maldyus accuse the Javans of eating what they
find on these occasions;:.« itu órang Mwa," say: they, leéiut”
This, however, appears -to be a calumny : .the Javans confess do'biting but
deny thfe' -swallowing. The practice of the women- cleamng .the <men& hair is
referred to by the Javans as of very ancient date., I t was from this-practice
that the mother of W d t u G w m n g , in the very earliest period of Javan traditionary
story, discovered her fost soft.*. j
Passing from this disgusting, particular, and. referring the-reader'to thé
details of the native history för the lèading features of,the political t-feha-
ldcter of the Javan, and to the other, divisions !of this work, whioh-hiay
afford him information how-to estimate -itfeir former and -present state of
civilization, I cannot hut regret, th a t'I am -compelled to''reservesuntil a
future occasion, a; more detailed account o£ the constitution’*, usages, and
customs of the village societies» I t is by these thatdheprivate virtues and
vices of thé- people are perhaps best illustrated,..’and. an account ,;©f the
municipal regulations by,which the’ little property and happiness, of each
individual is . protected, of.the internal .precautions ,:of police;-, and.fof (the
mcfde;of adjusting disputes, could not fail to be interesting,.- on.account ^ f
their* simplicity, their equity,, and efficacy,' Independently of ;tiae degree
óf rational jndependencè and importance which the Existence,: ofirthêse
societies insures to the common people^ and of the protection which, under
all circumstances o f greater political revolutions, they have.'èfforded'.to‘th'em,
'it iS' hoped that their influence in maintaining the'police'and 'tranquillity 'of
the "country," will fever 'prevent the European authority from interfering jn
foeir constitution or internal ..arrangements.
It has long been the opinion of .the „Dutch authorities, that a .system of
European police, and the employment of European officers of police Are
necessary;butiundér thé British government fhè contrary has been satis';
factorily- proved. Let the. higher .departments of justice be scrupulously
, superintended
See Javan History.
superintended and watched by jMropeans of character ; let the administration
of jg^Mbet^ure. prompt, and ste_ady’> let what/is • bad to the native
practice of ..pgliqe ,;b,£ gradually removed, but- let the" system, in its application
to the common peqple, be .supported. It is-one which has grown
with them, one which they; are/accustomed'’ to arid understand. Under the
, native system, thp rice block of the yillage js used as if he alarm; and
Recording, to,. th^nmnqer, in whiqh touts beaten, the inhabitants know
whether it .is to announce a single, thief .nr a, banditti, .a tiger or a fire, and
arm themselves suitably. As it is, usuaf for. a thief .jo, .jtave but. little
1 covering, on his body, and fo .oil^himself all ,over,J;hat he may slip from
the. hands of any one, who, play seize him, the Javans,make use of a long
wooden pole, wim b^icnes« nf brambles inverted within, a* fork, at the
and by means, of this,, simple contrivance they avoid the; risk of being
wounded, and enfectoally^pcure the offender, who „cannot e,scape without
tearing his skin. These, and other simple expedients, adopted from immemorial
custom and according to the circumstances of the country, are
certainly preferable to the watchmen’s rattles and constables’ staves, which
Europeans would wish to introduce.