cxciv a p p e n d i x .
g and the strict precautions in carrying the slaves on board, are equalled? only by the
« licentiousness with which the transports are fabricated.
' «..A- distinction ought, however, to b e made between such illegal and criminal
« practices, and a more moderate trade in slaves', many o f whom it is true are stolen,
« bilt w h im o m vicinity, nor in the districts o f the Company. The remainder are
“ generally such as,, according to the separate laws and customs o f the native nations
« iD f P ^ ^ e s^ h a v é in-some way-or other .forfeited their liberty, either in war, o r fo r
« some misdemeanour, or on account o f debts. These are likewise higher in price, so
« that th e trader cannot' have^so mu ch g a in upon them ; they may also appear at
A b ro ad day-light, a n Interpreter may with security answer for. them. Such slaves
« c a n b e brought on board very quietly in the d a y tim e ; the frequency o f .murder,
« a s in other cases, id not much to be dreaded, and our town h fe Considerably less
« danger to apprehend from these than from the dlass before-mentioned-. » ' .
Th e report concludes by recommending specific measures, ahd-expressmg an opinion,
that « it would not be inexpedient, if, bat for one year, the exportation o f slaves from -
« hence were suspended.’’? • i - - H R H H - , . '
I n th e following ' year,' th e residents received instructions from th e high regency, m
Which several o f .their predecessors w e re accused o f having « assum ed * d esp o tic sway
« o v e r th e natives, p lu n d ered those over whom th ey h ad been-placed to p ro te c t them,
« and ®f having even dared, with the assistance o f .the native c h i w h o m t h e y l a v e
“ fo u n d m e a n s to d e b a u c h , to put the natives in irons; and to sell them as slaves.
s Mr. Chassé, when governor o f M a k â s a r , much to his honour, attfempted to put a stop
to manstealing, in the neighbourhood o f bis residency. H e did not, howeverV succeed
loamy extent. When the British arrived, it appeared that numbetii o f phJnderérs were
roaming about for the supply o f the slave.market; which was still*Qpëti ; . o t a ^
inhabitants-of the villages adjacent to M a k â s a r , never dared to! approac , excep jn
parties of at least five or six armed men. An e q u a l caution P ^ ^ d t o u g h o u t th e -
€° T o ^ f o r e e the British aboffion laws, there w as formed at -Batavia, in the beginning’
of the year 1816, a society called the J a m B e n e v o l e n t I n s t i tu t io n ,, ^ in the . courses ot
the vear this society published an account o f its proceedings, containing,, among other
interesting matter, «^Remarks upon M a k â s a r , &c. compiled front the i n f ormation |
« Lieutenant Owen Phillips, assistant resident there-” ' Tips paper “ «ducies as
f o « °T h e laws recognized between the Dutch Company and t h é -states o f B éni and
“ -G n a may be considered a fair criterion o f their general spirit and tendency.
«■They'were agreed lo in an early period o f the Dutch establishment, when Admiral
« Spefelman Concluded a treaty with those states, and they have not since undergone
« S y material alterations. The penalties therein prescribed were reqmred t o
« paid in money or property o f Üny description, at the arbitrary rates fixed by tod
« sarné laws, and which appear on the whole to be extremely favourable to the M l
« vidual; -debtors or convicted felons, in default o f payment, becoming bondsmen
A f> P E N DT-X. CXCV
.«• But the temptation to corruption-. afforded by an open, market-and an increased appendix
« demand for; slaves for traffic, introduced-a practice o f condemning, first to bondagè, -
f i i and then fabricating for three:;doHars -a 'certificate, o f slavery; a practice which,
«' although not récognized- in . the laws subsisting between the European -and native
“ powers, was yet, generally known do -prevail, and if-not formally sanctioned was
^(iopenly tolerated under the formdrAysteoi..'.-; •
-- C(r, W h ilst these laws are administered in .the native states-by their councils- or b e -
ch a r,a s, the administration ofbjustice in to e Company’s territories was vested in the
« .Regent, under the supermtendauce o f to e ' D r o s t , but who-has usurped the -power
f/atof actually, deciding;.- particularly in cases where hens; interested in the-condemntf-
^Sljtion^« from th e right which toe jndgëtenjoysj o f 'a moiety o f the'property arising
“ from, the sale'of persons conderimeH'rto-sIaverypofc in-the appropriation; «^ -a-uertaih
« number o f them to his own .use^toThe. abuses arising-out of-the'se Unlawful we urpa-
:«,.tidns appear to have'attained a great height .in- K a a ,, when -toe commission was
appointed t o ir i quire into them ; b u t ( a s ' in the .-case !o £ restraints, which had from.
“ time to,.time .been imposed by law)-~toat inquiry did little more-than reed gnizethe
“ right’o f control oyer the actors and participators .in such, abuses ; a .right which
“ could readily An’d profitably be edmpromised by men-who, from habit, were actuated
w by little déterrüined abhorrence o f such 'crime's, and no-steady resolution to eradica te
“• them. To- this causè alone must be attributed -the- difficulties stated -by toe commis-
f f rion to be opposed to toe due éxecution' o f to e laws, -and-to the suppression o f the
« enortaitiestoat werelgenferally,practised; and although partial reforms were effected?
“ according to toe disposition and-principles o f the - persons who' presided- Successively
M a k a s a r , the enormous-gains to be derived from- the toleration of* corruption was
<£ !h powerful obstacle to its removal: and it-maybe said'of the abuses and enormities
£< detailed by the -eommissioq in 1799, that although perpetuated with more or less
“ aggravShobj as - the-controuling'anthority was more or less conscientious and vigi-
« lant; no radical; removal of. them to o k . placb, nor w ere toe suggestions o f that com-
“ mission carried into effect, except partially within toe town o f M a k& s a r .
*«-.On the establishment. of-.the British government; ?the practice'and mode o f kid^
«-.napping within the town' of'Afofofoizr-hnd in some degree- bton---restricted and
ameliorated; tout'this did not extend to to e country. ' Sdme limitations? had therc-
■ fore been imposed on the cdnhivance and,direct participation-6f-the public functiona-
f {. lie s ; but bondsmen were still generally employed*as inan-steaIers, !‘and th e practice
« o f concealing in secret prisons, o f assassinations.to prevent detection, and o f midnight
<£ embarkations, were b.ut -little controuled or inquired- intoj'-as 'may be sufficiently
•«.inferred from the laxity .of toe public fribèhals, and toe rare instances o f any infrac-
•“ tions o f these laws being' punished by them. ■
« The ïntrodüction o f the prohibitory laws by. the establishment o f the British govern-
« ment, naturally .operated to . cause a sudden and complete suspension o f the open
.« traffic; and although, individuals are still .clandestinely carried - f r o m M a k d s a r , toe
« number is sd small, that toe utmost vigilance has hitherto been unable to convict the
2 b 2 « perpetrators,