/
JAVA: PAST &f PRESENT
A DESCRIPTION OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUN-
TRY IN THE WORLD, ITS ANCIENT HISTORY,
PEOPLE, ANTIQUITIES, AND PRODUCTS ^ ^ BY
DONALD MACLAINE CAMPBELL
LATE BRITISH VICE-CONSUL OF THAT ISLAND ; MEMBER OF THE DUTCH
COUNCIL OF SAMARANG (gEWESTELYKE RAAd) ; MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE OF SAMARANG M X X M M
WITH A MAP AND MANY ILLUSTRATIONS
IN TWO VOLUxMES
VOLUME I
LONDON WILLIAM HEINEMANN
London : William Heinemann, iQiJ-
US
J
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
My husband lived in Java for twenty-three years. In the
course of that time, both through his business connections
and by virtue of his official position, he had unusual oppor-
tunities to become famihar with the country and all classes
of its people. For the last five or six years of his residence
there this book was something more than the occupation
of his leisure hours. He gave a great portion of his time to
it, and spared neither labour nor expense in the search for
original authorities for the verification of his facts. It had
been his intention to divide the book into two parts, the
first consisting of a general history and description of Java,
and the second devoted to the story of the commerce and
industries of the island.
After his return to England in 1912 he set to work with
enthusiasm to finish his task. At the time of his death, on
2 June 1, 1913, the first part of the book was written and
*j the revision for the press had been commenced. That is
the portion presented in these two volumes. Whether the
material which he left for the second part — the commercial
section — will be published later in a third volume has yet
to be decided. These two volumes make, as will be seen, a
complete unit in themselves, and, with some editorial
revision, are published as he wrote them. The work of
preparing the matter for the press has been done by Mr. G. C.
Wheeler.
M. CAMPBELL.
303663
My Father
COLONEL FREDERICK CAMPBELI>,
C.B., V.D. (late R.A.)
THE FRIEND OF MANY HAPPY MOMENTS,
AS A MARK OF MY HIGH ESTEEM
PREFACE
Having decided to write a History of Java, my first task
wag not only to read all I could, but to collect as large a
library of reference books, manuscripts, and papers as was
possible. In this I was very successful owing to the inde-
fatigable and generous energy and assistance given me by
Mr. J. H. Fricker, of Upper Norwood, an old Dulwich
College boy, who somehow or other managed to hunt up
and secure a copy of practically every publication I wanted
on the subject of Java from the sixteenth up to the nine-
teenth century.
The chief works, to which very grateful recognition is
due, are : —
Sir Stamford EafQes's " History of Java," printed in
1817 ; "'Memoirs of Sir Stamford Raffles," by his wife,
printed in 1830 ; D'Almeida's " Life in Java " ; " The
Indian Archipelago," by Resident John Crawfurd, F.R.S.,
printed in 1823 ; Major Thorn's " Expedition to Java,"
printed in 1817 ; Dr. de Haan's " Priangan," four vols.,
pubhshed by G. Kolff & Co., Batavia ; " Munten van
Nederlandsch Indie," by Netscher and van der Chys ;
" Researches on Ptolemj^'s Geography," by Colonel G. E.
Gerini, M.R.A.S. ; " Encyclopaedia of Netherlands India " ;
" Ledger and Sword," by Beckles Willson (a very excellent
book) ; " The Journal of the Indian Archipelago " ; Harris's
" Voyages," printed 1744 ; " Java," by Professor Veth ;
Java Government Gazette ; " Twentieth Century Impres-
sions of Netherlands India " ; " Report on the Records
of the India Office," by Sir George Bird wood ; " The
Malay Archipelago," by Professor Alfred Russel Wallace ;
"Further India," by Sir Hugh Clifford; " Marsden's
History of Sumatra," printed 1811 ; " Messiah : the
Ancestral Hope of the Ages," by E. A. Gordon ; " Lord
X PREFACE
Minto in India," 1807—1814 ; " History of Nepaul," by
D. Wright ; Kaempfer's " History of Japan " ; *' Notes on
the Malay Archipelago," by Groeneveldt, and numerous
manuscripts written by the late Dr. Brandes, Mr. van der
Chys, and C. M. Pleyte, of Batavia.
Of these and many others of perhaps lesser importance I
have made use and now and again drawn freely upon them.
Otherwise the history is the result of personal study.
The study of Eastern peoples during my twenty-five
years' sojourn in the Far East has alwaj^s been a peculiarly
dehghtful subject to me, but no Eastern folk have interested
and fascinated me more than the Javans of the Dutch East
Indies. Their daily tasks, their religion, their amusements,
their customs, their feasts, their life, I have quite entered
into and lived in thought as one of them. Sorrows they
have none, at least not as we know them. The more I knew
of them the more excitement was engendered to learn and
study them further.
There are a few men in the East who have experienced
my feelings, but they have had an advantage which I have
not had, namely, that of being able to transcribe to paper,
with a full-flowing and vivid pen, the thrilling colour of
their Oriental experiences. Take for instance Sir Hugh
Clifford : what books of Eastern life are more fascinating
than his ? I, on the contrary, have unfortunately lacked
this quality.
In presenting, therefore, these humble unpretentious
volumes to the public I beg to assert that I in no way lay
even the smallest claim for any great originality, literary
abihty, or high standard. On the contrary, I am aware
that my collection of notes, pamphlets, and memoranda
originally transcribed to paper to give myself a more
succinct and more intelligent understanding of the history
of Java — but now clubbed together, and dubbed a history,
for the English public in Java— are full of shortcomings.
: PAST & PRESENT
X PREFACE
Minto in India," 1807—1814 ; " History
D. Wright ; Kaempfer's *' History of Japa
the Malay Archipelago," by Groene veldt
manuscripts written by the late Dr. Branc
Chys, and C. M. Pleyte, of Batavia.
Of these and many others of perhaps lesf
have made use and now and again drawn fi
Otherwise the history is the result of person
The study of Eastern peoples during
years' sojourn in the Far East has always I
delightful subject to me, but no Eastern foil
and fascinated me more than the Javans of
Indies. Their daily tasks, their rehgion, th
their customs, their feasts, their life, I ha^
into and lived in thought as one of them
have none, at least not as w^e know them. *]
of them the more excitement was engendei
study them further.
There are a few men in the East who h
my feelings, but they have had an advanta
not had, namely, that of being able to trari
with a full- flowing and vivid pen, the th:
their Oriental experiences. Take for insi
Chfford : what books of Eastern life are r
than his ? I, on the contrary, have unfor
this quality.
In presenting, therefore, these humbk
volumes to the pubHc I beg to assert that
even the smallest claim for any great orig
ability, or high standard. On the contrai
that my collection of notes, pamphlets, a
originally transcribed to paper to give
succinct and more intelhgent understanding
of Java — but now clubbed together, and di
for the English public in Java — are full of si
/ A
JAVA: PAST & PRESENT
A WOMAN IN THE SAHARA.
By Helen C. Gordon.
One Volume, crown Svo, illustrated, 65. net.
London : William Heinemann.
"'•■'• ff'ri'ji'l] [Upper Norwood.
THE AUTHOR, DONALD MACLAINE CAMPBELL.
MRS. DONALD MACLAINE CAMPBELL.
PREFACE xi
There is still one point I desire to touch on, and that is,
that after my long career in the cosmopolitan East, of which
I am happy to say the greater portion has been spent in
the Dutch East Indies, there is no foreign (to me it is not
foreign) nation in the world for which I have a higher and
deeper respect, and a greater and profounder admiration
and regard, than the Dutch.
I am entitled to speak as having been privileged, I am
proud to say, to enjoy an intercourse with merchants,
civiHans, judges. Army and Navy men, and Government
of&cials from His Excellency the Governor-General down-
wards.^
The Dutch have of course their nationaL characteristics,
as we have ours, but in honourable methods, always taking
into consideration their desire for sureness, even if it
necessitates slowness, they have nothing to learn from any
nation, and would be able to give, perhaps, a good many
points to some. They are a people of very high integrity.
In the past, several hundred years ago, the tyranny and
rapacity of some of their colonial officers, it is true, created
a widespread feeling of distrust against the nation, but when
we take into consideration the wild and rough period in
which they lived, the difficulty in dealing with native races
they did not understand, and the half-superstitious rehgions
with which their minds were dominated, is it surprising that
they dealt with the semi-civilised inhabitants of those
Eastern countries, where they were endeavouring to gain a
foothold, with severity?
The question is, however, were our records at this period
very much better ? and were our methods of a nature less
repugnant, less reprehensible, and less repressive to the
princes and people with whom we dealt ? I do not think so.
1 I have known five C4overnor-General8, two very closely. From the
last, His Excellency Governor-General Idenburg, 1 held two special
appointments.
xii PREFACE
Sir Stamford Raffles was Lieutenant-Governor of Java
from 1811 to 1816, and placed strictm-es upon the Dutch
which were in many instances severe ; he was undoubtedly
one of the most enlightened statesmen England ever sent
to the East, and his knowledge of the Dutch Indies at that
period was second to none ; he, however, made it distinctly
understood that his observations were intended to apply
exclusively to the Dutch Colonial Government and its
officers, and not to the Dutch Government in Holland,
whose instructions to the authorities at Batavia always
breathed a spirit of liberality and benevolence ; and it is a
fact that the tyranny of certain officers invariably brought
down the indignation of the people in Holland.
It was on this past and on what happened in the colonisa-
tion period that the Dutch nation has been sometimes
judged by those people who have not been in a position to
give a fair opinion, and no allowance whatever has ever
been made for the distrust and jealousy which existed
between the Portuguese, English, and Dutch, especially the
two latter, in the East when the great struggle was taking
place as to w^ho should become the predominant factor.
The final and significant success with which the Dutch
have managed and administered the colonies which fell to
them is, however, to the credit of that great nation, with
its glorious past in Europe.
Lastly, I beg to thank my accomphshed and talented wife,
the friend who has given me loyal and valuable support in
carrying out a strenuous and difficult task in my position
in Java, Mejonkvrouwe Mathilde Marie Isabelle Smissaert,
a Dutch lady of high and distinguished family.
I must also acknowledge my grateful thanks for assistance
in various ways from Colonel Leith, Mr. John Bonhote,
and Mr. Hubert Duck.
I have still only to add that this history has been mainly
brought out with the special object of supplying a long-felt
PREFACE xiii
want among my countrymen in Java and Sumatra, who
desire some record of what the Enghsh have done in these
Islands ; and in giving them an account with numerous
statements containing what I can find regarding the various
Enghshmen who were in Java up to the first quarter of the
nineteenth century, together with the reports some of them
have left behind, I trust I am conveying something, if not
altogether ornamental, in any case useful.
Java has had a great past, but it has a still greater future,
and before many years have passed will probably be promi-
nently brought forward in the world, in a manner which,
when the time comes, must not be looked upon as unexpected.
I have to draw attention to the perfect photographs of
the Eoyal Families of the Susuhunan of Surakerta (the
rightful Emperor of Java) and of the Sultan of Djockjakerta,
etc. ; these are in so far unique that they have never been
made public before, and few excepting the special friends
of the Emperor and the Sultan have ever been privileged
to see them.
Orthography.
With regard to the spelling of places in this volume, it
must be observed in Netherlands India, as in other Eastern
countries, that there is a strange diversity in their rendering,
and even official documents are not always consistent.
There is the old and ancient spelling, the gwasz-Dutch
rendering, and the full Dutch designation.
With perhaps small divergencies my endeavour has been
to spell all names of places in this history as they were spelt
at the time of which the particular accomit is being given.
Thus in the ancient portion the names are spelt as they
were known at that period, and as rendered in old Hindu-
Javan documents, and so on.
Donald Maclaine Campbell.
Gle.vdo.v, Kingswood Road,
Upper Norwood, S.E.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME I
PAOE
Introductory Note v-
Preface ix
First Period.
Before the Arrival of the Mahometans.
CHAPTER
I. Part I. — The Ancient History of Java 3
„ II. — The Hindu Period 27
„ III. — The Hindu -Javanese Period 52
Second Period.
Before the Arrival of the Europeans.
II. Arabian Intercourse with Java 85
III. Chinese Intercourse v\^ith Java 132
Third Period.
The Arrp/al of the Europeans.
IV. Java's First European Visitors 145
The Dutch Period to 1811.
V. The Rise of the Dutch Power in the East 199
VI. The Dutch in Java, 1623 to 1811 230
The British Period.
VII. Life of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles 287
VIII. The British Expedition to Java, 1811 325
xvi CONTENTS OF VOLUME I
CHAPTEU PAGE
IX. The British Occupation of Java akd its
Dependencies, 1811 to 1816 350
X. Java once more under Dutch Rule, 1816 to
THE Present Day 408
XI. The Towns in Java and the Neighbouring
Lands 451
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Vol. I.
TO FACE PAGE
The Author, Donald Maclaine Campbell . Frontispiece
Mrs. Donald Maclaine Campbell ...... x
The Royal Waringin Trees in the Aloon Aloon at Jockjakarta 4
Ruins of the Water-Castle, Jockjakarta .... 18
Dwarfs of Djockja ........ 28
The Pile-village of Moetean in the Java Inland Sea . . 40
The Susuhunan of Solo 50
The Susuhunan of Surakerta, or Emperor of Java . . 68
Kandjeng Pangaran Adipati Hamangkoe Negoro (Eldest
Son of the Sultan ; Crown Prince) 71
Kandjeng Sultan VII., Hamangkoe Boewono Senopati Hinga-
KALOGO Sahidin Panoto Gomo Kalif Patolah, Sultan op
Jockjakarta ......... 80
Javan Dignitary ......... 86
View of the Volcano of Oenarang, from the Weir, Samarang 92
Group taken on the Top of the Temple, Boro Budur. The
Javans are the Regent-Dalem of the Craton of Sura-
kerta (" Djojonegoro," the Regent's Son-in-Law), and
Servants of the Emperor ...... 104
The Great Buddha in the Chandi Mendut .... 114
The Kanarie Lane, Samarang. . . . . . .114
The Pangeran Poerbonegoro, with his AVife and Daughter . 122
Wayang Tjina, or Chinese Play 132
Opium Smoker .......... 138
Chinese Roadside Temple, Samarang District . . . 140
Macao, 1G55 148
Sir Francis Drake. (The First Englishman to visit Java) . 156
The Ceremony of Ducking under the Tropics . . . 164
Kanton, 1655 172
The Volcano of Bromo ........ 182
Kandjeng Pangeran Ario Tjokro Nagero (Lieutenant-Colonel
IN THE Cavalry ; Officer in the Orange Nassau Order) . 192
The Roads and Town op Batavia, 1655 200
Road to Tjipanas Garoet 206
The Volcano of Salak. (From the Hotel " Belle Vue,"
Buitenzorg) 206
xviii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
TO FACE PAGE
Sanatorium at Lendanglaya . . . . . , .210
Javan Lady .......... 220
The Torments inflicted by the Dutch on the English in
Amboyna .......... 230
The Condition of the English in the Dungeon and their
Execution (Amboyna) ....... 230
(/ A View of the City of Batavia, 1650 238
Old Private Burial Ground at Gergadju Hill, Samarang . 246
The Old Town Hall, Batavia. (It is not much changed since
its Erection in the Seventeenth Century) . . . 254
River and Storehouses at Pekalongan ..... 254
View of the Salak ......... 262
Tjipanas Garoet ......... 262
Four Portraits : Kandjeng Pangaran Ario Joedo Negoro
(Adopted Son of the Sultan) ; Kandjeng Pangaran Ario
Adi Negoro (Son of the Sultan by a Secondary V/ife) ;
Goesti Pangaran Ario Boemi Noto (Brother to the
Sultan) ; Goesti Pangaran Adipati Manghoe Boemi
(Brother to the Sultan ; Colonel-Adjutant to the
Governor-General) . 268
288
292
292
296
306
306
312
312
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles .....
Fort Taggal (Tegal), 1811. (British Flag is flying) .
Fort Cheribon, 1811
Javan Coins under the British Occupation (1811—1816)
The Cantonments, Tangsi
Plassen Passar, or Market, at Tjilatjap
The River Osso
Officers' Quarters
Graves of Lady Raffles and Madame Rochussen in the Bamboo
Wood of the Governor-General's Park at Buitenzorg . 318
Bridge over the River Tjilewong at Batavia between Pegan-
SAAN AND MeESTER CoRNELIS, WHERE THE GrEAT BaTTLE WAS
fought between English, French and Dutch Troops on
August 26th, 1811 326
The Sources of the Tjilewong River 326
Tjibodas, with the Gedeh and Pangerango Volcanoes in the
Distance .......... 328
Maclean's Grave 3S0
Departure of the British Expedition from the High Islands,
July, 1811 . . . 334
Old Dutch Church, Samarang 338
GuNONG Salak, near Buitenzorg, and the River Chidami,
1811 342
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xix
TO FACE PAGE
The Resident's House, Pasoeroean ..... 348
The Kaxarie Lane at Tjilatjap ...... 348
Fort Japara, 1811. (British Flag is flying). . . . 352
Fort Salatiga, 1811 352
The Resident's Office at Tawang, Samarang, during the
English Period. (Built about 1775) . . . . 360
British Officers' Quarters, Samarang (in District of Tawang),
1811 — 1816. (These Quarters were built about 1775) . 360
Samarang from the Land Side. (The British Flag is flying) 370
Graves of the British killed after the Riot at Probolingo,
June 18th, 1813 380
Fort Joana, 1811 386
Fort Damack (Demak), 1811. (The British Flag is flying) . 386
Grejsie 392
Fort Rambang, 1811 392
The Sultan of Jockjakarta going in Procession from the
Craton to Siti Inggil at the Garebeg Festival . . 410
The Resident's House at .Jockjakarta ..... 410
Palace of the Governor-General at Buitenzorg . . . 414
Governor-General's Palace, Ryswyk, Batavia . . . 414
Umbrella, Lance-carriers and Servants of the Emperor of
Java . . . 420
Pangeran Praboenengrat (Surakarta), Brother to the
Susuhunan ......... 424
His Highness the Prince IWangkoe Negero VL . . . 430
Raden Ajoi Adipati Hajlangkoe Negoro, Wife of the Crown
Prince 436
Toewan Ratoe Kentjono, Wife of the Sultan . . . 440
Pangeran Hario Poersanagoro (Colonel-Commandant of
THE Army of the Susuhunan of Solo) .... 444
Pangeran Adipati Soeriodilogo Prins Pakoe-Alim VIL . . 452
Four Portraits : Goesti Pangaran Hario Poerbojo (Son of
the Sultan ; Youngest Brother of the Crown Prince) ;
Kandjeng Pangaran Adipati Hanga Bey (The Sultan's
Eldest Son) ; Goesti Pangaran Ario Soerio Poetro
(Brother to the Sultan) ; Kandjeng Raden Adipati
Danoeredjo (Ruler of Djoejn) 466
Four Portraits : Kandjeng Pangaran Hario Adi Soerio
(Son of the Sultan by a Secondary VriFE) ; Goesti
Pangaran Hario Ted jo Koesoemo (Son of the Sultan
AND the Ratu) ; Kandjeng Pangaran Ario Soerio Di
NiGRAT (Son of the Sultan) ; Kandjeng Pangaran
Pahoe Ningrat (Son of the Sultan by a Secondary Wife) 484
XX LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
TO FACE PAGE
Four Portraits : Kandjeng Pangaran Hario Soerio Widjojo
(Son of the Sultan by a Secondary Wife) ; Kandjeng
Pangaran Hario Soerio Bronto (Son of the Sultan
BY A Secondary Wife) ; Goesti Pangaran Ario Poeger
(Brother to the Sultan ; Major on the General Staff) ;
Goesti Pangaran Ario Mangkoe Koesomo (Son of the
Sultan) 498
Post Office, Samarang ........ 520
Harbour of Tegal, 1911 540
Looking down Bodjong Road, Samarang, from Resident's
Offices (on left) ........ 558
Resident's Offices, Samarang 580
View of Gunong Gidi and the River Chiliwang from the
Garden at Buitenzorg, 1811 590
Javan Lady from Jockjakarta 600
Market at Tjilatjah 620
Street in Samarang, showing Church ..... 620
Pendrian, Samarang ........ 628
Roman Catholic Church, Pasoeroean 646
Protestant Church, Pasoeroean ...... 646
Part of Samarang, 1900 652
FIRST PERIOD
Before the Arrival of the Mahometans
J. — VOL I B
CHAPTER I
Part I
The Ancient History of Java
from the earliest traditions to the commencement
OF THE HINDU PERIOD, ANNO JAVAN 1 (a.D. 75).
Introduction. — Although not a few of us in these islands
have probably heard at some time or other that there is
such a place as Java, how many of us have any knowledge
of its exact, or even approximate, geographical position,
or of its extent, importance, and population ? I am pre-
pared to say there are not many. It is true nevertheless
that Java is the most important island, not only in the
East Indian Archipelago, but in the world.
The Paradise of the World.- — Its climate, too, away from
the sultry ports, and from a height of 1,500 feet upwards,
is quite incomparable ; and this, taken with the fascination
of its charming folk, has caused many to designate it as
the Paradise of the Earth. Certainly, if ever there was a
Garden of Dehght, the region of Java, in regard to its
beauty and climate, may, I think, lay a very good claim to
be such a place. The climate is one of perpetual and
unending summer, where the wants of man are liberally
supplied without stint by an ever bounteous Nature, and
where neither covering nor house is required. It strikes
the stranger or traveller as a gorgeous and magnificent
garden of superlative and miparalleled luxuriance, sur-
passing Brazil, Jamaica, Formosa, Borneo, or New Zealand.
or even, as some say, the whole of these combined.
It is certainly a land in which the forests are adorned
with an everlasting green, a land of thousands of lovely
B 2
4 JAVA
variegated birds, and one whose numberless thousands of
bright and strikingly coloured flowers lend to it an over-
powering and undying sweetness and perfume.
It is, moreover, a land where the student of Nature can
live amidst all that is dear to him. Alone on the mountain-
sides, under a clear blue sky, he finds his imagination
running riot ; he hears the sea wind, gentle but penetratmg,
rushing through the banana trees and the tops of the lofty
palms, and he can hear the thundering and deeply echoing
roar of the numberless waterfalls which rush down the great
mountains in the interior of the island.
Java, to use a well-worn phrase, is without a doubt the
peerless gem in that magnificent empire of Insulindia
which twists and winds about the Equator like a chaplet
of emeralds.
Many say that it is the ideal of all tropical lands, and that
it is the greenest, the most beautiful, the sweetest, and the
most exquisite spot to be found anywhere. It is, therefore,
no matter for surprise to hear it described as " The Wonder-
land," " The Fairy Land," " The Paradise of the World." ^
Java's resources in objects of interest are manifold, and
I do not think it would be possible to find the man who
cannot come upon something here to his taste or liking.
Should he be an admirer or a student of art, delighting in
Eastern peoples or ancient civilisations, he can spend months,
even years, in exploring the world-famed ruined Hindu
temples of Boro Budur,^ Prambanau, Tjandi Sewu, and
the remains of the ancient holy city in the Dieng mountains.
Should he take an interest in the social conditions and
1 Dr. H. C. Bryant, the Secretary of the American Alpine Club, when
speaking of his experiences in Java at a meeting of the Appalachian
Mountain Club, said : " It is from the popular point of view a terra incognita,
but if anyone should ask me as to the most beautiful place in the world I
8aw in my trip round the earth, I should unhesitatingly name this island."
All writers say the same. I have never seen any opinion otlier tlian thi?.
* Bara Budur.
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 5
customs of primitive peoples, he will find in Java an almost
inexhaustible mine : there are the Javan villages of Mid- Java,
the Sunda and Malay campongs of West Java, the Hindu
settlement 6,500 feet in the mountains at Tosari, the
Arabian villages near Pasoeroean, to say nothing of the
numerous and widely spread Chinese communities in every
httle town and village. Should he desire to study the poli-
tical problems that invariably result from colonial posses-
sions, he will find in Java in full working perhaps the most
wonderful and successful system that human ingenuity
has devised, a system invented by the Hindus, whereby
the Dutch with their intelligent and tactful Residents
govern a subject race of close on thirty-five millions, through
the instrumentality of their o\\ti Rajahs (called Bopatis or
Regents), with seldom a hitch occurring of any kind.
Should he be a sportsman, he can have excellent big game
shooting, tigers being plentiful in East Java ; whilst wild
buffaloes (banteng) are to be found in West and South
Java. Should he prefer lighter sport, wild deer, wild boar,
and other small game are innumerable everywhere. Should
he be a geologist, he will at once become enthusiastic over
the majestic chain of volcanoes which stretches like a mon-
strous backbone through the centre of the island from
east to west, providing an unrivalled number of craters
for the investigation of the scientist. Should he be a
botanist, here he has at his feet when he arrives the largest
and the most famous botanical garden in the world at
Buitenzorg, containing thousands of species of plants and
trees of all descriptions. Should he be a lover of Nature,
everywhere where he goes in Java he has scenery so grand
and of such unsurpassable beauty that no pen can describe
it. Finalty, the traveller will find in Java a civilised land
with considerable luxury, with splendid hotels, excellent
railways and tramways, and fine motoring roads throughout
the island.
6 JAVA
The Island of Java. — The island of Java, which may with
justice be considered as the most precious jewel in the
diadem of the Dutch, is — with the exception of Sumatra
and Borneo — the largest island in the East Indian Archi-
pelago. It is 668 miles long, with an area of 50,798 square
miles, and a population of 31,000,000, or 595 inhabitants
per square mile.^ It has a greatest breadth of 124 miles,
which diminishes to 37 miles at its narrowest.
Situation. — Java is situated between 6° north and 11°
south latitude, and 95° and 141° east longitude. On the
south and west its shores are washed by the balmy southern
Indian Ocean ; to the north-west lies the island of Sumatra ;
slightly east of north is Borneo ; to the north-east lies the
island of Celebes, and to the east the island of Bah, from
which it is separated by a narrow passage called the Straits
of Bali.
Java constitutes with Sumatra, Borneo, and Celebes,
what is generally called the Sunda group of islands, which
are richer in gold, silver, diamonds, and other precious
metals than either Mexico or Peru, and are without doubt
the " Taprobana " of the ancients, the " Soles of the Gen-
tiles," and the " Sacred Islands of the Hindus."
The numerous islands south of the Philippines all belong
to the Dutch, forming an estate twelve times the size of
England. The inhabitants, the languages, the flora, the
fauna, and the geological formation all point to one con-
clusion, namely, that they are the remaining highlands
of a vast and extensive continent uniting x\ustralia to
Asia.
It must be concluded that the Australian continent
separated long before the islands were formed and separated
from the Asiatic portion. This is concluded from the fact
that the sea about Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and the Malay
' The whole of Netherlands East India covers an area of 587,370
square miles, and has a population of 40,500,000.
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 7
Peninsula, and that between Australia and New Guinea
and the other islands to the north-east, are not nearly so
deep as the channel which divides these two groups and the
sea to the east of the Phihppines, Celebes, and Sumbawa.
The difference ranges from 50 to 1,000 fathoms, and this
may be taken as conclusive enough for the argument ; if,
however, fm-ther evidence is required, this is immediately
given us by the difference existing between the inhabitants
of the two divisions, those in the west being Malayan and
the others Papuan/
The Origin of the Ancient Inhabitants. — A subject that
has engaged the attention of many wi'iters and numerous
Dutch scholars is the question of the origin of the ancient
inhabitants of Java. Some writers have, of course,
attempted a solution by studying the Javans of the present
day, and conclude from their appearance that they have
come from one or another great stock. These conclusions,
although they may be right so far as the present Javans
are concerned, have nothing to do with the question of the
original inhabitants of Java, and are irrelevant to it.
Others again with a deeper knowledge have endeavoured
to reach a conclusion by inferences dra'svn from the language,
from the customs, and from the facial and general physical
characters of the Javan people. These also are beside
the point. Sir Stamford Raffles, for instance, a great
authority, writes in his " History of Java " : " The inhabi-
tants of Java seem to owe their origin to the same stock
from which most of the islands lying to the south of the
eastern peninsula of Asia appear to have been first peopled.
This stock is evidently Tartar." Sir Stamford refers here,
of course, to the Javan folk of his day, not to the original
inhabitants, and since then much has been discovered.
1 Edward Clodd writes in " The Story of Creation " : " Australia
contains only the lowest mammals, a duckbill and kangaroos, witnessing
to its severance from Asia duriag the secondary epoch."
8 JAVA
Prehistoric stone implements, hatchets, and spear heads
have been from time to time discovered several feet below
the sm'face in the Preanger and other districts in Java,
and in the smTomiding islands. This indicates a stone age
of great antiquity. Then there has been found among
fossil remains near Madiven the celebrated " human
monkey " or " fossil man," Pithecanthropus erectus, said
by German anthropologists to be human, or at least the
" missing link." This was discovered at a considerable
depth, and the age assigned to the remains carries us back
to the Pliocene, or at least to the early Pleistocene period.
As this being when erect stood, according to Mr. Beddard,
5 feet 6 inches high, and the contents of its cranium were
1,000 cm., that is 400 cm. more than the cranial capacity
of anj^ anthropoid ape, and fully as great as or even a trifle
greater than the cranial capacity of some female Australians,
Veddahs, and Semangs, it may well be, if not, as Professor
Haeckel insists on calling it, '* the commencement of
humanity," in any case the progenitor of the original
inhabitants of Java, who would be a lov/ race of men
materially and far more primitive than any race that
exists to-day.
The original inhabitants may, therefore, have been
autochthonous in the East Indies. If the conclusions of
Professor Haeckel and the other distinguished men who
examined the remains, as set forth in the note at the end
of this chapter, are correct, they seem to point to the fact
that these autochthonous inhabitants of Java were already
in the land when the physical geography of the Australian
and Asiatic continents must have been very different from
what it is now.
The Aborigines. — From this autochthonous race may,
therefore, have descended the people of Java known as
Kalang (Avild devils), called by the first Hindu invaders
Bdsaka. In several parts of India, on the borders of the
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 9
forests, the natives of the present day still believe in the
power and might of a demon knoTVTi as the RaksJia and fear
him accordingly ; doubtless this name for the Kalang thus
originated/
These Kalang did not become extinct in Java mitil well
into the Hindu period.^ They were, of course, as Adolf
Bernhard Meyer in " Die Kalangs auf Java" shows, negritos,
and, like the rest of these scattered oceanic negiitos, the
mere sm'vivors of a former widespread autochthonous race,
which had lived in inaccessible parts, like the present-day
negritos of the Philippines, Borneo, New Guinea, and
Tasmania (till lately),^ the beddahs of Ceylon, the Andaman
* The Eaksha has been described as a terrible creature with eyes set
obliquely in the head, ugly, broad, bulky, misshapen, and with ten-ible
teeth. It haunts only the forests and the tops of hills, and was said to be
given to decoying children and solitary women. It had also a teirible
cry, which is notewoithy as corresponding with the cry of the ancient
Javan, who had a mustering call or shriek in the dense forests of Java.
Miss Mary Frere in her book "Old Deccan Days in Hindu Fairy Tales"*
mentions this superstition as still existing in Scinde, where, however, the
demon is not known as Raksha, but Djinn. We learn from Parker's valuable
book on " Ancient Ceylon " that when the first Aryan invaders entered
India they brought with them an exaggerated belief in the existence of
various classes of evil beings, among whom those termed BaJcshasa occupied
the leading place. ^Mien the Indian epic poem the Eamayana was com-
posed, the EaJcshasa had developed into beings who constantly made theii*
appearance before men. They were first described as wandering malignant
demons of the great Vindhya forest, which extended far to the south of
India, and in the later portions of that work they were represented a-s
occupying Ceylon. It is clear from all this, therefore, that they were
wild men — so wild, that by those others of the human race who had become
more civilised they were looked upon as demons, or semi-demons, who
only came out by night ; for, as Parker tells us, " these demons were thought
to be specially active and powerful during the darkness of the night."
The ordinances of Manu confirm the statement that the Eakshasa were
flesh-eating demons and that night was the special time for their activity.
If this wild autochthonous race did not arise in India, it is certain it did
so in the East Indies, and the greater probability lies Tvith the latter
alternative. Apparently they were originally more monkey than man.
* A few of the Kalang existed even later.
' C. R. Enock, F.R.C.S., says : " The black woolly-haired races were the
first inhabitants of the Malay Archipelago, which doubtless has been divided
into islands during the human period." The recently extinct Tasmanians
10 JAVA
Islanders, and the Semangs of the Malay Peninsula/ Their
preservation in all these islands is due entirely to their
isolation, caused by a subsidence of parts of a former
continent ; whilst the extinction of this race in Java was
due to its early discovery and colonisation by other races
who brought a higher culture with them.
The question that now arises is. To which of the great
divisions of the human family must this older stock be
assigned ? This is a difficult problem, but this much may
^vith safety, even with certainty, be asserted : it was not
Mongolian or Ethiopic ; therefore it must have been Cau-
casian.
In features they were probably bullet-headed with square
faces and exceedingly heavy jaws ; the ancestor was pro-
bably a man of very low stature with beetling brows.
Their nose w^as very broad at the nostrils, and they had
frizzled woolly hair. Their food consisted of wild natural
products, that is, fruits and roots of plants, and wild
animals of all kinds. They w^ere apparently all fishers and
hunters, but they were ignorant of agriculture and cattle-
breeding. Their implements and weapons were of stone,
and they lived isolated, rude lives, scattered in small groups
of probably ten to forty persons. They had no fixed home,
but lived in the forests and caverns, wandering about naked
from one place to another. There was, of course, no
restraint among them or established order, although a
certain respect for age took the place of civil obedience.
AVhen the crop of wild millet was gathered, the elder decided
when and where the horde should next move. Before
departing they feasted and offered sacrifices in an open
were of tlxis race — people wlio, according to Haddon in ".The Wanderings
of Peoples," " walked from New Guinea to Tasmania."
^ The Malay Peninsula, i.e., the lower part of it, has been held by many
to have once been an island. This would be a reaso i why the Semang,
or brothers of the Javan Kalang, have been preserved down to the jjresent
day.
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 11
plain, attracting to the remains of their repast the bird
called ulung-gdga,^ and the yoimg men would shake a
rude musical instrument (still to be heard in the Sunda
district and at Garoet, in the Preanger) called the dngklung,
shouting and dancing to its accompaniment in a wild,
ludicrous, and aimless fashion, and becoming at last mad
with its sounds.^ When the bird would not eat of the meal
offered, their departure was delayed and their sacrifices
and prayers renewed, but if the bird ate and flew in the
direction of their intended journey, a lamb or kid was
slain and burnt as a thank-offering to the deity .^ In case
of favourable omen * another feast was partaken of, which
ended in further violent exhibitions or demonstrations of
joy, in which the dngklung played a prominent part. When
all was ready for the journey, the oldest man of the horde
with his wife and children either was placed upon an elephant
or was carried in a rough litter, and began to move in the
direction he had indicated ; the rest moved on foot behind
him. Preceding the horde were the young men and boys
shaking the dngklung and shouting aloud, for the twofold
purpose of rendering the necessary homage to their chief
^ Supposed to have been a crow or raven.
2 The manner in which the mountaineers of the Sunda districts still
spring and shout to the sovm.d of the dngklung corresponds with the above
account. On occasions of pubUc rejoicings in the eastern extremities of
the island a party of wild men was fiequeutly introduced, who with
dishevelled hair and covered with leaves, while shaking the dngklung,
shouted, sprang, and distorted their limbs in the rudest manner, the object
being to exhibit the original inhabitants, in contrast with what they
have become through civilisation.
'^ The same as the peace offerings of Egypt.
* The Dayaks of Borneo still hold particular kinds of biids holy, and
draw omens from their flight. Before they enter on a journey or engage
in war, they invite the approach of these birds by screaming songs and
scattering rice. If these birds take their flight in the direction they wish
to go, it is regarded as a favourable omen, but if they take another direction,
they consider it as unfavourable and delay the business until the omens
are more suitable to their wishes. — '• Transactions of the Batavia Society
of Arts and Sciences," Vol. VII.
12 JAVA
and of frightening away the wild beasts which abounded
all over the island in countless multitudes at that period.^
Their various modes of worship and their beliefs were of
a simple nature, although it has been said that these had
as their basis considerably higher forms .^ Some worshipped
the san (as was common in Egypt in early times), others
the moon ; some worshipped fire or water, or the trees of
the forests. Like all the early races of Egypt and Baby-
lonia, they practised the arts of divination and of astrology.
This may, however, have been later, after contact with
other people, for at the first beginnings their powers of
reason must have been most primitive, in fact not far
removed from those of the anthropoid ape, and not much
superior to those of the lower animals with whom they
shared the forest, the mountains, and dales.
If their ancestors were not autochthonous, where did
these come from ? For, as already observed, they must
have been . in the archipelago when the country formed
part of the Australian and Asiatic continents. If they did
arrive later, then it would have been by water, in which
case they would have had a little knowledge, however
small, of the art of paddling canoes or rafts. This art,
however, they never appear to have had, which is more or
less proof that they did not arrive by sea, for they would
never have lost this knowledge. There is, as far as I am
aware, no evidence of any islanders having degenerated to
this extent. Whether in Java itself they were ever in very
great numbers it is impossible to say, but that these Kalang
or Baksha existed there is no doubt whatever ; in fact,
1 Even at the present day no native ever thinks of entering a forest before
shouting, and his journey is made to the accompaniment of wild yells
uttered from time to time.
2 C. Reginald Enock, in " The Secret of the Pacific," -writes : " A mixture
of Proto-Malayans with Indonesians, whom we may well call Proto-
Polynesians, drifted into the West Pacific and gave the black woolly-
haired natives their language and some elements of higher culture."
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 13
until the sixteenth and even the seventeenth centuries they
were in fair numbers.^ After this, however, they gradually
died out, although here and there in the island there are
still signs in bastard negritos of their previous existence.
Civihsation killed them in Java, as in Tasmania and else-
where it has exterminated the indigenous races. This
ancient race of primitive man must have lived alone in the
archipelago and the island of Java undisturbed throughout
untold centuries until people of another race visited and
later on invaded the country. The Kalang may, I suppose,
also have been related to the original or indigenous race
called Kedda in Southern India ; for, as is well known,
long before Hindustan was thickly populated, say anywhere
from B.C. 3000 to 2500, whilst the Aryan family or tribe
in the north was still in obscmity, the country was already
in some parts peopled by a savage race which, while with
the rudiments of a religion acknowledging a power above,
was more or less given over to barbarism. Some of
these aborigines were in Ceylon, which at that time still
formed a portion of the Indian continent. Here, it may
incidentally be observed, in the course of time they were
visited by members of other peoples, some of whom pro-
bably remained in the land and partially civihsed it. This
we know from the ancient Vedas, or Hindu histories, which
relate the story of the celebrated Wijaya ^ from Bengal,
who landed there in B.C. 543, and found a civihsed com-
munity which could trace its antiquity for six or seven
centuries. Besides this there is every evidence in the
Mahavansa, or the History of the great Dynasty of Ceylon,
to show that there was a pre- Aryan colonisation of this
country which was contemporaneous with the colonisation
of Southern India about b.c. 2000 to 1500 ; and minute
' See also " De Kalangers," by E. Ketjen.
2 Wijaya was a Hindu who rose into promiaence through marrying the
daughter of a powerful T.Iaharaja.
U JAVA
accounts of warfare and life in Ceylon are given as far back
as B.C. 1250.
The Origm of the Present Inhabitants. — The present people
of Java owe their origin in the main to the same stock from
which Sumatra, Borneo, and most of the islands to the
south of the Malay Peninsula were at an early date popu-
lated. This stock was probably a Tartar one, if we accept
the general opinion. Doubtful, however, as this question
must remain, one thing is quite certain, namely, that the
elements which have tended to modify and alter this
original stock are Egyptian, Hindu, Kling, Tartar, Arabian,
and Chinese, which there appears to be ample proof were
introduced at one time or another into the archipelago.
I must add that it has been suggested by some writers
that at an early date a mixed race, originally coming from
Ceylon or Southern India, was the first to visit the Eastern
Archipelago ; but this idea must, I think, be laid aside as
erroneous, and will probably be found to have been based
upon a misapprehension of facts, and due to a confusion
with a migration to Java from these parts at or about the
time of the Christian era. It is true that the renowned
traveller Kaerupfer writes in his great history of Japan :
** Before Christ 1,027 years, upon the eighth day of the
fourth month, was born in India the great heathen prophet
Siaka. His doctrine was soon spread, and by his disciples,
into several parts of the East Indies.'' (The italics are
mine.) These East Indies were possibly just certain parts
of Ceylon, but they may, of course, also have referred to
the Malay Peninsula and Indo- China. Several hundreds
of years before the Christian era a vast expedition left
Hindustan and made its way into Indo-China.^ Its journey
seems, for various reasons, to have been made by sea.
Some French writers assert that it was overland ; as other
countries with sea-coasts which were passed in the journey
1 This is believed to be aboiit b.c. 500.
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 15
apparently escaped this invasion, this opinion must be
mentioned, although, as Sir Hugh Chfford rightly observes
in his " Further India," " the opinion is one which it is not
easy to accept." These emigrants are said to have been
the founders of the great Khumer empire in Cambodia,
which reached a state of civilisation and power of which
this is a little idea. The ruins of the mighty and magnifi-
cent temples, with Angkor or Thorn and A^igkor Wai as the
jewels, are triumphant evidence of what this great empire
must once have been. The origin of the Khmers is plainly
represented in the ancient monuments there, for it is clear
from the character of the carvings, the features of the
statues, and the cult of Buddha that this people came
from Hindustan, and nowhere else. One may, therefore,
dismiss Ribadeneyra's statement in his ** History of the
Islands of the Archipelago," that there is a tradition in
Cambodia that the ruins there were constructed by the
Romans, or by Alexander the Great.
During the life of this empire, when the population had
begun to swell to over-great numbers, emigrants, as has
invariably been the custom in all countries and ages, were
sent off, who sailed for the nearer countries and islands of
the archipelago and there settled. There is a good deal of
evidence that this did occur, for, apart from other proofs, it
is known that when the entire population of Khmer — for
reasons never yet discovered — was suddenly driven out of
Cambodia, its numbers had already considerably diminished,
while its arts had decayed almost to disappearance.
Whether when the first and earliest emigrations took
place Java was one of the islands colonised by it cannot
be definitely shown ; but as the more southern parts of
the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra were among the countries
where settlers made their home, it seems quite possible and
reasonable to suppose that this was so. If such a coloni-
sation of Java took place, it must have been some years
16 JAVA
before oui' era, for the records of the Javans do not go
further back than a.d. 75, or the year of the first contact
with the Hindus from India.
There is another possibihty, however, still open for the
origin of the present-day Javan, viz., that a race of people
who were already established in Indo-China long before
the Hindus came, and had been used to a quiet and agricul-
tural life, were suddenly confronted by these aggressive
Hindu conquerors, who compelled them to work on their
temples, whose astonishing size and Titanic proportions
still speak from their ruins of the gigantic efforts they
cost.^ That there was such a race here is told us by Mr. J.
Thomson in " Wonders of the World," who states that
Funan was the name by which the present-day Cambodia
was known, and that it was said to have been in existence
(and well populated) in the twelfth century B.C. Although
it seems that the history of these ruins is lost for ever, one
can still realise how the indigenous and humble agricultural
folk who had lived there so long before these terrible
foreigners arrived groaned under the yoke that was inflicted
upon them, grinding the very lives out of them, and killing
them in thousands.
•What more reasonable to suppose than that at last,
unable any longer to bear the strain of living under a race
of men who were as pitiless as Pharaoh's overseers, they
escaped from their bondage, with their families, seeking a
refuge in the isles of the archipelago as far from their brutal
taskmasters as possible ?
This, then, was x)robably the origin of the present-day
inhabitants, an Indonesian race, impregnated with Tartar
or Mongolian strain. This hypothesis is the natural result
of every work on this question that might help, and although
1 According to local native history, the temples were built B.C. 250, and
the people who built them also forced the natives to make " gxeat lines of
roads equal to those of the Romans."
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 17
the views expressed may at first be rejected, they may
eventually be accepted as time goes on, and new discoveries
are made.
Presumably these must have been the people who brought
with them the art of rice-growing, as philological investi-
gations have irrefutably proved that it has been grown in
irrigated fields divided into terraces centuries before the
Hindus directly from Hindustan arrived in Java. This
fact is more or less proved by the circumstance that nearly
all the technical terms used in the cultivation are non-
Sanscrit, unlike the case of everything else in Java which the
Hindus introduced} In " The Secret of the Pacific," by
C. Reginald Enock, and in " Hawaiki, the Original Home
of the Maori," by Smith, one reads that it is generally
believed that the parent stock of the Polynesians can be
traced to India about B.C. 450, and that a migration took
place to Java in b.c. 65. As the date B.C. 450 is almost
identical with the date of the Hindu invasion of Indo-
China, one cannot help being imbued with the idea that
Polynesia, hke Java, must have been stocked from India
vid Indo-China, and not from India direct. This Mr. Enock
hints at on page 300 of the above interesting work. Here
I might also add that Wallace, in " Studies Scientific and
Social," Vol. I., maintains that the Khmers — a superior
race of undoubted Caucasian type — mingled with others,
emigrated as far south as New Zealand, producing the
magnificent Maori race, who in turn were the origin of
the Incas of Peru and Bolivia.
Name. — To what cause the island owes its present name
of Java is a point which has been frequently discussed
but never satisfactorily solved.
Among various traditions there is one which relates
that the name Yawa-Dwipa (Yava-Dvipa), or Land of
Barley, was given by the first Hindus to both Sumatra and
1 For rice culture in Java, see Chapter XVII.
J. — VOL. I. r
18 JAVA
Java on account of the discovery of this cereal (called in
Sanscrit jdiva-tvut), ^Yhich they found growing there
wild.
Yawa-Dwipa (Yava-Dvipa) does not, however, mean, as
has been thoughtlessly stated and repeated, the country
of the barley, for a very simple reason, and that is, that
barley will not grow there ; but it might possibly mean
millet, of wliich there are several varieties indigenous to
the island, many of them called by the generic name of
yawa, or jdwa, the Sanscrit name for them. The name of
the island is, it is true, spelt Yava (Yava-Dvipa) in the
Sanscrit inscriptions discovered there ; but then it equally
occurs in the form Yava in the Pagar-ruyung inscription of
A.D. 656 in Central Sumatra. This shows, according to
Colonel Gerini in his " Eesearches on Ptolemy's Geography,"
the absurdity of making the term in question an exclusive
appurtenance of the island of Java, as has been most
recklessly done by nearly every writer who has hitherto
treated the subject. And there is some evidence in favour
of the term having been imported into Java from Sumatra,
which island appears to be entitled to the priority in its
use.
Javana or Yavana, or abridged Java, was also the name
given not only to Sumatra, but also to portions of Borneo
and of the Malay Peninsula (probably Pahang) besides the
whole of Indo-China. One of the ancient names of Luang
Plirah Bang was in fact Java, or Chatva, which name,
according to Colonel Gerini, the Lau found on their arrival
there, and which they pronounce Sava.
The term Java has, however, all over the archipelago
and Indo-China, never been viewed in the light of a place-
name proper, but it is understood as a racial name ; and
even when used in a topographical sense it invariably means
country of the Java, or Javan (in Malay | 9 Lj Java or
Javan) race. Far from the range of this term being con-
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 19
fined to Java, it would seem that chronologically about
the latest place and geographically the furthest limit to
which it extended was Java itself.
Ptolemy called the island Jaha-diu (see his map), which
may be an abbreviation of Yava-Dvipa, but is much more
likely to mean Jahadios Insulce, from Jaba and dih-, div-, or
dio-.
Sometimes the island has been called Nusa Java, the
Sanscrit expression for the island of Java, or rather of the
Javan race ; but the strange thing is that in the legendary
tales of the Javans the term Java applies only to its central
or eastern provinces, those portions in fact which were
occupied by the Javan race strictly so called, whilst the
western part of the island, although there are several
Hindu towns here, never seems to have been designated
otherwise than as Tanah Sunda, that is, the Sunda country.
Even the traveller Barbosa, as well as the early Portuguese
historians of the East Indies, used to distinguish between
Java (the eastern part of the island) and Sunda (the western
part), beheving them to form two separate and different
islands. The travellers and foreign merchants, however,
who came after these early Portuguese, called the whole
island Java, hence in course of time the poetical fiction.
The important question which now arises is, Seeing that
this Javana, Javan, or Chawa race was in Indo- China, and
perhaps also the Eastern Archipelago, before the advent
of the Mongolic type, what was it, and where did it come
from ?
It came, of course, from Luang P'hrah Bang, in Lido-
China.
The name Java was in this case, therefore, a foreign
importation, and the people when they came to the country
would have been known as Javan. That it arose, therefore,
from the barley grown in the island is a myth.
Can it now be that this race had some connection with
c 2
20 JAVA
the people called Javan so often mentioned in the Old
Testament, and reckoned among the sons of Japheth ?
The First Visitors from the West. — Among the various
traditions as to how Java and the Eastern Islands were
originally peopled is one which says that its first inhabitants
came in vessels from the Red Sea, Ldut Mira, and that on
their passage they coasted along the shores of Hindustan.
This peninsula then formed an unbroken continent with the
Indian Archipelago, from which it is now so widely separated,
and which, according to the same tradition, has since then
been divided into so many islands by some terrific convul-
sion of Nature.
Now as early as b.c. 4500 the town of Ur Kasdim, which
was situated about five miles from the Persian Gulf, was a
thriving and populous metropolis, a most important manu-
facturing centre, and a mercantile emporium of no ordinary
importance, whose ships traded with India, as is proved
by the teak found in its ruins. African products were
obtained from Ezion GSber, a port of the Red Sea, near
the present town of Inakin, and sweet resinous gums essen-
tial from Arabia, being brought down by an old trade route
to Jiddah, the port of the later-founded Mecca.
By way of the Red Sea and across the Isthmus of Suez
the energetic and enterprising merchants of Ur Kasdwi, wiio
came from the east and west, belonging to the great trading
tribes of Javan, Tubal, and Meshed,^ supplied the inhabi-
tants of Egypt and the islands of Crete and Cyprus with the
riches of the Orient, and these were by no means the only
outlets for their merchandise.
These hardy merchants returned to TJr Kasdim hy way
of the Red Sea, as they had gone.
This early trade between Europe and Asia, which first
commenced with the overland route, and later was borne
1 China was a great coimtry as early as B.C. 5000, perhaps even earlier :
the date is lost iu the mists of the ages.
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 21
on the sea, was carried on by the Phoenicians, a wonderful
race of traders whose origin is wrapped in obscurity. By
gi'eat mihtary and caravan routes, which existed certainly
as early as b.c. 4000 between India, Thibet, Bactria, Persia^
Babylonia, and Southern Europe, they carried Eastern arts
of pottery, ivory-turning, glass-making, enamelling, and
wood-carving, and these were at last carried into the
remotest recesses of Germany and Scandinavia, and even
further, thus doubtless profoundly influencing the primitive
civilisation of those countries.^ The appearance among
the prehistoric remains of Smtzerland and Denmark of
arms and implements of bronze in succession to spear and
arrow heads of flint, generally affirmed to be due to the
displacement of the primeval savage tribes of the West by
the immigration of new races of a higher civilisation from
the East, probably marks the age of the earliest Phoenician
intercourse with Europe. Amber beads have also been
found in the lowest strata of Lachish, in Palestine, dating,
therefore, from B.C. 3000 ; a votive tablet from Assyrian
merchants of the ninth century e.g. thanking God for their
safe return from the Ear Country where the Little Bear
stands at the zenith (that is, Scandinavia), co^vries, and
an Indian shell discovered in a very ancient Swedish grave ;
some porcelain seals from China, found at great depth in
various parts of Ireland, and dating back to the third centuiy
B.C., prove conclusively the enterprise of the seafarers and
caravans, and the immense journeys they undertook in
those bygone days, in which the earth is generally pictured
as wrapped in deepest slumber.
As time went on the Phoenicians became more venture-
some, and lengthier sea journeys were undertaken. Ceylon
was no doubt visited, where ivory was procured, and even-
1 In the reign of Naram Shin (son of Sargon the Great, or Agade),
B.C. 3700, an excellent postal service connected Canaan with Babylonia ;
some of the clay bulke used as stamps for the official correspondence at
that period are to-day in the Louvre Museum at Paris.
22 JAVA
tually the Malay Peninsula, Malacca, and Sumatra (west
coast), from which came the gold for Solomon's temple.
Lastly, Java and the Spice Islands would have been reached,
and hence the tradition of the vessels from the Ldut Mira
(Red Sea).
The smiling plains of Java — which island was then one
with Sumatra — Avith their wild millet and dry climate, the
beautiful forests, with an abundance of the sweetest fruits,
the numerous rivers and streams, with a plentiful supply
of fish, would all have had their attractions for the rough
travellers, and the fame of the beauty of the land would
soon have been carried by them to Ceylon and Southern
India, places comparatively near.
According to Edward Clodd, in " Human Origins," the
seas were covered with the sails of Phoenician or Egyptian
ships certainly as early as b.c. 1600. These seamen
busied themselves in those regions of the world where
tin was kno^\^l to exist. Their ships were loaded with
metal smelted from the tin-bearing gravel of the
Malayan Cassitera Island, a name derived from either the
Greek kassiteros (" tin "), or from the Sanscrit name for
this metal.
The Sacred Isles of the Gentiles. — As to the East Indies
being the " isles of the Gentiles," the descendants of
Ham went to Africa, those of Shem peopled a portion
of Arabia, whilst the descendants of Japheth migrated
to the south of Europe as far as Italy and to Turkey,
Greece, Armenia, Palestine, Afghanistan, Cashmere, India,
Ceylon.
The sons (the Biblical term is probably a collective one
and signifies a people or tribe) of Japheth were seven in
number, and became distributed in tribes as follows : —
The first, Gomer, became the progenitor of the ancient Cim-
merians and Cimbri, from whom the Celtic family descended.
THE ANCIEXT HISTORY OF JAVA 23
Second, Magog, was the progenitor of the Scythians and
Tartars.
Third, Medai, was progenitor of the ancient Medes.
Fourth, Javan, was progenitor of the race that eventually
peopled Greece and Sp'ia.
Fifth, Tubal, was progenitor of the people around the south of
the Black Sea, who spread to Armenia.
Sixth, Meshed, mingled ^yith Tubal and Magog, and originated
the Russian and Cjiinese races.
Seventh, Tiras, was the progenitor of the Thracians.
That the Hindus and Javans are derived from the
descendants of Japheth is evident from their subsequent
historj^, and they fulfil in a very emphatic manner the
prophetic declaration in Genesis, chap, ix., verse 27 : —
" God shall enlarge Japheth."
Government, science, and art, speaking broadly, are, and
have been, Japhetic, and Japhetic onty.
This being so, there is every reason for holding the early
inhabitants of Java, who, I repeat, must not be confused
with the earliest or autochthonous race, to have sprung from
the fourth son of Japheth, or to have been of the tribes or
peoples called by his name.
This Javan race, besides being in the East Indies, Cam-
bodia, Siam, etc., was also found in Syria and Greece.
That the sons of Javan did live and trade in these Indies
is evident, as also is the fact that the islands were known
as the " isles of the Gentiles " ; for does not Genesis,
chap. X., verses 4 and 5, read : —
" And the sons of Javan, Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim and
Dodanim, by these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their
lands, every one after his tongue " ?^
From the sons of Tarshish the port of Tarshish, which
has been identified in recent times as none other than the
' At the present day the East Indies are similarly divided.
24 JAVA
modern port of Galle, in Ceylon, and which was frequented
so much in the days of King Solomon, received its name.
Solomon's ships manned by the Phoenicians, which were
built in Ezion Geber, on the Eed Sea, sailed along the shores
of Arabia, the Persian Gulf, and Hindustan. The land
for which they were bound was one governed by seven
kings,^ and carrying on an extensive trade.^ The voyage
to Ezion Geber and back, we are told, occupied them three
years. This is quite possible when we bear in mind the
small size of the vessels then in use, which made them
absolutely dependent on the elements. The cargo these
hardy travellers brought back to King Solomon was gold,
silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. The gold and silver
may have come from a mountain in Sumatra known as
Mount Ophir, whence it was conveyed to the coast down a
river known to-day as the Kali Mas (River God), and thence
to Malacca, where it was reshipped to Tarshish.
Ivory was always very plentiful in Ceylon, and could be
procured also in Sumatra and Java.^
Apes were indigenous to Ceylon and Java. Peacocks
swarmed in both countries. Owing to its favourable
situation, Galle was from time immemorial the resort of
merchants from Egypt, Syria, Arabia, Persia, the Sudan,
and Somali on the one side, and China, Sumatra, Java, and
the Spice Islands on the other. It was the great Eastern
mart frequented by the ships of Tyre and Judsea. Thus,
1 Kings, chap, x., verse 22, reads : —
" For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy
of Hiram : once in three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing
gold, silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks " ;
1 Both Java and Ceylon had several kings at one time.
"^ This also apjilies to Java equally with Tarshish and Ceylon.
• In former days herds of elephants used to come over yearly quite
easily from India, by what is known as Adam's Bridge, when certain edible
trees were in bloom and the pasture lands in good condition.
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 25
and 2 Chronicles, chap, ix., verse 21, reads : —
" For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of
Hiram : every three years once came the ships of Tarshish,
bringing gold and silver, ivory/ and apes, and peacocks " ;
further, Jeremiah, chap, x., verse 9, reads : —
" Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold
from Uphaz "^ ;
and Ezekiel, chap, xxvii., verse 19, reads : —
" Dan also and Javan going to and fro, occupied in thy fairs ;
bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market."
Silver and iron were found in the islands of Sumatra
and Borneo, whilst the cassia and calamus came from no
other place than the Spice Islands.
Ezekiel, chap, xxvii., verses 3, 12, and 13, reads : —
" And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of
the sea [Bay of Bengal], which art a merchant of the people for
many isles."
" Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all
kind of riches ; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy
fairs.
" Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants."
Now tin until, comparatively speaking, recent times was
only to be procured in the East Indian islands of Banca and
BilKton, the tin mines of Cornwall not having yet been
discovered ; while lead was in those days only known to
exist in Sumatra. Fm*thermore, the book of Isaiah con-
tains repeated references to the " isles of the Gentiles,"
and this, taken in conjunction with the invariable mention
of gold, bright iron, silver, ivory, apes, peacocks, tin, lead,
and spices, which nowhere else in the world, even at the present
day, are found all together hut in the East Indies, leaves no
doubt to which islands Isaiah referred.^
1 See note ^, page 24.
* Mount Oi^hir, in Sumatra.
' Bronze was in common use in Egypt and Chaldsea before b.c. 6000, and
26 JAVA
Java as tlie Taprohdna of the Ancients. — As the islands of
Java and Sumatra appear to have been hardly known to
the old Roman and Greek map-makers, Selan-dib (Ceylon)
has generally been considered the land they referred to
as Taprohdna. This is perhaps due to the obscure and
rather contradictory descriptions given by Ptolemy, Pliny,
Strabo, Pomponius, and Mela, an obscurity arising possibly
from defective knowledge of the theory of map-making and
a total ignorance of geography.
The Taprohdna of the ancients Avas said to be a country
intersected by the Equator, and from which the Pole Star
"was all but invisible. This of itself would appear to make
it sufficiently obvious that Sumatra, and not Ceylon, is
the country, for neither does the Equator intersect Ceylon,
nor is the Pole Star practically invisible from it, whilst both
are true of Sumatra.
Sir Stamford Raffles, who was very much interested in
this question, writes in 1817 as follows^ : —
" Whether Sumatra, or Java, or any other island of the
archipelago, or the whole or several of them collectively may not
have formed the Taprobdna of the ancients is perhaps still an
undecided question. Notwithstanding the claims to this distinc-
tion which have of late years been rather admitted than proved
in favour of Ceylon, the most striking fact detailed in the accounts
which have reached us of this country, and one which, from its
nature, is least likely to have been disfigured or perverted by the
misrepresentations or prejudices of travellers, is that it was
bisected in nearly equal portions by the equinoctial line, and to
the southward of it the polar star was not visible. How can this
as it is an alloy of copper and tin, the question arises, Where did these
metals come from so early as this ? As even several thousand years later
the East Indies were the only known sources of these metals, it is difficult
not to believe that it was fi-om the East Indies that Egypt and Chaldsea
had formerly obtained them.
^ Sir Stamford Raffles says in a letter to the late Earl of Buckingham,
dated Buitenzong, August oth, 1815, and referring to Sumatra and Java,
"There, my Lord, are doubtless the real Taprobana of the ancients, the
Sacred Isles of the Hindus."
THE A^XIENT HISTORY OF JAVA 27
statement be evaded or in any way applied to Ceylon ? Major
IVIilford seems inclined to consider Taprobdna is derived from the
Sanscrit words tapa (penance) and bana (forest or grove), a deriva-
tion equally favourable to the claims of the Javans' tapa, and waiui
or wono having the Uke signification in their language, and if,
as there is reason to believe, an extensive intercourse subsisted
in very remote times between Western India and these islands,
where was a country that could more invite the retreat of holy
men than the evergreen islands which rise in endless clusters in
the smooth seas of the Malayan Archipelago, where the elevation
and tranquillity of devotion are fostered by all that is majestic
and lovely by Nature ? "
Modern writers mostly say that Ceylon is Taprobana,
but, in point of fact, probably both Sumatra and Ceylon
are the places referred to.
Part II
The Hindu Period
from the establishment of hinduism, anno javan 1,
to the extinction of the empire of mendang
KAMULAN OR MATAREM, ANNO JAVAN 927 (a.D. 1002).
The Colonisation of Java by the Hindus. — In the ancient
Hindu chi-onicles known as the Vedas no trace has been
found of a record of the first expedition from Hindustan
to Java. The Javans, however, give a more or less lucid
account of a certain Hindu called Aji Sdka, said by some
to have been the Prime Minister of a great Maharaja, who
visited Java with a large following ; and they reckon the
first year of their era from this visit, a date which corre-
sponds with about the seventy-fifth or seventy-eighth year
of the Christian era.^
• The era wMcli bears the name of Aji Sdka really began with his death,
that is, the seventy-eighth year of the Christian era ; but the seventy-fifth
year is, according to Raffles, undoubtedly that which the Javans adopted,
corresponding with the former within about tliree years. This slight differ-
ence may be accounted for by the introduction of the Mahometan mode of
reckoning in vogue in Java during the last three centuries. In the date
tables the seventy-fi.fth year has been generally accepted.
28 JAVA
This great Maharaja, the ruler of some large kingdom
probably in Bengal, had no doubt heard for years of the
traditional reports of a land that lay south, a land of honey,
teeming with precious and valuable metals, and gold, and
fragrant spices. It must have been known more or less
over the whole Orient that the Phoenicians — with whom
the Egyptians associated later — had secret stores of wealth
in these parts, but the cunning of these wily traders, who
naturally desired to keep the monopoly of the wealth to
themselves, made other centres, such as Malacca and Selan-
dih (Ceylon), transhipping ports and to appear as it were
the places whence the riches came. They kept the actual
source of their supplies a secret ; it was, therefore, known
only to the seafarers themselves. This Maharaja, however,
with more initiative than his predecessors, was determined
to find out the source, and decided to have a search made
for the country, at least so report says.
There are, it must be observed, however, conflicting
accounts of the real character of Aji Saka. By some he i&
rejDresented as a powerful prince who established a large
colony in Java, which an epidemic of some kind caused
him to withdraw. Others describe him as a saint and deity.
All, however, agree that to him may be attributed the first
introduction of letters, proper government, and religion.
According to Javan historians, a judicial code was
already in existence when he arrived, but one of rather an
elementary nature. It went under the title of " Sun and
Moon." Under this code a thief was bound to make resti-
tution of the property stolen, and to pay in addition a fine
in cattle or produce. If the theft was considerable, he
became the slave of the injured party or his relations.
Murder was not punished by death, but by a heavy fine and
perpetual servitude in the family of the deceased. This
code Aji Saka is said to have reformed, and a set of ordi-
nances represented as having been drawn up from his
THE HINDU PERIOD 29
instructions is believed to have been in use as late as the
time of the empires of Janggald (a.d. 900) and Majapahit
(a.d. 1300). The language of the new invaders was
apparently Sanscrit, which, as is known, has left its impress,
in the form of the Kaivi language, all over the East Indies.
The religion introduced was Brahminism. Both the lan-
guage and the religion were gradually adopted by the
inhabitants.
The way having once been found, there is no doubt that
expedition followed expedition. In fact, a regular move-
ment took place to Java, the " wonderful land," which,
through its supreme and unparalleled beauty and gi'andeur
and its abundant provision of the necessaries of life, lent
itself well to the object in view, namely, power over colonies
believed to be near the som-ce of the Egyptian wealth.
The priesthood, too, would have had no objection, and saw
in Java a land where the proselytising of the native and the
spread of its reUgion was likely to prosper.
Some say this Aji Sdka landed on the north coast near
Tuhan, and there is a legend hereabouts regarding him,
unless the Javans have confused the landing of some other
Hindu party with that of Aji Scika. Others, however, hold
strongly that he must have landed somewhere near the
present-day town of Bantam, or else on the south coast,
near, or in, the Bay of Tjilatjap.
If Aji Sdka came from Cambodia, the north coast was
the most probable place of landing, but if from Bengal, the
south coast is the more hkely.
How long the so-called Aji Sdka and his party remained
in Java or when he left are ahke imknown. It seems,
however, reasonable to suppose that when he left, to report
to his master, he did so vdth a full account of Mid-Java,
which was the seat of the first Hindu empire of Mendang
Kdmidan (or Mafdrem), which nominally, therefore, was
founded by these adventurers and explorers in x\nno Javan 1.
30 JAVA
In the chronological table given at the end of this chapter
this is taken to be the case, although, as a matter of fact,
its foundation is generally placed many years later.
While, as already stated, the Javan chroniclers — usually
Buddhist priests — ^in the main give Aji Sdka as the first
Hindu who visited Java, another account very plainly
states it was the Prince of Eom who was the first comer.
Some of these liistorical records appear sufficiently interest-
ing to give here, although a more thorough knowledge of
the history of the country shows that the writers were not
always careful in their statements, and drew too freely on
their imaginations. In the main, however, and for Oriental,
the records were fairly accurate, but they must be looked
on as somewhat mythical, and the dates are hopelessly
entangled.
" Prdbu Jdya Bdya was a great and powerful prince of Astina,^
and the fifth in descent from Arjuna, the son of Pdndu Dewa Ndta,
after whom had reigned successively Bimdnyu, Parakisit, Udayana,
and Gandra Yana. His Penggawa, or chief minister, being a man
of great enterprise and ability, was sent to visit and civihse
foreign countries. In the course of his travels he landed on
Java, then the abode of a race of Rasaksa,^ and known by the
name of Niisa Kendang. This happened in the first year of the
Javan era, and is distinguished m the Chandra Sangkala by the
words nir, ahu tanpo, jdlar, meaning hteraUy ' nothing, dust, not
anything (but) man,' and metaphorically the figures 0001. He
here discovered the grain caUed jdwa-wut, at the time the principal
subsistence of the inliabitants, and, in consequence of this dis-
covery, he changed the name of the country to Nusa Jdwa.
In his progress through the island he met with the dead bodies of
two Rasaksa, each holding a leaf with an inscription on it one in
purwa [ancient], the other in Siamese characters : these he
united and thus formed the Javan alphabet of twenty letters.
" He had several combats with the Rasaksa, particularly with
the Dervata Chengkar ; and, after fixing the date of his different
^ Hindustan.
^ Perhaps Ba-Sakya.
THE HINDU PERIOD 31
discoveries and leaving mementoes of his visit wherever he went,
he finally returned to Asiina, and dehvered to his sovereign a
written account of all he had seen and done."
From the foregoing it appears that this Prime Minister
not only made a journey through the island — probably only
a portion of it — but that the aboriginal inhabitants used the
Siamese alphabet. If no other people had visited them
before, how came they to have this alphabet ? It may
fm'ther be observed that Cambodia and Siam are practically
one country, and visitors from the one may well have used
the alphabet of the other. Furthermore, the Javan
alphabet was certainly not made for the benefit of wild
savages, but a race of people who were in a state to benefit
by it. The name, too, of the individual that was met with
in fight has a Hindu ring about it, although it is possible he
may have been mythical.
Another Javan chi'onology^ in possession of the Susuhunan
(called sometimes Susunan for short), or Emperor, of Java
or Surakerta, not only describes the arrival of the fii'st
Hindus, but the second arrival also. It is here to be noted
that Aji Sdka is mentioned as not having arrived until after
the year b.c. 1000.
The Javan historian now enters with more confidence
into details, although facts and dates are as confused as
ever : —
" What was first known of Java was a range of hills called
Qunung Kenddng, which extends along the north and south
coasts ; it was then that the island first came into notice, and at
that period commenced the Javan era [Anno Javan 1 : a.d. 75
or 78].
" After this the Prince of Rom sent twenty thousand families
to people Java, but all of them perished except twenty famihes
who returned to Rom.
"In this year [a.j. 10: a.d. 85] twenty thousand famihes
1 In this ckronology the author describes himself as a sovereign of
Kediri. It is ascribed to Aji Jaya Baya, a.d. 800, but probably wrongly.
32 JAVA
were sent to Java by the Prince of Kling. These people pros-
pered and multiphed. They continued, however, in an uncivi-
hsed state till the year 289 [a. J. 289 : a.d. 360], when the
Almighty blessed them v\^ith a prince called Kano, who reigned
for one hmidred years [a.j. 300 — 400 : a.d. 375 — 475], at the end
of which period he was succeeded by Bdsu Keti. The name of
the sovereignty was called Wirdta. Bdsu Keti dying, he was
succeeded by his son Mdngsa Pdti.
" The father and son together reigned three hundred years.
'■ Another principality, called Astina, sprang up at this time,
and was ruled by a prince called Ptila Sara, who was succeeded
by his son Abiasa, who was again succeeded by his son Pdndu
Dewa Ndta, the reigns of the last three prmces together amounting
to one hundred years [a.j. 700—800: a.d. 775—875]. Then
succeeded Jaya Baya himself, who removed the seat of govern-
ment from Astina to Kediri.
" The kingdom of Kediri being dismembered on the death of
its sovereign, there arose out of its ruins two other kingdoms, the
one called Bramhdnan, of which the prince was called Bdka,
the other Peng'ging, of which the prince's name was Angling
Dria. These two princes having gone to war with each other
[a.j. 900 : a.d. 975], Bdka was killed in battle by Ddmar Mdya,
the son-in-law of Angling Dria. On the death of Bdka the
kingdom of Bramhdnan was without a prince, and continued so
till, Angling Dria djdng a natural death, Ddmar Mdya succeeded
him and ruled the country.
" Ddmar Mdya dying and the sovereignty becoming extinct
[a.j. 1002 : A.D. 1077], there arrived from a foreign country a
person called Aji Sdka, who established himself as a Prince of
Mendang Kdmulan in the room of Dewata Chengkar, whom he
conquered.
" In the year a.j. 1018 [a.d. 1093] the Chandi Sewu (thousand
temples) at Bramhdmin were completed.
" The empire of Mendang Kdmulan and its race of princes
becoming extinct, the kingdoms which rose up and succeeded to
it were : —
" (1) Jang'gala, of which the prince was Ami Luhur;
" (2) Kediri, of which the prince was Lembu Ami Jaya ;
" (3) Ng'arawan, of which the prince was Lembu Ami
Sdsa,
" (4) Singasari, of which the prince was Lembu Ami Lueh.
THE HINDU PERIOD 33
" These kingdoms were afterwards united under Panji Suria
Ami Sesa [a. J. 1082 : a.d. 1157], the son of Ami Luhur.
" Panji Suria dying, he was succeeded by his son Panji Lalean,
who removed the seat of government from Jang' gala to Pajajaran.
This took place in a. J. 1200 [a.d. 1275]."
From the foregoing it is seen that, compact, defined, and,
comparatively speaking, limited as the territory of Java is,
it has never been for any length of time under one sovereign.
It is true that one or two of the Hindu princes, more
ambitious and possibly more enlightened than the others,
have at times, by peaceful means or by arms, subjugated
their immediate neighbours, and thus temporarily added
them to their dominions, but their authority over the whole
island was (except in the cases of ]\Iandang Kamiilan and
IMajapahit) never more than nominal. The life, moreover,
of these great States (especially in later days) has always
been more or less marked by anarchy and rebellion, murder,
poisoning, torture, and treachery everywhere, while the
natm-al tendency of the first inhabitants, submissive in a
high degree to the Hindu conquerors, lent itself to a sub-
division into smaller States and communities in every
period of the history of the island. Thus by the side of the
line of princes whose names appear in the lists of sovereigns,
many smaller Hindu States, with dynasties and separate
interests, existed in Java from the earliest times.
Another cause which no doubt also tended greatly towards
this state of affairs was the difficulty and danger attached
to travelling and transport throughout the island. Ever
since prehistoric times, ^\^th the exception of a few barren
stretches here and there, the whole island has been over-
grown with a tangled and practically impenetrable mantle
of trees, bushes, and creepers, so dense as entirely to shut
out the light.
These forests, which stretched from the shores to the
mountain-tops, were the home of tigers, elephants, buffaloes,
J. — VOL. I. D
84 JAVA
rhinoceros, and leopards, snakes, droves of wild and dan-
gerous swine, troops of monkeys, and other disagreeable
and dangerous animals, a state of things, naturalists main-
tain, which would very soon be the case again if Nature was
left to itself for a few years.
It is no doubt due to these reasons also that so many
separate and independent kingdoms were able to exist in
the island at one and the same time, and that the local
historians in each division, owing to the Hindu invasions
taking place at more than one point, and overlapping one
another, have come to be at variance in the various records
and chronologies which they have left behind them.
In some accounts it is stated that the religions and arts
of India were first introduced into Java by a Brahmin
named Tritresia, who with numerous followers landed on
Java, and established the Hindu era, for which reason he is
still considered by some Javans to be the same with Aji
Sdka.
The descendants of Tritresia are said to have succeeded
to the government of the country, and a list of eighteen
princes is adduced to bring the history down to the ninth
century, when the empire of Jang' gala was established.
The following account of princes beginning with Tritresia,
who is said to have established his government at Giling
Wesi, at the foot of the volcano Se Miru (Smeroe), together
with the dynasties which they severally established and the
dates at which thej succeeded to the government, is in
parts somewhat fabulous, but in the main is probably
correct.
The account is taken from a collection of the legends of
the country compiled by Naia Kasunia, the Panambaham
of Sumenap, in Madura, in 1812, either for himself or Sir
Stamford Baffles : —
" Before there were any inhabitants on Java, Wisnu (Vishnu)
presided therein ; but having offended Sang yang Ouru, Tritresia,
THE HINDU PERIOD 35
son of Jala Prasi and grandson of Brdma (Brahma), was sent to
Java as sovereign of the country. This prince was married at
ten years of age to Bramdni Kali, of Kamboja (Cambodia), and,
with eight hundred famihes from the country of Kling, estabhshed
the seat of his government at the foot of Guiiung Semim, the capital
of which he called Oiling Wesi. He had two sons, Mdnu Mandsa
and Mdnu Madewa, and his people increased to 20,000.
" In the country of Khng there was a man named Watu Gunung,
son of Gdna, of Desa Sangdla, who heard of the fame of Sinta and
Ldndap, two beautiful women residing at Giling Wesi. Watu
Gunung went in search of them, and finding them under the pro-
tection of Tritresta, attacked and defeated him. Tritresta was
slain, and Watu Gunung reigned as sovereign of Giling Wesi for
one hundred and forty years. Under his government the country
became very flourishing. He adopted forty sons and as many
daughters of the princes of the country, and gave them the names
of the deities of Siirga (Swerga), for which, and for other acts,
he was in the end punished with death by Wisnu in the year
240."
From this it would seem that Tritresta was not the first
Hindu to come to Java.
" After this Batdra Guru sent Gutdka from the mountain
Sawea Chd'a, in Kling, to be sovereign of Giling Wesi [Anno
Javan 240 : a.d. 315], where after a reign of fifty years he died,
and was succeeded by his son Baden Saivela in the year a.j. 290
[A.D. 365].
" This last prince reigned twenty years, and was succeeded by
Gutdma, who removed from Giling Wesi while yet unmarried,
and went to a country, Astina,^ which was possessed by an elephant
that desired the princess Endrddi in marriage. He fought and
killed the elephant, and married the princess, and afterwards
proceeded to Langrestina.
" There was a Pandila of Gunung Jali, in the country of Kling,
who had a son called Bddn Dasa Wiria, who when twelve years
of age, having obtained leave of his father to go to Java, took up
his abode at the foot of the mountain Lawu (Lawoe). His son
Ddsa Bdhu, when ten years of age, determined to make himself
independent, and travelled with one hundred followers until
1 A district in Java not far from the present town of Pekalmgan, probably
called so after the old Hindu province of that name.
d2
36 JAVA
they smelt the dead elephant which had been killed by Gutdma.
There he established himself, calling his capital Gajahuia or Astina
Pura. This was in the year a. J. 310 [a.d. 385]. Ddsa Bdhu was
succeeded by his son Sudntana, who had wars with the giant
Puru Soda. This prince had a son named Deiva Brdta, whose
mother died immediately after the birth of the child ; and the
prince, finding no one from whom the child would take milk,
was obhged to carry it about in search of someone to whom it
might take a liking. Of the descendants of Tritresta were first
Mdnu Mandsa, second Sutdpa, third Saputram, fourth JSdkri.
The last begat Pula Sara, who had a son named Abidsa. It
happened that Abidsa when an infant was borne in the arms of
his mother Ambu Sdri at the time when Sudntana was in search
for a wet-nurse for his son. Upon seeing her the infant Dewa
immediately cried out, and wanted milk from her, which, however,
she would not consent to give, imtil, after much altercation,
Suantdna agreed to give his country in exchange ; so that Ambu
Sdri received the country of Astina for her son Abidsa, who when
he arrived at a proper age succeeded as sovereign in the year
A.J. 415. Dewa Brdta was made Prince of Kumbina.
" Abidsa was married to a woman advanced in years, by whom
he had three sons : Dresta Rdta, who was blind ; Pdndu Dewa
Ndta, who was very handsome ; and Rdma Widdra, who was
lame. After twelve years he retired and transferred the govern-
ment to his second son. Pdndu Dewa Ndta, at the age of fourteen,
then succeeded as sovereign of Astinu, and married Dewi Kunti,
daughter of Bdsu Keti, Prince of Madura, by whom he had three
sons : Kunta Dewa, Sma, and Jindka. Dewa Ndta also married
Madrin, daughter of the Prince of Mandardga, and died leaving
her pregnant. She was delivered of two sons, and died also,
but Dewi Kunti gave the children milk and called the one
Sadewa and the other Nakula. At that time the children of
Pdndu Dewa Ndta were very young ; Dresta Rdta was, therefore,
nominated protector during their minority ; but instead of
resigning the kingdom to them, he gave it to his own son, Suyuddna,
who becoming sovereign of Astina, the five children were sent
by Abidsa, with a thousand families, to establish a new country,
to which they gave the name of Amerta}
** Suyuddna married the daughter of the Prince of Mandardga.
1 In the present district of Demak.
THE HINDU PERIOD 37
He had a son, and the country became great, flourishing, and
happy. There was none more powerful ; and the dependent
chiefs were the Princes Kerna of Awdng'ga,^ Bisma or Dewa Brdta
of Kumbina, Jaya Pata of Ddla Sejdna, Jdkar Sdna of Madura,
and Sdlia of Mandardga.
" But Punta Dewa and his brothers in the country of Amertu
were not satisfied ; they wished for their father's inheritance,
and sent their cousin Kresna Diarawdti ^ to confer with Suyuddna,
and to demand their rightful possessions. For the sake of
peace with their cousin, they offered to accept of half, but Suyu-
ddna rejected their demand, and replied that without the decision
of the sword they should have none. Then began the war called
Brdta Yudha,^ because it was a contest for their just rights. The
war lasted long, and during its continuance the sons and followers
of both parties were nearly all killed ; at last Suyuddna himself
fell after a reign of fifty years. Punta Dewa then became sove-
reign of Astina, in the year a.j. 491 [a.d. 566], but after two years
he transferred the government to Parikisit, son of Ahimdnyu
and grandson of his brother Jenaka. After defending the country
successfully against the giant Usi Aji, of Surabaya, whom he slew,
he was succeeded by his son Uddyana, who died after a reign of
twenty -three years.
" His son Jdya Derma succeeded. This prince had two sons,
named Jdya Misdna and Angling Derma. The former succeeded
his father after a reign of twenty-seven years and died at the
expiration of five years. During the reign of Jdya Misdna there
was a dreadful pestilence and a violent earthquake, which
destroyed the country, and his son removed to Mildwa, where
he became a tdpa.
" To this country Angling Derma had already removed with
three thousand famihes, during the lifetime of his brother, and
was ' acknowledged as sovereign of Mildwa Pdti,' where he
reigned in prosperity for ten years. At the expiration of this
period it is related that his princess burnt herself, in consequence
of being refused the knowledge of a certain prayer by which she
might understand the languages of all animals. The prince
The present Residency of Djockjakerta.
"^ The present district of Wirosari.
^ Rendered famous in a beautiful epic poem of that name in the Kawi
(Sanscrit) or classic language of Java.
303663
38 JAVA
aftefwarde became insane, wandered about, and was transformed
into a white bird.
" The son of J ay a Misdna, J ay a Purusd, begat Puspa Jdya,
who begat Puspa Wydya, who begat Rasuma Wichutra, who
again begat Rdden Aji Nirmdia, who reigned for twenty years
at Mildwa Pdti, but in whose days the country was greatly
afflicted with pestilence.
"In consequence of this his -son Bisuru Champdka departed
with his followers, and proceeded to Mendang Kdmulan, where he
abode as a Pandita. He had, however, a son called Named
Angling Derma, from whom descended Aji Jdya Bdya, who
became sovereign of the country and gave it the name of Purwa
Chiriti ; under his government the country greatly increased,
he acquired large possessions, and all under his administration
was flourishing and happy. It is related of him that he dictated
the poem of the Brata Yudha, by order of Dewa Batdra Guru, in
the year A. J. 701 [a.d. 776].
" He was succeeded by his son Saldpar Wdta in a.j. 756
[a.d. 831], whose son, named Kandidwan, afterwards came to
the government, under the title of Jdya Lang Kdra. This last-
named prince had a sister, called Chdndra Sudra, four sons, Subrdta,
Pdra Ydta, Jdta Wida, Su Wida, and a daughter named Pambdyan.
" His pat eh was named Jdya Singdra, and among his depen-
dants were Gaja Irdwan, of Luddya, Lembu Suren Guna, of Jang' -
gala, Wira Tikta, of Kediri, and the Arias'^ of Singa Sari and
Ngarawan.
" In course of time this prince became very wicked, and married
his sister Chdndra Sudra. When his pateh, chiefs, and followers
heard of it they rose in arms, but feared to attack the prince, as
it had been predicted that he could only be killed at the full of
the moon. The prince in the meantime, being informed of the
conspiracy, immediately attacked the party, and, kilhng the
pateh, committed great slaughter among his followers. When
the battle was over he assembled his sons, and after teUing them
they were not ignorant of his deeds, and that it was his intention
to bum himself at the full of the moon, he desired that they would
thereupon remove from the place, and leave the country of
Mendang Kamulan to become a wilderness. ^ He then divided
* A royal name at the present day.
' To-day the district where Mendang Kamulan was situated is still
more or less of a wilderness.
THE HINDU PERIOD 39
his possessions into four parts : to the eldest son, Subrdta, he
gave the country of Jang'gala, to his second son, Para Ydta, he
gave Kediri, to his third son, Jdta Wida, he gave Singa Sari, and
to his fourth son, Su Wida, he gave Ngarawan ; and these princes
severally became independent chiefs of those kingdoms. When
the full of the moon arrived Sri J ay a Lang Kara with his wife
and sister, Chandra Sudra, went to the Sdnggar of Deaw
Pabayustan, where they burnt themselves. The families of
the Tpateh and the chiefs slain in the late battle also accompanied
him, and committed themselves to the flames.
" Pembdyum, his daughter, was not, however, permitted to
sacrifice herself, in consequence of which she bore great ill-will to
her father, and it is related that she is the same person who
afterwards went to Jang'gala and abode at Wdna Kapuchdngan,
where she assumed the name of Kili Suchi, and went about from
place to place, being much beloved : for she was very learned,
and made inscriptions upon stones, one of which is called Kdla
Kerma.'^
The several and somewhat confusing accounts of the
coming of the first Hindus having now been related, it
appears desirable to recapitulate a little before proceeding
any further ; for, as it has been seen, while some writers
assert that Aji Saka, " the chief minister of a Hindu rajah "
and " a man of great enterprise and abihty," was the first
to set foot in Java, others maintain that an expedition of
twenty thousand famihes sent by the Prince of Bom, which
was followed by another twenty thousand families sent by
the Prince of Klijig, was the first Hindu colonisation.
Others again state that the religion and arts of India were
first introduced into the island by a Brahmia named
Tritresta.
The true facts are probably that Aji Saka, or some
one corresponding to him, with a number of followers
did come to Java at an early date, and was followed later
by several large expeditions, any one of which on its
arrival in Java may have been the beginning of the
Javan era.
40 JAVA
At least one of these expeditions came from the coast of
Coromandel, the others coming from various parts of
India, or from Ceylon. In one of the later expeditionary
parties would most likely have been the learned Brahmin
TritrSsta.
There seems to be very little doubt that one of the
earliest expeditions made its centre, or capital, in middle
Java, but which one it was we shall probably never know
for certain. Some, however, hold that the Sunda district
is likely to have been chosen as the site for their first town.
The Prince of Rom's forces may therefore have landed
somewhere near the present town of Bantam, formerly
known as Banten.^
The Prince of Kling's expedition, of which perhaps
Tritresta was the commander, landed probably somewhere
in the east of Java, near where the later town of Jortan or
present village of Bangil are found, but anyhow in this
neighbourhood.
Tritresta, of whose abilities and learning there can be no
doubt, led his followers into the interior, estabhshing him-
self at the foot of the volcano Sm^ru, at a place they called
Giling Wesi, thereby opening an era and founding a dynasty
of which he seems to be the first member. A population
soon grew up in this part of Java under his fostering care,
and as a result there eventually arose the kingdom of
Jang' gala, which was established by one of the princes of
the empire of MSndang Kamulan.
Contemporaneously with Jang'gala sprang up the king-
* In the Journal of the Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences, Vol. III.,
page 186, we find that Mr. Friederich, whilst investigating the antiquities
of Java, came to the conclusion that the Hindus at a very early period
must have had establishments in Banten, and exercised a considerable
influence. This influence did not spread into the interior, however, and
in later times no Hindu settlements of any importance are known to have
existed here. This place agrees with the site of Langga or Langga-Su,
mentioned by the Chinese, which name also disappears soon afterwards.
THE HINDU PERIOD 41
domg of Daha,^ Singa Sari,^ and Ngarawan ^ ; all of these
kingdoms in course of time fell under the sway of the
mighty empire of Majapahit.
It is thought that some of the members of the expedition
in which was Tritresta at the time of their arrival in Java
migrated in a westerly direction aa far as Bemhdng and
Japcira. At the latter place a settlement was made which
soon developed into the capital of a kingdom of some im-
portance mider the name of Malawa Pati, and shows a
dynasty of six Hindu kings who ruled there from Anno
Javan 588 to Anno Javan 756.
From Chinese records these kings appear to have been
designated by Chinese travellers to Japara as the " Kings
of Java." Some of the earliest Hindu settlers found their
way from here to the plateau on the mountain of Dieng,
where a small sanctuary or retreat was established, which
eventually grew into a holy city of considerable importance.
With this explanation the Javan history may be resumed.
" When Prdbu J ay a Bay a * of Astina died [see note] he was
succeeded by his son and descendants named Ami Jdya, Jdya
Ami Sana Pdnclia Dria, and Kasuma Chitra. During the reign
of the last of these princes the country [in India] changed its
name [from Astina] to Gujrat, and it having been foretold that
it would decay and go to ruin altogether, the prince resolved to
send his son to Jawa [the kingdoms of Jang'gala, Daha Singa
Sari, and Ngarawan were all in existence at this time], and
possessing the written account of Aji Sdka which had been
preserved in his family, he gave it to his son, and embarked him
with about five thousand followers for that island, among whom
1 Daha was situated between the present towns of Ponorogo and
Madioen.
2 Singa Sari was near the present town of JIalang, and its ruins are still
to be seen.
^ Ngarawan is further east.
* The Prdbu Jdya Bdya here referred to was an Indian sovereign, and
must not be confused with one of his descendants, Aji Jdya Bdya, who
ruled in Kediri in the year 800 of the Javan era. This Prdbu Jdya Bdya
is he who is supposed to have sent Aji Sdka out on his travels.
42 JAVA
were jdlma-tani [people skilled in agriculture], jdlma-undagi
[artificers], jdlma-ujam-dudukan [men learned in medicine],
jdlma-pangnidrik [able writers], jdlma-prajurit [military men].
" They sailed in six large ships and upwards of a hundred small
vessels and after a voyage of some months reached what they
conceived to be the island of Jdwa, and many landed ; but as it
did not accord with the account given by Aji Saka they re-
embarked. In a few months, however, they came in sight of an
island, with a long range of mountains, and some of them, with
the prince at their head, effected a landing at the western
extremity, while a part was driven to the southward.
" They soon met with the grain jaiva-wut as described by
Aji Sdka, and ascertained they had at last reached their destina-
tion, then opening the book of Aji Sdka, the days of the week and
the panchawdra were named.
" The prince, however, did not long remain in this part of the
island, for on clearing the forest, a lingering sickness appeared
among his followers, and many died from drinking the water,
so he moved to the south and east, in quest of a more salubrious
position, and with the hope of falling in with their companions}
These they found at a part of the island now known by the name
of Matdrem : when the high priest opened the book of Aji Sdka,
and referred to the prophecy that Jdwa should become an.
inheritance to the descendants of Prdbu Jdya Bdya, he sum-
moned the whole party together and formally proclaimed the
prince sovereign of the country under the title of Browijdya
Sawela Chdla. The name Mendang Kamulan was then given to
the seat of government."
This was about a.j. 495.
The Ancient Empire of Mi^ndang Kami^lan (Matarem),
Anno Javan 495 (a.d. 570).
On the borders of the district of Kembang there is still
a small desah, or village, which goes by the name of Mendang
Kamulan, and a spot is pointed out as the place where the
old kraton, or palace, is supposed to have stood.^ This
was not, however, the seat of the capital of the ancient
empire, which was situated on a spur of the hill beside the
1 The italics axe not ia the original.
* See M6ndang Kamiilan a few pages further on.
THE HINDU PERIOD 48
plain of Brambanan/ where the remains of the once famous
kraton, whose stones and slabs of gigantic proportions still
pave the plateau, the moat, and the dwelling-houses of the
attendants, and so forth, may still be seen.
The position chosen by Browijdya for his palace is, in all
likelihood, the site of the earliest Hindu settlement in the
island, and was perhaps occupied centuries before his
arrival. M^ndang Kamulan ^ was in fact the capital of the
first kingdom of Matdrem, which suddenly disappeared just
about the time that the empire of Majapahit rose into such
importance.
The Hindus on the arrival of Browijdya must have been
fairly well established in Java ; and doubtless had founded
numerous states or kingdoms under more or less independent
princes in different parts of the island, which, as time went
on and the population increased, all became centres of some
importance.
There is every indication that these Hindu rajahs were
highly delighted with the country and the ease with which
they were able to govern the land. They seem to have
surrounded themselves with every luxury, maintained huge
retinues of womenfolk to attend to their daily wants, and
demanded that every comely young maiden should serve
her time in the harem. They also kept up a regal splendour
at their courts, probably even greater than that to which
they had been accustomed in their own country. Towards
their people, although generally speaking they were exacting,
they were for Orientals humane, and the demands they
made of them or the tasks they set them were never greater
than could be borne. This is proved by the rapidity with
which the population increased while the Hindus ruled the
island.
> See " Ruins on the Plain of Brambanan " (chapter on " Antiquities ").
* The Regent of Samarang, a highly-bred and aristocratic Javan prince,
informed me that the place " Kamulan " was originally spelt with an " o "
nstead of " n " (Kamolan).
44 JAVA
The first Hindu sovereigns were undoubtedly men of
knowledge, enterprise, and great energy — possibly specially
chosen for their fitness, and probably under some control
from Hindustan. Before, however, the end of the thirteenth
century we are led to suppose that the sovereigns in some
way or other were no longer under any sort of control from
Hindustan, for they degenerated and quickly grew to be
voluptuous persons, whose every thought was centred in
the pursuit of pleasure.
Their pleasures no doubt so occupied their time and
sapped their vitality that the affairs of the government and
the care of the people came to be left to others. Thus in
the day of reckoning these princes were found unable to
cope with the situation, as their history shows.
The Hindu priests — first Brahmins, later on Buddhists —
also found in Java a land which offered to them all that
was needed for the tranquillity of both body and soul, and
a land which gave them, among the cool mountains, seclusion
for those solitary devotions which seem at all times, as at
the present day, to have strongly appealed to all true
Brahmins, and specially to Buddhists, be they in Java,
Japan, China, Siam, Cambodia, or India. But in these
early days, while religion breathed a spirit of humility, the
priests in reality from their intense desire for power, which
generally breeds intrigue and plot, were no better than
fanatics.
Where if not in Java had they a country so fitted for
practising their tenets ?
A mild population, vast forests of beautiful trees, silent
groves of shady palms, chains of majestic volcanic
mountains, all dedicated to the god Vishnu — all these and
countless other beauties invested the country with, as it
were, the halo of the great Creator, and enabled the priests
to declare that the island was sacred.
When one bears in mind that the Hindus who came
THE HINDU PERIOD 45
hither were from the dusty, dry, and oppressive plains of
India vdth its overburdening heat, where neither tree nor
shrub thrived, it seems by no means strange for them to
have considered this island, with its wonderful and luxuriant
vegetation, to be a country sacred to the gods, nor is it
surprising under these circumstances to find that they
migrated to Java in astonishing numbers.
The priesthood must soon have assumed and played a
more important part in this foreign land than they had
hitherto dared to do under the autocratic and despotic
eye of the Hindu sovereigns in Hindustan.
After playing upon the superstitious feelings of the
people until their control was assured, they probably took
on a lofty tone of morality, and ended by having an all-
pow^erful influence over them.
They landed the Hindu rulers, to whom they appeared
to have acted as counsellors.
This power they must have maintained for centuries,
rearing, fostering, and teaching a race which built
stupendous temples, the wonder of all ages, and proving
that a state of civilisation existed in Java which is scarcely
to be credited now^adays.
All was, however, vain, for everything was eventually to
be SAvept away, as if it had never existed, by an irruption
of the Mahometans, whose forces came to Java after the
Hejira (a.d. 622).
On Broivijdya establishing himself at Mendang Kamulan,
the earlier Hindu dwellers here removed themselves, it is
said, to the Dieng, where they completed the building of
that extraordinary and w^onderful mountain town which
was to be the resort of pilgrims for nearly a thousand years.
" Browijdya now found that men alone were wanting to render
Mendang Kamulan a great and flourishing state, and he accord-
ingly applied to Gujrat for assistance. The ambassadors whom
he sent proceeded down the river and embarked at Gresik, so
46 JAVA
called from Giri-sik in consequence of the hills [giri] running in
this part of the island close to the sea-shore [sik], and when they
reached Gujrat, the father of Sawela Chala, delighted to hear of
his success, immediately sent him a reinforcement of two thousand
people.
" The kindred and friends of the new colonists were permitted
to proceed in great numbers to Java, where they estabhshed
themselves principally in the southern ^ and eastern ^ provinces.
The Prince Browijdya lost no time in improving his capital,
which became an extensive city in the year a.j. 525 [a.d. 600].
From this period Jdwa was known and celebrated as a kingdom :
an extensive commerce was carried on with Oujrat and other
countries, and the bay of Matarem, then a safe place for shipping,
was filled with adventurers from all parts.
" Nothing, however, is represented to have tended more to
the prosperity of this establishment than a supposed union which
is said to have taken place between the family of Browijdya
Sawela Chdla and that of Aru Bdndan [Aroe and Banda islands
named after this family], a prince who had recently arrived from
the Moluccas, and estabhshed himself in Balamhdngan.^ Hearing
of the arrival of Sawela Chdla, this prince with his followers
proceeded to Mendang Kamulan and submitted to his authority
on condition that the eastern provinces including Balambdngan
should be confirmed to him and his descendants. According to
the tradition of the country, this prince was principally induced
to submit, in consequence of the other party being able to explain
the inscription and signs of Aji SdJca, which he himself could not,
and in consequence of production of the writings, in which it
was prophesied that the country should become the inheritance of
the family of this prince [that is to say of Prdbu Jdya Bdya
and his descendants J
" Browijdya Sawela Chdla, after a long and prosperous reign,
was succeeded by his son Ardi Kasuma, and he again on his death
by his son Ardi Wijdya.
" During the sovereignty of these princes the country advanced
in fame and prosperity, and the city of Mendang Kamulan, since
* Matarem,
* At Gresik, Daha, Eedirie, Jang'gala, Singa Sari, Ugarawan.
* In Java in the Straits of Bali, once a great kingdom, subject to the
Maharajah of Matarem. Still in existence when the English and Dut<5h
came to Java.
THE HINDU PERIOD 47
called Bramhanan or Pramhanan, increased in size and splendour.
Artists, particularly in stone and metals, arrived from distant
countries : the temples, of which the ruins are still extant both
at this place and at the Bdro Bddo in Kedu, are stated to have been
constructed about this period by artists invited from India, ^ and
the remains of the palace, situated in a range of low hills near the
site of the thousand temples, still attest the existence of this
first capital of Java.
" Ardi Wijdya had five sons, besides a numerous illegitimate
offspring. The eldest was appointed chief [director] of the class
of cultivators, the second of the traders, the third to the charge
of the woods and forests, and the fourth chief of the manu-
facturers of oil, sugar, and spirits, and the fifth, named Ren
Denang Gendis, remained as assistant to his father.
" When this prince died his youngest son, Ren Dendang
Gendis, found himself in charge of the capital and invested with
the general administration of the country [empire] ; but his
brothers having formed independent governments in other parts
of the island refused to acknowledge his supremacy. One of
them was established at Bdgalen, another at Japdra, and a third
at Koripan.^
" He is said to have died of a broken heart in consequence of
these secessions, leaving a numerous progeny who established
themselves in different parts of the country.
" The next prince who, according to these accounts, seems to
have succeeded to the government of Mendang Kamulan was
Dewa Kasuma,^ who, being of an ambitious character, is said to
have proceeded eastward and established the kingdom of Jang' -
gala,^ the capital of which, so called from his attachment to the
chase [jang'gala signifying a dog in the Ja van language], was built
in the forest of Jengawan a few miles to the eastward of the
modern Surabaya, where its site with many interesting remains
of antiquity is still pointed out.
" This event is supposed to have taken place about the year
846."
1 Assisted by the local Javans taught by their Hindu masters.
- Sometimes written Kohoeripan, situated on the river Brantas, in the
district now called Sourabaya.
^ There must, however, have been several between him and Ben Dendang
Gendis.
* Spelt also Djengolo by H. Hoepermans in " Het Hindoo Ryk van
Doho."
48 JAVA
The Hindu princes who ruled over the empire of Mendang
Kamulan were men of intelHgent and broad views, who
exercised a mild and beneficent government. In the other
provinces and districts at this time, however, especially those
under the rule of petty potentates, there seems to have been
a rather severe despotism, and such was the religious
importance of the Hindu princes that the Javans were
obliged to crouch down in the roads and turn their heads
away when their rajah passed by in all his mightiness and
holiness on his elephant or in his peddti (a sort of grohah)
drawn by four oxen. This custom, it may be observed, is
still in force in some districts, and is practised when
Europeans pass by. Dewa Kasuma extended the empire
of MSndang Kamulan until the whole of the provinces
eastward of the old town of Jdwa (Japara) submitted to
his authority. During his reign he sent his family, consisting
of four sons and a daughter, to Kling (India) in order that
they might there be educated and instructed in the religion
of Brdma. Whilst in India the eldest son married the
daughter of one of the greatest princes of the country, and
returned to Java with three large ships laden with long-
cloth and other valuable manufactures, and bringing with
him able artists of different professions and a thousand
specially selected troops presented to him by his father-
in-law as a bodyguard.
D^wa Kasuma on the return of his children from India
divided all his possessions among them, the three kingdoms
going as follows :
To the eldest, Ami Luhur, he gave the succession of
Ja7ig'gala, with a jurisdiction of limited extent ; to Ami
Jdya he gave the country of Singa Sari ; to Lemhu
Mengdrang Ngarawa, or Browerno, and to Lemhu Ami Luhur
the country of Dahd or Kediri. His daughter, who was the
eldest of his children and named Dewa Kill Suchi, remained
unmarried and is stated to be the builder of the temples of
THE HINDU PERIOD 49
Singa Sari, the ruins of which near the town of Malang still
remain.
About this period (a.j. 846) the first intercourse with
China is said by the natives to have taken place ; a large
Chinese wdng kang, or junk, being wrecked on the north
coast of Java. The crew landed, some near Japara, at
Semarang, and at Tegal, it is said. The supercargo of the
vessel is represented as having brought with him a magical
stone, by which he could perform many wonderful miracles,
and by means of which he so ingratiated himself with the
ruling prince of Tegal that he was allowed by him to collect
the remainder of the crew, and form a Chinese establishment
wdth many privileges.^
At no period during the existence of the empire of
Mendang Ka7nulan did its power stand higher than at this
time. It was in fact at the zenith of its glory. But its
star was going towards its setting. The whole island of
Java stood practically under the sway of its ruler, and the
renown of its power, wealth, and might reached from
Bcdamhangan in the east to the new town of Banten (Bantam),
which had superseded the ancient Hindu city of Langga
(which lay near it), in the west. It was in Mendang
Kamulan (or Matarem) that art in Java rose, and it was
from here that it took its course through the island, bearing
the wisdom and teachings of the rulers of Matarem.
It was from Mendang Kamulan also that all the wonders
of the island came ; for from here the bands of skilled
sculptors, artificers, builders, workmen who built the
temples of Boro Biidur, Brambanan, Chandi Mendoet, and
the gigantic mausoleums at Chandi Serivoe were drawn.
The plains in the provinces of Bdgalen, Kedu, and Jogya
1 As will be seen in another chapter, these were the first to visit Java,
although this establishment may have been one of the first found in the
district. Toeban and Lasem are generally accepted as the places where the
first Chinese settled, with Gr6sik later on.
J. — VOL. I. B
50 JAVA
Karta were cultivated with rice in a highly scientific manner
for the support of the heavy population.
Each department, so to speak, had its director, respon-
sible to the maharaya for its welfare and proper adminis-
tration.
Judges, with a proper judicial code based on ordinances
compiled by Aji Saka, and suitable to the country, sat
daily to try all cases and keep order in the land. Yet,
notwithstanding all this, the empire suffered a sudden and
tragic collapse, as many others have done before and
since.
This was during the reign of Kixda or Mdisa LaUan, who
at a tender age came under the influence of a " crafty and
designing minister," who entered into a league with one of
the brothers of Mdisa Lalean to deprive his master of his
empire. Jang'gala was the first to separate itself and
assume independence in the east, declining to acknowledge
the supremacy of MSndang Kamulan. Singa Sari and
Kediri soon followed, and acknowledged only the Eajah of
Jang'gala as their overlord.
Mdisa Lalean, after the dismemberment of his eastern
kingdom, quitted his capital ^ and proceeded to the west,
where he founded a new kingdom at Blora.
Another reason given for his leaving his capital was the
breaking out of a dreadful sickness which ravaged at this
period in Middle and East Java. This was magnified, as
it were, by a tremendous eruption of the volcano of Klut
(Kloet), whose discharges are said to have resembled
thunder and the ashes to have involved the country in
impenetrable darkness. This and the sickness which
continued without abatement created a panic amongst the
inhabitants of Middle Java and caused them — so tradition
says — to leave everything and suddenly to embark in
vessels and sail out to sea, no one ever knowing whither
^ He was possibly driven from it.
THE HINDU PERIOD 51
they went, or hearing any more of them.^ In the district
of Blora Mdisa LaUan laid the foundation of his new capital
under the name of Mendang Kamulan, which was that of a
previous empire. His minister Bdka, however, aspiring to
its sovereignty, laid waste the country and burnt the new
kraton. This happened about a.j. 927 (a.d. 1002).
Thus came to an end the ancient empire of Mendang
Kamulan, the first empire of Matdrem. At the height of
its glory it was perhaps the greatest Java has seen.
The kris ^ was introduced about a.j. 846 and 924 into
Matarem, and some assert that all countries in which it is
now^ worn once acknowledged the supremacy of the lord
of Mendang Kamulan. The gdmelan or musical instru-
ments of the Javans, and also the various dramatic exhibi-
tions which still form a part of the popular amusements,
were all introduced into this kingdom at an early date, and
from here to other parts of the country. The rice block
also, it is supposed, was beaten at daylight as now, and the
system of " kentongans," or tongstongs, was then practised
as now, the hours of the night being regularly sounded on
this wooden gong.
It all, however, now ceased, and Middle Java became
absolutely deserted — a death-hke silence fell over all these
districts and its temples. Not a priest or a living soul
remained.
Some may be in doubt as to the true cause for all this,
but at any rate these are the historical facts.
1 They probably went to Bali and Lombok or Celebes, or all three
places.
2 The name of the dagger all the Javanese carry.
52 JAVA
Part III
The Hindu-Javanese Period
from the extinction of the empire of mendang kamulan,
A.J. 927 (a.D. 1002), DOWN to the destruction of THE
:bmpire of majapahit, a.j. 1400 (a.d. 1475)
Troubles with the Chinese in Banyu Mas and Tegal. —
Maisa Lalean, after destroying his l:raton at Blora to
prevent it falling into the hands of Baka, now proceeded to
Bdnyu Mas and Tegal to assist the chiefs there against the
Chinese, who by their extortions and oppressions had even
now become troublesome to the people of Java. The
Chinese were attacked and their chief killed. From this
period the Chinese were allowed to live anywhere in the
island, and not, as formerly, in one district only. It was
about this time that a brother of Mdisa Lalean, Chitra
Arung Bdya, also called Chamdra Gading, finding himself
deceived by Bdka, collected a party together at Jang' gala
and embarked from the harbour of Madura for the island
of Celebes, where he established himself. He is the first
prince of whom the Bugis make mention.
The Kingdom of Pajajdran. — Mdisa Lalean now proceeded
with his followers to the west, and finding two brass cannon
near Bogor, in the vicinity of the modern Buitenzorg,
considered them an omen and with his followers established
himself here, building a small city and kraton at Pakuan,^
to which he gave the name of Pajajdraii, taking for himself
the sovereignty of the country, under the title of Browijaya
Mdisa Tandrdman. He being duly acknowledged as
sovereign in West Java, the new city soon rose to
importance and became the capital of a new empire. This
was about a.j. 955 (a.d. 1030).
^ Pakudn was where the desah of Batoe Toelis now stands.
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 53
The Empire of PajajIran (Anno Javan 1084).
Some accounts date the empire of Pajajaran only from
Raden Pankas, who ruled here in a.j. 1084, having followed
liis son Muda Sari, who w^as a cousin of the founder of the
new dynasty.
This prince had two sons, the elder of whom, not being
content at home, engaged himself in foreign commerce,
trading to Ceylon, Arabia, and China. The younger son
succeeded his father, therefore, in the year a.j. 1112
(a.d. 1187) under the title of Prdhu Munding Sari.
He was, however, no sooner seated on his throne (it
had taken him seven years before he permanent^
estabhshed his authority) than his brother, who had become
a convert to the Mahometan faith and was called Haji
Purwa, returned to Java accompanied by an Arab. Haji
Purwa now tried to convert his brother and his family,
but, failing and fearing the common people of Pajajaran,
he proceeded to Cheribon, which was then a wild forest,
and there estabhshed himself. Haji Purwa was thus the
first Javan (Hindu) to become a Mahometan.
The next prince of Pajajaran was Munding Wangi, who
took over the government in a.j. 1179 (a.d. 1254).
This Hindu prince had a son by a concubine, but
in consequence of the declaration of a convert to
Mahometanism whom he had executed that his death
would be avenged whenever the prince should have a child
so born, he desired to destroy it at once. The child was,
however, of exceeding beauty, and not being able to bring
himself to kill it ^\dth his ow^n hands, he enclosed it in a box
and caused it to be thro^ii by one of his mdntris into the
river Krdwang.
The box was carried down the stream and was discovered
by a fisherman, who, finding this beautiful child inside,
brought it up as his own until it reached twelve years.
54 JAVA
Finding him possessed of more than ordinary abiHties he
took him to Pajajdran for instruction, placing him there
under the charge of his brother, who had a factory for iron
and steel articles.
The boy soon excelled in all kinds of iron and steel work
and became chief of the payidi or ironsmiths, a body of
workmen of great renown. Whilst there he constructed an
iron cage which took the fancy of the Prince Munding
Wangi, who was induced to enter it, where he fell asleep.
According to some accounts the prince was now burnt alive
in the cage ; according to others he was thrown, cage and
all, into the sea.
The empire of Pajajaran had now become very powerful,
stretching through the Preanger Regencies on the one side
down to and including Jacata ^ on the other.
Since the fourth century of the Christian era Hinduism —
that is to say, Sivaism — ^had been preached in the Hindu
kingdom of the Bantam district. Later from an uncertain
date, but possibly from the fifth or sixth century, the same
creed was preached at Bogoh.
From the scarcity of Hindu deities met with in the
Banten and Prayangen (Preanger) districts, it is clear that
neither Brahminism nor Buddhism ever became very
popular with the Sundahese inhabitants of West Java.
Moreover, it must also be noted that the ruler of Banten
was of a different creed to the prince of Pajajdran, and for
a number of years was at war with him until he was at last
overpowered.
History has invariably proved that when two sovereigns
whose dominions are coterminous with each other have
been long on their thrones, one or other of them, either
from a desire to increase the size of his kingdom or from
jealousy of a power so near, takes aggressive measures or
proceeds through intrigue to gain gradually power over the
1 Jacatra (or Batavia).
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 55
other. Such was the case with the Hindu rulers of Banten
and Pajajdran on the death of Munding Wangi. Banniak
Wedi was declared sovereign under the title of Browijaya
Chidng Wandra. His reign, however, was a short one. He
was succeeded by Sri Sang Ratu Devata, the princely ruler
of the Preanger districts, who now came down to Falman.
He had with him one hundred thousand fighting men, and
proclaimed himself Maharajah Sunda, King of Upper
Su7ida, to distinguish himself from the ruler of Banten, or
Lower Sunda.
The Kajah of Banten declining to admit his supremacy,
he conquered him and presented his brother Baroedin with
the throne, placing Jakatra under his charge. The empire
now grew in wealth and strength, and a portion of Sumatra
and Borneo (called from immemorial ages the Golden Isle)
came under the rule of the new prince.
In A.J. 1313 (a.d. 1388) the zenith of Pajajdran' s glory
seems to have been reached. The borders of the empire
stretched from Bdnten to Tjerehon, and thence to Tegal
and Toegoe (in the district of Mataram), touching at this
point the boundaries of the empire of Majapahit, which,
according to the history of Pajajdran, was founded by a
prince of this house, who had fled eastwards to escape
punishment for some misdemeanour.
It was about this time that the inhabitants in the eastern
districts of Pajajdran began to show an inclination towards
Islamism. The prince, hearing of this, determined to put
it down immediately, and shipped an army from the coast
lying between Tegal and Cherihon. The army sailed round
Java to the bay of Matdram, but did not meet with much
success. The prince therefore returned, landing at
Wynkoops Bay, which he called Palaboean Eatu, some say
in honour of his spouse.
In A.J. 1447 (a.d. 1522) the Portuguese under a lieutenant
of Albuquerque, Henriquez Lerne by name, arrived at
56 JAVA
Banten and found the Hindu prince there at war with the
Mahometan ruler of Cheribon, Susuhunan Goenoeng Djati.
The Prince of Banten, foreseeing the inevitable, received
the Portuguese with ostentatious and extraordinary signs
of civility and friendship, proposing an alliance, offering
them one thousand bags of pepper yearly, and requesting
them to build a fort immediately. By these means did he
hope to overcome the Mahometans, who by bribery,
corruption, and intrigue were daily gaining converts to
their rehgion from Banten.
The Portuguese accepted all these overtures of the
prince and promised to return again as quickly as they
could. They were, however, longer away than they had
intended, and on their return in a.j. 1452 (a.d. 1527) found
that a disciple of the Susuhunan of Cheribon had been
ruling here since a.j. 1451.
The Lampong districts had also succumbed to the
" scourge " of the East, so that only Pajajdran was still to
fall to complete the Islamic conquest of Java.^
Being stronger than its neighbours and situated in the
hills, Pajajdran was enabled to hold out longer than might
have been anticipated.
However, Pajajdran was at last seriously attacked with a
tremendous army, and the Hindu troops, being beaten,
retreated to Padudn or Pakuan (Batu Tulis). Here they
were besieged, and after several months were attacked one
night and entirely destroyed.
This happened in a.j. 1495 (a.d. 1570), forty-four years
after the fall of Banten.
With the fall of Pajajaran Hindu rule in Java came
finally to an end. For a number of years already no fresh
Hindu blood had been introduced into Java and the
colonists who remained had gradually become one with the
Javans, who in accordance with their apathetic nature
1 Majapahit had already fallen ; see below.
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 57
surrendered themselves to their new Mahometan conquerors
as easily as they had previously done to the Hindu rajahs.
Although not to be compared with its predecessor Men-
dang Kamulan or its successor Majajpahit, Pajajdran was
a great Hindu empire, whose influence and powder is not to
be underrated.
This stone (Batoe Toelis) was inscribed in the year
A.J. 1055 (a.d. 1130) to commemorate the founding of
the town of Pakuan, which was the capital of the great
Hindu empire of Pajajaran.
Translation from the " Kawi " on the Stone.
" The opening of this new era, and registration of the date.
Before the country was called Preboe Ratu. Later it was called
Preboe Goeroe Dewatw-Vhana. Afterwards it was named Sri
Badoega Maharadja, King-Emperor at Pakuan, Pajajaran. His
Majesty Sangrat Dewata was it that founded Pakuan. He was
the son of Rahyang Dew Niskala, who happily died and was
buried in Goena Tiga, a grandson of Rahyang Niskala Wastoe
Kant j ana, who happily died and was buried on Noesa Larang.
Yes, he it was that made a town in the mountain land, and
surrounded it with a wall ; and that made the holy lake Rena
Mahawidjaja. Yes, he it was. In the year five-pandawas-
useful origin soil."
The Empire of Majapahit, Anno Javan 600 (a.d. 675).
The empire of Majapahit is generally thought to have been
founded by Persians and Arabs from the west coast of
Sumatra, who formed an insignificant colony in that island.
These Arabs and Persians, who were for the most part sea-
rovers and adventurers seeking plunder and loot wherever
they went, were established in Sumatra certainly as early
as the seventh century.
Frequently calling, as they did, at the port of Grisik and
the harbours of Madura to refit and refresh their vessels, it
is quite reasonable to suppose that on the establishment of
58 JAVA
the kingdoms of Jdng'gala, Daha Ngarawan, and Singa Sari
some of them remained in these parts, to take advantage of
the profit to be won by trading here. It was merely a colony,
however, and a place of small importance until about
A.J. 1200 (a.d. 1275),^ when it suddenly rose into importance
under Jdka Sura, or Broivijaya, under the name of Majapahit.
In the Javan language maja and pahit both signify bitter,
but the name of the new kingdom was also Manspahit,
and is very probably derived from Mans Pali, the ancient
capital of Arjuna Wijaya, in whom the Javans believe
Vishnu to have been incarnate.
Majapahit ^ was situated near to where the present town
of Modjokerto stands.
The Prince Broivijaya built for himself a large town in
the forest, and when this was finished he took for himself
the title of Bopati Sang Browijaya.
The population increased very rapidly. The fame, more-
over, of Java soon began to reach the various places in the
East, and Kuhlai Khan, the first emperor of the Mongol
dynasty, appears to have desired to place this country
among his possessions. As soon, therefore, as he was
firmly seated upon his throne, he adopted the Chinese
tradition of universal dominion, and accordingly sent
envoys all over the world, so far as it was known, informing
the various princes that a new family had ascended the
throne of the world, and asking them to renew their
allegiance and present tribute.
Chinese Envoy from Kuhlai Khan visits Majapahit,
A.J. 1215 (a.d. 1290). — The envoy Meng Chi and a suite was
the representative sent to Browijaya. The Prince of
Tumapel,^ which was on the river Kali Mas, in the eastern
^ According to some accounts the date was a.j. 1158, according to others
A.J. 1301 ; both, however, are probably alike wrong.
^ Sometimes also called Modjopait.
8 Tumapel was an important town in the Sourabaya district, and was
probably the old city of Jang' gala.
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 59
part of the island, whose country was looked on distinc-
tively as Java by the Chinese, because it was in this district
that they chiefly traded, received the envoy badly, and cut
and branded his face, sending him ignominiously away with
a message that he did not recognise the claim of liis master.
Kublai Khan was not the man long to brook an insult
of this kind and decided to send an expedition to avenge
the outrage.
Orders were issued to the Governor of Fukien directing
him to send the Generals Shih-pi, Ike Mese, and Kan Using
^vith an army of twenty thousand men to Java to subdue
it. They were to proceed in one thousand ships, to be
equipped with provisions for a year, and to be supplied
with forty thousand bars of silver. The emperor further
gave ten tiger badges, forty golden badges, and a hundred
silver badges, together with a hundred pieces of silk,
embroidered with gold, for the purpose of rewarding merit.
When Ike Mese and his associates had their last audience,
the emperor said to them, " When you arrive at Java you
must clearly proclaim to the people there that the imperial
Government has already had intercourse with them through
envoys sent from both sides and has been in good harmony
with them, but that they have lately cut the face of the
imperial envoy Meng Chi and that you have come to punish
them for this."
The fleet sailed from CJiuan Chou, a town near Amoy,
towards the end of a.d. 1292, and did not follow the
accustomed course along the coasts of Malacca and Sumatra,
but struck out boldly, taking the shortest road to its
destination. The wind was strong and the sea very rough,^
so that the ships rocked heavily and the soldiers could not
eat for many days. After passing near Karimata, which is
sufficiently indicative of the course that was taken, they
> The Chinese Sea during the months of November, December, January
and February is always rough.
60 JAVA
came to the island of Billiton,^ where they stopped to
cut timber to make smaller craft for entering the Java
rivers, and also to repair their vessels (junks) before
proceeding any further.
During this delay the political agents who accompanied
the army were sent to Java, together with General Ike Mese
with five hundred soldiers and ten ships, to see what could
be done by negotiations. The army soon followed, proceed-
ing first to the island Karimon-Java and next to a place on
the Java coast called Tuhan, near Bembang.
Arrival of Chinese in Java, a.j. 1218 (a.d. 1293). — Here
half the army was sent ashore with orders to march to the
mouth of the river Kali Mas,^ whilst the other half proceeded
in the fleet to the same destination, passing on its way the
river Sedayii.
The two divisions of the Chinese army met at the mouth
of the river towards the end of April (a.d. 1293). In the
meantime information had been obtained that the Prince
of Tumapel, whom the expedition had come to punish, had
been killed by his neighbour Aji Katang, Prince of the
Kalang people, who reigned at Ddha.^ See note.
The territory of Tumapel had been conquered by Aji
Katang, and only the son-in-law of the late Prince, Baden
J aha Sura, or Broicijaya, was still in arms against the
1 In February, a.d. 1293.
2 This river the Chinese called Pa-tsieh-kan, which name is found in
that of the desah (village) Patjekan of the present day, situated on the
right bank of the Kali Mas about nine miles from the sea.
^ The wild Kalangs living in the Janggnla district, and commanding
the delta of the rivers there, when Hinduism spread in these parts,
no doubt drew together for self -protection, hence the large number of
them to be found at Ddha (Kediri).
There were still, however, at this time some of the Kalangs in this part
of Java, who preferred the wild life of the forests, and roamed in the
Tenger and Idjen mountains in absolute nakedness.
During the reign of Sultan Ageng of Mataram all the Kalangs were
forced to reside near towns, and some of them became the slaves of the
Javan rulers.
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 61
invader {Aji Katang) and defending himself at his capital,
Majapahit.
It is related that Browijaya offered to submit to the
Mongol generals and sent some trusty followers, who gave
the necessary information about the roads, rivers, and
resources of the country.
Aji Katang, the Prince of Ddha, was master of the delta
of Surabaya also, and the Mongols found there an army
which tried opposing them. These were troops of Ddha
or others who had submitted to them.
The Mongol generals accepted the assistance of the Prince
of Majapahit, Browijaya, and soon fought their first battle
at the mouth of the river Kali Mas, where the troops from
Ddha were easilj^ routed.
These troops, which were not under the command of Aji
Katang himself, but of one of his ministers, retired into the
interior and joined the army of Aji Katang before Majapahit.
Browijaya at last sent word that he was sorely pressed
by his foe, and asked for assistance.
The Mongol army accordingly marched in that direction,
and a strong body of troops was sent ahead to encourage
their allies.
A battle was fought under the walls of Majapahit ; the
army of Ddha was defeated and thrown back into the
mountains south of that place.^
Not satisfied with the success, the victors now marched
on Ddha, which was attacked and captured, Aji Katang
being killed.^
All resistance being now at an end, and the Kings of
Timiapel and Ddha being dead, it was now Baden
Browijaya' s turn to pay for the services which the Mongol
1 The battle lasted from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the army of Dalia lost
five thousand men, very many throwing themselves into the river and
perishing there.
' According to a Balinese manuscript, Aji Katang was lulled by one of
the Chinese generals.
62 JAVA
army had rendered him. As his opponent, the King of
Ddha — his great enemy, who had held so much power in
these parts — was no more, his force scattered, he did not
require their services any more and sought to avoid his
obhgations. He therefore explained that he must return
to Majapahit and prepare adequate presents for the emperor
by way of the tribute, which Kublai Khan so much desired.
He was therefore allowed to return and given an escort of
Chinese soldiers. On the way to his capital, however, he
threw off the mask, the Chinese escort was treacherously
massacred, and with his own troops he at once began
hostilities against his former alHes.
By this time the Mongol generals had found out how
difficult it was to carry on war in these parts, and did not
consider it advisable to begin a new struggle, so, taking
with them the more important prisoners they had captured
from Ddha, and whatever treasure they could collect, and
their remaining forces, consisting of not more than ten
thousand (six thousand having been killed and three
thousand having died of the diseases of the country), they
embarked in their ships and left the island after a stay of
four months, reaching Chuan CJiou in sixty-eight days.^
For having lost so many men the emperor ordered the
senior general, Shih-pi, to receive seventeen lashes and
confiscated a third of his property. As his age (86 when
he died shortly after), however, was great, his property
was eventually restored to him and he was gradually raised
to the highest rank.
It is interesting to observe how a Bahnese historian
describes the affair as follows : —
" Sri Laksemdna, the King of Tatar, ^ being informed that
Browijaya had attacked Kediri, forthwith sent a letter to him
1 The Javans commemorated their victory by raising a stone, which is
still, I believe, to be seen.
2 A Javan misconception for Tartar. Raffles could never make out who
the King of Tartar was.
THE HINDU- JAVANESE PERIOD 63
saying that he would co-operate with the Majapahit army-
provided Browijaya would be on good terms with him. Browijaya
on receiving this intelhgence was very much dehghted, and
accordingly returned a letter of approbation to Laksemdna.
" Laksemdna and his followers then joined Browijaya and
fought several battles with Jdya Kdtong, the King of Kediri, in
which a great number of men as well as chiefs were killed on both
sides.
" In the heat of the action Jdya Kdtong and Laksemdna met,
and a fierce encounter took place between these chiefs. Jdya
Kdtong threw his javelin at Laksemdna, but missed him, and
Laksemdna, in return, struck him on the breast with his poisoned
spear and killed him on the spot.
" The pdteh [of Kediri] and the whole force of Kediri, perceiving
that their king was fallen, immediately surrendered. Browijaya
then eagerly went into the Kaddton^ and was received by his
faithful wife [who was a sister of Jdya Kdtong and had been
abducted by him after her marriage to Browijaya].
" They embraced with tears of joy, and Browijaya was so
enraptured at recovering her that without taking further notice
of the Kaddton he returned with his wife to Majapahit.
" He invited the King of Tatar to visit him. On his arrival
Browijaya received him with every attention and made him a
present of a beautiful virgin.
" Laksemdna remained for some time at Majapahit, during
which Browijaya gave him two or three grand entertainments.
He afterwards embarked on board of his own vessel, and returned
to his kingdom of Tatar.
" Browijaya with his pdteh reigned at Majapahit and governed
the whole island of Java, and his people were very happy."
Browijaya now assumed the title of Bitara,^ which gave
him power over all sultans, rajahs, and maharajahs in Java
and the surrounding islands, the chiefs of whom all acknow-
ledged his supremacy, and held their domains by virtue of
special authority and warrant from him. Even the proud
King of the great Malayan capital in Sumatra, Menang
Kaban, who claimed his descent from the Macedonian hero
^ The king's palace.
2 Bitara, or Batara, is a contraction of Avatara, or " the incarnation."
64 JAVA
Alexander the Great, acknowledged the Bitdra of Majapahit
and swore fealty to him, although this was not until
A.J. 1268 (a.d. 1343).
The country around Majapahit now settled down, and
trading adventurers crowded the capital, coming from all
parts of the East.
The manufacture of arms of various descriptions was at
this time brought to the highest pitch of perfection at
Majapahit, and the first Damascene krises were made by
the pandi (smiths), who came here from Pajajaran, a
kingdom which always was first to make any of the manu-
factured articles Java produced. These pandis became
distinguished men at Majapahit, and were so highly thought
of that they were appointed to the charge of districts each
with a thousand chdcha {tjatjar, or family).
The following is a description of Majapahit : —
Vessels coming from other parts usually called first at
Tuhan, then at Gresik, and lastly at Surabaya. The palace
of the hitdra was surrounded by a brick wall more than
thirty feet high and a hundred feet long at each side. It
had a double gate and was clean and very well kept.
The houses inside Majapahit stood thirty to forty feet
from the ground ; they had a floor of boards, covered with
fine rattan-mats or rush mats of various descriptions, on
which the people sat cross-legged in Hindu fashion. The
roofs of the houses were made of boards of hard wood, spht
into pieces like tiles.
The dwellings of the people were covered with straw, and
in every house there was a stone-built store-room, three or
four feet high, for holding their goods, on which they always
sat.^
The hitara went bare-headed or wore a cap with golden
leaves and flowers ; he w^ore no garment on the upj^er part
of his body, but around the lower part he had a flowered
* A Hindu custom of the present day is to sit on the tops of their houses.
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 65
sarong, tied with a flowered silk gauze or linen around his
loins, called a slendang ; thrust into this was a short dagger,
called a kris. His feet were always bare. When going out
he always sat on an elephant, or in a cart drawn by oxen.
The men of Majapahit wore their hair hanging down, but
the women wore theirs in a knot ; they wore a short jacket
and a sarong round the lower part of the body. They also
carried a kris in their girdle, this being the custom of all the
males of three years and upwards.
Death seems to have been the only punishment for all
offences, great and small. The culprit had his hands tied
behind his back with a thin piece of rattan, and was led
away a few paces and stabbed with a kris between his ribs
once or twice until dead. As may be readily imagined in
a city with a population counting several hundreds of
thousands, not a day passed without one or more death
sentences being carried out.
Men and women alike were continually chewing penang,
with betel and lime.
In Majapahit there were practically four divisions of
people : the Hindu-Javans, who had the command of the
place, the Arabs, the Chinese, and the common natives.
The latter have been described as ugly and uncouth, who
went about with uncombed hair, naked feet, and believed
firmly in devils. These people ate snakes, ants and all
kinds of insects and worms, dipped only for a moment or
so in the fire ; and the dogs they kept in their houses ate
and slept with them.
There used to be a yearly assembly held at Majapahit
called the *' Meeting of Bamboo Spears." It took place in
November, when the hitara made his wife or ratu ride in a
pagoda carriage before him, himself following in an ordinary
cart. This pagoda carriage was more than ten feet high
with windows on all sides, and was drawn by horses. At
the meeting place a square was formed, and every man held
J. — VOL. I. F
66 JAVA
a bamboo spear with an iron point. Each combatant had
his wife and concubine with him, armed with a stick three
feet long, and stood between them.
At a signal given on a drum, beaten first slowly and then
quickly, two men advanced with their lances and began
fighting. After three bouts the wives separated them with
their sticks, calling out Larah, larah, larah,^ upon which
they stopped fighting. If one was killed in the fight the
hitara ordered the victor to pay a golden coin to the relations
of the deceased, whose wife now followed the conqueror,
who was obliged to look after her.
For money the better inhabitants used Chinese copper
coins of various dynasties, all of which were current here,
besides gold and silver brought by the Arabs.
There were daily markets at which fowls, goats, fish,
fruit, and vegetables of all kinds were sold, being both
plentiful and cheap.
Some of the Javans were very rich, and grew sugar-cane
and other produce.
The sugar-cane is described as having a white cover, and
being very thick and in length twenty to thirty feet.
Amongst the fruit mentioned at this time were plantains,
cocoanuts, sugar-cane, pomegranate, the capsules of lotus,
mangostine, and water-melons. We are told that besides
rice the country produced sugar, sesamum, and yellow
beans, but no harley or wheat.
The inhabitants traded in sapan-wood, sulphur, rhinoceros
horns, diamonds, white sandal-wood, lignum aloes, nutmegs,
long pepper, ordinary pepper, steel, tortoise-shell, prepared
and unprepared gold, silver and ivory. Of birds they had
at Majapahit red, green, yellow and white parrots, and the
gracula religiosa (beo), which exactly imitated human speech.
There were also cockatoos, green and coloured pigeons, and
others.
1 " Probably the Javanword larah, meaning to " pull " or " draw back."
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 67
Pigs, goats, cows, fowls, ducks, and horses were reared
but no donkeys or geese.^
Amongst animals they had elephants, tigers, rhinoceros,
wild boars, white stags, and white monkeys.
When a man married he went first to the house of the
bride to conclude the marriage, and three days afterwards
he brought his wife home, on which occasion the relations
of the bridegroom beat copper and bamboo drums and
copper gongs, blew on cocoanut shells, and fired off guns ;
whilst a number of men armed with small swords surrounded
them.
The bride had her hair hanging down loose, whilst the
upper part of her body and feet were naked. Bound her
waist was fastened a slendang of green cloth, and on her
head was a string of golden beads ; whilst on her wrists she
carried bracelets of gold and silver nicely ornamented.
The relations, friends, and neighbours brought penang
and betel, whilst they adorned a little ship with garlands of
flowers, carrying it along with the newly-married couple as
a form of congratulation. Arriving at the house, they beat
drums and gongs and made merry for several days, after
which they went away.
Their burial rites were peculiar and rather disgusting.
When the father or mother of a family was about to die, the
children asked them whether after their death they preferred
to be eaten by the pariah dogs, to be burnt, or to be thrown
into the water ; and their wishes were invariably strictly
followed out. If it was their wish to be eaten by dogs, the
body was carried to the sea-shore or into the forests, where
a number of dogs soon collected. If the flesh of the corpse
was eaten completely, it was considered very propitious,
but if not, the children wept and lamented and the remains
were thrown into the water.
When rich people, chiefs or men of rank, died, however,
1 The Portuguese were the first to introduce geese.
F 2
68 JAVA
their favourite concubines swore before their master's death
that they would go with him. On the day of the burial
the corpse was taken out of the house and a high wooden
scaffolding was erected, at the foot of which wood was piled
up in a large heap, and when the fire burnt fiercely two or
three. of the concubines, with their heads bedecked with
flowers and their body decorated with cloths of various
colours, mounted on the scaffold and, weeping and dancing
for some little time, jumped into the fire and were burnt with
their lord.^
The people of Majapahit imported porcelain, muslin,
flowered and plain silk, glass beads, from China, perfumes and
essential oils from Arabia, spices from the Moluccas, and
diamonds and gold from Borneo. The trade done in these
articles was considerable. Of industries there were several,
which employed thousands of the inhabitants.
Among the more important, the making of iron and steel
articles took a leading place. The pandi or workers in these
articles were almost considered the supporters of the empire,
and the headmen were not only appointed administrators
of districts, as already mentioned, but also enjoyed many
privileges not granted to the ordinary inhabitants.^
There were also men who painted birds, animals, insects,
and men, etc., on paper ; the paper was like a scroll, and
was fixed between two wooden rollers three feet high. The
men who made them sat on the ground and, unrolling the
pictures, explained in a loud voice what thej'' represented,
the spectators sitting around and attentively listening to the
story woven round each picture. These pictures were also
a considerable recreation to the poorer people, especially
if the teller happened to be an adept in the art of narration.
1 Until quite lately a like custom was practised on the death of the
princes of Bali.
2 On the destruction of 3Iajapahit the numerous pandis were dispersed
over the eastern districts of Java, Madura and Bali forming separate
establishments under their respective chiefs.
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 69
Each listener was supposed to pay copper cash to the painter
or owner of the picture before taking his departure.
The people were also engaged in rearing silkworms and
making silk ; they wove a thick yellow silk.
From the kapas bush ^ they wove a very good cotton
cloth, which the tailors made into coats and sarongs.
A portion of the population did nothing else but make
salt, which was obtained by boiling sea-water.
The musical instruments of the country consisted of the
gamelan, which was played by men specially instructed and
trained, a transversal flute, drums and wooden boards. To
this music young girls were taught to dance.
In case of illness the people took no medicine, but prayed
to their gods and to Buddha to be made better.
When the moon was at its full and the night was clear
the streets of Majajjahit were frequently filled with music,
the native women in parties of twenty or thirty going arm
in arm into the moonshine with an old woman at their head.
They visited the houses of their relations and of the rich
and great people. The headwoman would lead off by
singing the first line of some native song, after which all
the others joined in. Their reward was copper cash, which
in good times was showered upon them.
During the month of June the rich people went in boats
on the rivers for longer or shorter periods for recreation,
whilst in November they went to the mountains to divert
themselves. They were carried there by strong mountain
ponies, or else in mountain chairs, each borne by four men
with two as a relay.
When the hitara went out of his palace in state he wore
golden bells, a silk robe and shoes of leather, and rode upon
an elephant. He was followed by five to seven hundred
soldiers. When the people saw the hitara they crouched
down and turned their heads away until he had passed.
* Cotton bush.
70 JAVA
The hitara attended daily to the affairs of state, sitting on a
square couch and receiving the various officials who called
to see him. These officials on leaving his presence saluted
him three times. Three of his sons, called pdnggerans, were
viceroys, and with four high functionaries assisted the
hitara in ruling the empire.
These viceroys and high functionaries received no pay,
but were entitled to a proportion of the products of the soil
and to free labour for their own lands.
There were three hundred civil functionaries who kept
the revenue books at Majapahit. There were also one
thousand officials who were responsible for looking after the
walls of the towns, the moat, the treasury, and the army.
The general of the army received every half-year ten
taels of gold, equal to six or between six and seven hundred
guilders. There were thirty thousand regular soldiers, who
were paid half-yearly according to their rank.
The actual government of the empire was almost wholly
in the hands of the tln-ee viceroys, who had each his own
province to administrate. They, however, divided their
provinces up into regencies or residencies (as they are now
called), with a hopati at the head of each, which were again
subdivided into small districts and sections, each under a
raden, demang, or lura, and lastly below these came the
kuwuls and patmggis.
The superintendents of trade received one chien (Chinese
for ounce) of gold for every two piculs of padi (rice in ear)
they weighed.
Their weights were the cati,^ picid,^ and kohang. The
measure of content was a section of bamboo and called a
kulak, being equal to about one pint.
It is remarkable how well administered in every way was
the ancient Javanese Empire.
* Roughly one pound.
" One picuJ (roughly) = 100 catties, or 100 pounds avoirdupois.
THE HIXDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 71
The Remains of Majapahit as they are to-day. — The site
of Majapahit is nowadaj^s surrounded by a wood, and such
is the veneration of the natives for all that remains of the
capital of their ancestors that they believe the birds sing
sweeter here than anywhere else in Java. On a mound
stands the ruined gateway of the city walls. The tower
on each side, now sunken, was at one time forty feet high.
They are built of red brick cemented together, and are
about ten feet apart. On a level with the ground may
still be seen the sockets in which the pivots of the gate
turned, much worn from constant use. The tower on the
right had on one side an upper and a lower abutment, the
angles being of brick and dovetailed. Below was a niche,
in which probably a figure was formerly placed. The wall
is continued from this gateway, and is supposed to have
been not less than ten miles in circumference, but little of
it now remains perfect.^
The tower on the left hand has been grown over by
creepers, and the roots of a tall tree are entrained whose
outspread branches cover the gateway like an enormous
sunshade. There is also still to be seen the artificial lake
and bathing place of the ancient kings and queens of Maja-
pahit. The lake was oblong, with a circumference of half a
mile. The walls w^ere four feet in thickness and consisted
of solid masonry. At the two farthest angles are the ruins
of two small stone houses. At the head of the lake is a
dilapidated flight of steps. In the labyrinths of the jungle
are the pillars of the palace, which must have attained
magnificent proportions. In ancient da^js no one was ever
allowed near the lake or its precincts except the body-
guards, and no one was ever allowed to bathe in it except
the hitara and his wives and concubines.
1 The surrounding sugar factories in this neighbourhood are said to have
helped towards completing the ruin by taking away the bricks and stones
for building.
f2 JAVA
Near by is the old cemetery, covering about three and a
half acres, and consisting of four large and two small courts
varying from thirty to thirty-five feet square.
Most of these courts are filled with tombs. Each square
is surrounded by a brick wall of great thickness with
passages and doors leading from one to the other. This
is the only really ancient cemetery known of in Java.
Vessels trading with the empire of Majapahit sometimes
anchored at Yortan, which in former times was a trading
port at the southern arm of the river Brantas, near the
present town of Bangil, in the residency of Pasoeroean. It
has been described as a town in a flat country with a fortress
built of stone. The trade is said to have been very pros-
perous, the Chinese owning a number of shops. Some of
the houses were handsome and adorned with yellow and
green tiles.
Behind Yortan the mountains were covered with bamboo
forests, and the melati^ grew wild in great quantities. These
mountains at the time of Majapahit were the home of
thousands of the original inhabitants of Java. They went
naked, and spent their time hunting wild deer, apes and
monkeys, and had great result for their skill. For food
they planted beans, and they never came down to the
plains.
In these early days Gresik (Grisee) was the headquarters
of the rich Cantonese, and there were at least one thousand
families. The Javans came in large numbers from the
whole archipelago to trade here. The principal trade was
in golden articles and precious stones from Borneo, and
spices from the Molucca Islands.
The Chinese sold all sorts of foreign goods in large quan-
tities, and are said to have become rich very soon after their
arrival.
Eastwards, at a distance of seven miles, came the town
' A Bweet-smelling flower.
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 73
of Surabaya ; here also there were not less than one
thousand Chinese families, as well as a number of very rich
Javans. Surabaya was not, however, such a large town
then as Gresik.
At the mouth of the river Brantas there is an island that
was covered then with luxuriant vegetation, where it is said
a large number of long-tailed monkeys once lived.
A black old male was their chief, and an old native woman
was always at his side. The people prepared rice, fruit and
cakes, and gave them to the monkeys, who came down from
the trees to eat.
The old monkey ate first, followed by the young ones.^
Trouble arose a. J. 1221 (a.d. 1296) between the empires
of Pajajaran and Majapahit on account of considerable
emigrations of the pandi or ironsmiths from the former to
the latter.
This was owing to heavy demands made upon them by
the Rajah of Pajajaran and to the much better conditions
under which they worked at Majapaliit.
The climax was reached when eighty pandi and their
families deserted their country. They were pursued as
far as the river Panidli, in Brebes, but managed to effect
their escape, and were received with open arms at MajapaJiit.
A demand was made for the pandi to be delivered up,
but, no notice being taken of it, the army of Pajajaran
moved to Batang, whilst the forces of Majapahit encamped
by the side of the mountain Uiigdrang,^ where there was a
desah of that name. The next move of the Pajajaran army
was to Kaliwungu, where a large camp was formed.
Eventually an indecisive battle was fought at this spot,
after which it was agreed between the two chiefs to make
This story of the monkeys having a chief is true. At the present day
these monkeys are found near Malang, and on the shores of a small lake
called Blue Water, near Pasoeroean.
' Oenarang.
74 JAVA
a treaty and draw new lines of demarcation between the
two countries.
The kingdom of Balamhdngan ^ became of immense
importance at this time, and the hitara divided it up into
several districts, under the sovereignty of Majapahit. The
towns of Besuki and Panurukan also rose into importance
under the beneficent rule of the great empire, and soon
became centres for trading with a number of Chinese settlers.
The hitara having conquered and become master of
practically the whole of the eastern archipelago, the chiefs
of which had concluded treaties with him and acknowledged
his authority, now desired to bring the Malayan peninsula
with its capitals of Singapura and JoJior under his control.
There Avas a large population here, whose princes had
groAvn rich by piracy and whose subjects lived by the same
means.
An expedition was therefore prepared and sent there, but
failed to achieve the object desired by the bitara and
returned empty-handed.^
A second expedition far stronger than the first was
therefore immediately equipped and with a large number of
soldiers despatched with instructions not to return unless
successful.
The troops were landed at Singapura, and after a severe
engagement destroyed the town and put all its inhabitants
to the sword, and until the fall of Majapahit Singapura
remained tributary to it.
The name of Majapahit never stood so high among the
' This town is no longer found on tlie map, having been swallowed up
by the jungle about a.d. 1700 after war and disease had depopulated it.
About A.J. 1240 the districts of Damar Wulan (near Sourabaya), Poerboling
(in Banju Mas) and Probolinggo (Probolingo) are mentioned for the first
time in the Javan histories.
2 In A.D. 1252 Singapura. was unsuccessfully attacked by the King of
Majapahit or the King of Japara, probably the latter. This, however,
drove the Malays to form another kingdom further west at Malacca, a
spot long before known to the ancients.
THE HINDU- JAVANESE PERIOD 75
surrounding nations of the East than at this moment, nor
was there any time when its authority was more extensively
acknowledged or its power more feared. The Eajas of
Makassar, Bali, Goa, Banda, Ende, Timor, Manila Sulu, and
Ternat had learnt what it meant to thwart the hitara's
will, however slightly. The empire seemed in fact
invulnerable.
The dregs of all nations, however, having fled from wars
or been obliged to desert their country and attracted by
the chances of becoming quickly rich, began to congregate
in large numbers at Majapahit. Among these were
numerous Arabs, who with their peculiar faculty of grasping
a situation soon perceived the opportunities that lay to
hand from the usurpation of such a country through
proselytisation, and the seed was sown whose roots were
shortly to enfold the very foundations of this mighty
empire and bring it utterly to ruin.
Introduction of the MaJioyneta^i Religion, Anno Javan 1300
(a.d. 1375). — This new factor was the introduction of the
Mahometan religion.
Javan writers relate the episode as follows : —
" Mulana Ibrahim, a celebrated Pandita of Arabia, a cousin
of the Raja of Chermen (a country of Sabrang^), had established
himself with other Mahometans at Desah Leran,^ in Jang' gala,
when the Raja of Chermen arrived at Java.
" This prince, who was a Mahometan, perceiving with regret
that the inhabitants of the large and populous island of Java were
still heathens, resolved to attempt the conversion of the King of
Majapahit, Prabu Angka Wijaya, and with this view to present
him with his maiden daughter in marriage. Embarking with his
daughter and all his relatives and followers of every description,
he reached Jang'gdla^ in safety, and, landing at the Desah Leran,
1 Sumatra, where the Mahometans had already been established for at
least two hundred years.
^ A desah near Gresik or Grissee.
3 The districts south and west of Majapahit were still known under their
ancient name of Janggala.
76 JAVA
he immediately built a mosque there and in a short time succeeded
in obtaining many converts.
" The Raja of Chermen deputed his son Sidek Mahomed to
proceed to Majapahit and apprise the king of his intended visit.
" He afterwards set out himself with all his party, among
whom were forty holy men, his relations, who had come with
him from Sabrang.^
" The King of Majapahit came forth and met Raja Chermen at
the confines, where they both remained under a pasang grahan^
erected for their accommodation.
" Angka Wijaya evinced the greatest respect for Raja Chermen
and treated him with every mark of hospitality.
" The Raja of Chermen now presented the King of Majapahit
with a pomegranate in a basket, in order that by his acceptance
or rejection of it he might ascertain whether or not he would
become a convert. The king accepted of the present, but not
without wondering how a raja from Tana Sabrang could
think of presenting him v/ith such a fruit, as if it was unknown
in Java.
" His thoughts, however, he kept to himself, but Raja Chermen
knew what was working in his mind, and soon after took his
leave and returned with his people to Leran. His nephew
Muldna Mdhsar, the son of Muldna Ibrahim, alone remained
with Angka Wijaya. Some time after this the kmg, having
contracted a kind of giddiness in the head, opened the pome-
granate, when instead of the usual seeds he found it filled with
rubies. Surprised at this, he observed to his minister that
Raja Chermen must indeed be a very superior kind of person, and
sent Muldna Mdlisar to request the raja to return, but the raja
refused to do so, and proceeded on."
" When Raja Chermen had been four nights at Leran his
people fell sick and many died. Among them were three cousins
who had accompanied him from Sabrang, named Sdyed Jdsar^
Sdyed Kdsem, and Sdyed Chart, whose tombs are known by the
name of Kubur Panjang.^
" The princess (the Raja of Chermen' s daughter) who had been
intended for the Rajah of Majapahit also died.^
1 As akeady stated, Sumatra.
2 Open shed built of bamboo and bamboo mattings.
* These graves are stil] to be seen at the Desah L4ran.
* Her tomb is still preserved.
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 77
" Muldna Ibrahim having been appointed to look after and
take care of the graves, the Raja of Chermen with all his people
decided to return home.
*' Angka Wijaya, desirous of meeting again with Raja Chermen,
arrived at Leran three days after his departure, and hearing of
the death of the princess, observed that he thought the religion
of Raja Chermen would have prevented such a calamity as the
premature death of the putri [princess], to which Muldna repHed
that such ignorance was only the consequence of worshipping
Dewas instead of the true God.
" Angka Wijaya became highly enraged at this retort, but,
being pacified by his followers, returned to Majapahit without
taking any further notice of it.
" Muldna Ibrahim, who remained in charge of the tombs of
the deceased, afterwards removed from Leran to Gresik, which,
however, had not become a separate State. Here he died twenty-
one years after the departure of the Raja of Chermen, and here
his tomb, which is known by the name of Gapura Wetan, is still
to be seen. He died on Monday, the 12th of Rabinlawal, in the
Javan year 1334.^
" To return to the Biiara of Majapahit,^ it appears that early
in his (Angka Wijaya's) reign, hearing from the merchants who
resorted to Java of the beauty and accomplishments of a princess
of Chdmpa,^ he sent an embassy to that country to demand her in
marriage, and on her arrival at Gresik received her there in person
with great attention and state. The princess nevertheless for a
long time refused to cohabit with him on account of the great
number of his concubines, and particularly on account of the
powerful hold obtained over his affections by a Chinese of great
beauty, who had been sent him as a present from one of the
chiefs of China, at the request of the merchants, and with the
consent of the emperor, with a view to obtain greater privileges
for their trade with Java."
The next Arab missionary who arrived at Gresik was
Muldna Jshak, the father of the Susuhunan Giri. He
proceeded to Amjpel in Middle Java, where many persons
embraced the faith. From here he went to Balamhangan.
» That is the 13th March, 1412. See Chapter XIII., " Greesie."
2 The King of Majapahit.
' Cambodia.
78 JAVA
The Arab missionaries now increased in Java, and in
A.J. 1334 Sheik Ibu Maldna ^ established himself at Cherihon
and began the work of converting the western provinces.
As the discontent of the Princess of Champa in no way
abated and could not be overcome, the hitara, greatly
against his will, was obliged to part "with his Chinese consort,
whom he gave to Aria Ddniar, an illegitimate son of his by
a Basdka woman. Aria Ddmar had distinguished himself
at an early age by bringing together a collection of all the
wild animals of the forest as an amusement for the hitara
and his family. After this, when in command of the
Majapahit forces, he broke up the Balinese army, destroying
the capital and killing the whole royal family, except one
sister of the rajah, who, being very beautiful, was sent to
the harem at MajapaJiit.
The hitara on presenting Aria Damar with the Chinese
princess made it a condition that he must not cohabit with
her until the child of which she was then pregnant was
born. Desiring to present him with some token of his
regard for his services to the empire, the hitara made him
adipati or first chief of PaUriihang, sending him there
accompanied by the princess and about three hundred
picked troops from Majapahit, infantry and cavalry.
\ The Chinese princess was now delivered of a son, who was
called Bdden Pdtah, and another was born later on to the
same princess, who was called Bdden Husen.
However, as the people of PaUmhang disliked her for
being Chinese, Aria Damar set her aside and took another
wife, whose son he promised should be his heir. Bdden
Pdtah and Bdden Husen were sent to Majapahit.
Bdden Pdtah when he grew up refused to live at Majapahit,
after the treatment his mother had received from the
hitara, and went to live with the Arab Pandita at Ampel,
who styled himself Susuhunan. Bdden Husen was
^ Frequently known as Susuhunan Gunung Jati,
THE HINDU-JAV^ANESE PERIOD 79
appointed hopati, or regent, of one of the districts of Maja-
pahit called Trong, and became commander-in-chief of the
forces.
Baden Fatah soon embraced Mahometanism and married
a granddaughter of the Susuhunan of Ampel ; when she
became pregnant he determined to seek a place and an
estabUshment of his own ; this he was directed to fix at a
spot where there was a sweet-scented grass called hintara.
This he fomid in the midst of an extensive swamp termed
in Javan Demaklakan (afterwards shortened to Demak),
though first called hintara.
As soon as news of the new establishment reached
Majapahit, Baden Husen was sent with the army to destroy
it, but on liis arrival there he prevailed on Baden Pdtah to
come to Majapahit, which he did.
The hitara recognised his son on account of his Chinese
features and permitted him to return to his residence at
Bintdra or Devidk with the title of Adipati.
After his return to Demdk with his wife the place increased
in importance and prosperity. Converts among the inhabi-
tants in the neighbouring provinces now flocked to Demdk.
The population daily increasing, the building of a great
mosque was begun.
By A.J. 1390 (a.d. 1468) there were eight Arabs in Java
who had assumed the title of Siisuhundn, viz., the Susii-
hunans of Tuhan,^ Ampel,^ Kudus,^ GrSsik,^ Cheribon, Tegal,
Sidayu.^
These all assembled at Demdk during the construction of
the mosque, and in commemoration of the circumstance
eight pillars were placed within its sacred precincts. The
Susuhunan of Kudus was now appointed commander-in-
chief of the Mahometan army of 150,000 proselytes and
marched to Majapahit, against which Baden Pdtah, never
^ Toeban. ^ Near Solo. ^ Koedoes in Japara.
* Grissee, 5 Sedayoe near Sourabaya.
80 JAVA
forgetting the insult to his mother, the Chinese princess, had
openly declared war.
Through the dexterity of Baden Hilsen, who still com-
manded the Majapahit forces, the hostile army of the Arabs
was kept at bay for four years.
The army of Majapahit, however, became discontented
with the uncertain state of affairs and loudly called for action.
Owing to the position of affairs, Husen against his will
attacked the Mahometan forces near the Sidayu river, and
contrary to his expectations nearly annihilated them : in
fact he could have done so, had he allowed his army to
follow up their victory by proceeding to Demdk. This, it
is said, on account of his brotherly friendship for Baden
Fatah, he declined to do.
Baden Pdtah was now invited to Majapahit in order that
amicable arrangements should be made, but to gain time he
excused himself on account of illness, and to deceive his
father, the hitara, paid the usual tribute.
The Mahometan forces were reorganised by Baden Pdtah,
who made active preparations for a renewal of the fight.
Numerous chiefs sent troops to Demdk, and a second army
was soon assembled.
When ready the army ** of the Faithful," now highly
elated, marched to Majapahit and engaged the army under
Hi!isen.
The engagement was long and protracted and lasted seven
days, during which the Arabs preached and prayed inces-
santly.
At last, seeing an opportunity, the whole of the Mahometan
forces advanced and swept the army of Majapahit before
them, throwing them into an utter disorder from which
there was no recovery.
Thus fell in the year a.j. 1400^ (a.d. 1475) the great and
1 The Portuguese give the date of the destruction ol Majapahit between
A.D. 1516 and 1520, but they are probably mistaken.
THE HINDU-JAVANESE PERIOD 81
magnificent capital of Java, the boast and pride of the
East.
In this wise did the sacred Hindu city of Majapahit,
celebrated amongst all the eastern islands for the splendour
of its court, for its excellent government, and the glory of
its arms, become a wilderness ; the Javan assertion is true :
" Lost and gone is the pride of the land."
The regalia, which was a large one, and had in it a splendid
crown with huge diamonds, a golden service, and a magnifi-
cent gamelan,^ was all removed to Demdk, as was all
property, public or private, of every description, so that in
two years the country was utterly laid waste and became
wholly deserted. What became of the hitara of Majapahit
is not certain ; some accounts say he fled to Malang, others
say to Bali.
At the former place, or near it, the people of Majapahit
who had followed him began making bricks and built with
these a walled town. They dug a deep moat or ditch
around the whole and rendered it a place of considerable
strength. This, however, Baden Fatah is said to have
destroyed at once, the old hitara dying shortly afterwards
at the age of 63 years.
Thus was the utter destruction of the empire of Majapahit
completed, it being brought to its end through the instru-
mentality of one of its own sons.
Before proceeding further with the history of the country,
it will be necessary to go back a little.
^ Said to be now at Djockjakarta.
J. — VOL. I. G
SECOND PERIOD
Before the Arrival of the Europeans
G 2
CHAPTER II
Arabian Intercourse with Java
from early times to the founding of the mahometan
KINGDOMS OF DEMAK (a.D. 1477) AND PAJANG (a.D.
1577).
The famous voyage of Hippalus to the Far East marks
an epoch in the history of navigation. The seamen of
western Asia and Europe had never ventured out of sight
of land, from the fear they had of losing it ; so that up to
this time the length of their voyages had been more or less
determined by the convolutions of the coast which they
skirted.
This man, the first who had the hardihood to face the
terrible open sea, and pass out of the sight of terra firma,
staking his life upon the accuracy of his crude knowledge of
geography, and sailing thus bravely into the unknown,
deserves almost to take a higher rank than the world's other
great adventurers — Christoj)her Columbus, Vasco da Gama.
and Magelhan — in that he had less accumulated experience
than they had by which to profit.
Once the direct sea route to the East had been found, an
enormous impetus was of course given to the trade between
i\.lexandria and the East, and Pliny supplies us with a great
deal of information regarding the trade carried on by the
natives of Tajprohane with what are supposed to be the
Seres of northern China.
At this time the island of Jabadius is frequently mentioned.
Again, Marinus of Tyre has left us accounts of the sailor
Alexander, who is said to have made some wonderful sea
voyages to China and Sumatra.
86 JAVA
It is in Marinus's works that the land of Chersonesus
Aurea, or the Golden Chersonese, is spoken of for the first
time, which was regarded as the source of the fabulous
riches of which the Bible gives us the record.
In Josephus's " Antiquities of the Jews," which was
written during the first century, therefore at a period earlier
than the date of the works of Marinus of Tyre, is to be found
the following passage with reference to the pilots furnished
to Solomon by Hiram of Tyre : —
** To whom Solomon gave this command, that they should
go along with his stewards to the land that of old was called
Ophir, but now Aurea Chersonesus, which belongs to India,
to fetch gold."
The geographical position of Aurea Chersonesus, according
to Ptolemy, is south of Further India, and from his map.
Chapter I., Part II., it would seem that the land referred to
is either the Malay Peninsula, or, what is more likely,
Sumatra, or a land just below the Malay Peninsula, where
gold abounds to this day.
M. Auguste Pavie, the well-known French writer on Indo-
China, contends, however, that Cambodia is the original
Ophir, and that Chersonesus Aurea is the name that was
applied to all that portion of southern Asia. It is of course
true, as already explained, that there was a wonderful
civilisation in times far back in Cambodia, and that the
Khmer Empire must have been the centre of a great wealth
and commerce and have played an important part in eastern
Asia ; but, as Sir Hugh Clifford in his " Further India "
remarks, M. Pavie's arguments, plausible though they often
are, fail to carry conviction when he seeks to prove the
identity of Cambodia with Ophir.^
The effect of all these voyages to the golden East cannot
but have made itself felt by the inhabitants of Arabia, for it
> Sir Hugh Clifford thinks himself that the Malay State of Pahang is
the Golden Chersonese.
JAVAN DIGNITARY.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 87
must have frequently been touched at by seamen ; but when
the first Arabs visited Java is not kno^Ti, although it is
more or less certain that the Moluccas or Spice Islands were
not unknown to them centuries before the Christian era.
Arab and Persian Colony in Sumatra. — Some think a
small Arab or Persian colony in Sumatra was established on
the west coast of Sumatra between Padang and Benkoelen
not long after the birth of Christ.^
Trade luith Ceylon and Arabia. — Certain it also is that an
Arabian influence was felt in Sumatra as early as a.d. 600,
and an important trade was kept up with Ceylon and Arabia
in pepper, gold, silver and tin.
Commerce with Madagascar. — There is also some evidence
of a trade being carried on at an early date between Sumatra
and Madagascar in Arabian dhows. It is also commonly
supposed that slaves were brought in considerable numbers
from the former to the latter country.
John de Barros in his " Decades " and Flaccourt in his
" History of Madagascar " state that the language spoken
by the inhabitants is full of Javan and Malay words.
Raempfer in his famous history, discoursing on the language
of Madagascar, remarking on the above fact, says it is the
surviving evidence of the trade and commerce which these
two nations (Sumatra and Java) about 2,500 years ago,'^
the richest and most powerful in Asia, carried on with
Madagascar, where great numbers had settled.
Visit by a Greek from Arabia. — From Grecian records we
learn of one lambulus, who travelled to Arabia and from
there proceeded " in a Httle vessel, well built, and well
equipped with provisions for six months on board which
men were put with instructions to steer south in order to
arrive at a certain fortunate island inhabited by a kind and
' Or earlier.
2 He wrote the history abont 1690, and this would therefore bring us
to about B.C. 310.
88 JAVA
hospitable people with whom they might live for the rest of
their lives " ; and that the island was situated in a most
excellent climate very near the Equator, and plenty of
calamus and maize grew there. The people were learned
in astrology, and their island was amongst seven others,
lambulus stayed seven years in the East Indies. He
mentions that the religion of the people consisted in wor-
shipping the sun and the heavens, and that their oldest man
acted as king.
The writer of lambulus's travels seems inclined to believe
that the island visited was either Sumatra or one of the
Moluccas, preferably the former, as the bark w^as " almost
too frail " for such an extended voyage as would be necessary
to reach the latter, and, moreover, no account is given by
lambulus of the Straits of Sunda, which in the latter case
he would have been obliged to pass. As a matter of fact
the Straits of Sunda need not have been passed, as another
route could have been taken.
What makes it probable, moreover, that the place was
neither the Moluccas nor Sumatra, but was indeed Java, is
the fact that maize was discovered there, and early travellers
are all at one in reporting its growth in Java, whilst not a
single one has ever made mention of its being found in
Sumatra. When the famous flight called the Hejira took
place and Mahomet fled from his enemies at Medma with a
handful of followers, he began to preach over great tracts
of country " that there was only one Allah, and he was
Allah, and that Mahomet was his prophet," in the hope of
raising a sufficient number of zealots to support his totter-
ing cause. In this he was successful, and was able to
defeat successively the Jews in 625 and the Christians
in 629.
His Arab priests now poured into India and Ceylon,
preaching wherever they went. At first little or no pro-
gress was made, owing probably to the strong hand kept
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 89
on the population by the autocratic Hindu rulers. Even-
tually, however, Mahometanism won the day. Arab
travellers or renegades, and no doubt Arab priests, visited
Gresik and Surabaya at a very early date ; in fact, as we
know, the foundation of the great empire of Majapahit has
been ascribed to them. It would not appear, however, as
if any attempt was made thus early to alter the religion of
the natives, the Arabs being more intent on commercial
gains than on religious propaganda.
At the same time the ground was no doubt being gradually
prepared, the seed sown, and the minds of the inhabitants
opened to the benefits of Islamism as compared with
Buddhism.
The Javans were always a superstitious, pliable folk,
easy to be convinced by earnest preachers and overawed
by any one claiming a relationship or a connection with
unknown gods.
We have, too, among the Arabs the voyages of Sindbad
the Sailor in the " Thousand and One Nights," which belong
to the ninth century, when the commerce of the Arabs under
the caliphs of Baghdad was at its highest development. In
his first voyage we are told that Sindbad reaches " the
country of the Maharajah," a title given, according to Sir
George Birdwood in his old records of the India Office, so
far back as the second century to a Hindu king whose vast
monarchy is said to have comprised the greater part of
India, Further India, and Sumatra and Java in the Indian
Archipelago, and whose title continued to be borne after-
wards by one of the sovereigns of the later disintegrated
empire. In Sindbad's second voyage mention is made of
the kingdom of Riha — the Malay Peninsula according to
some — and the manner of the preparation of camphor,
produced in the mountain forests there, is accurately
described.^ In the third voyage the island of " Selaheth "
^ This may have been Borneo.
90 JAVA
or Malacca is mentioned. In the fourth he was carried to a
country where he found men gathering pepper/ and from
it went to the island of Nacous ^ and on to Kela.^ In the
fifth voyage he is shipwrecked on the island of the " Old
Man of the Sea." * Thence he crossed to the Maldives and
back again to the pepper country of Malabar, and from there
over the peninsula of Comorin back to Baghdad. In the
sixth he visited an island where grew superb '* aloes," trees
of the kind called santy, probably sandal-wood. The island
of Serendih or Ceylon marked the hmit of his seventh and
last voyage.
The Abb6 Renaudot in his " Anciennes Relations des
Indes et de la Chine " ' gives the notes of two Arab merchants
who apparently visited India and China about the eighth
and ninth centuries, and are among the first Western writers
to make mention of tcha or tea and porcelain. They also
mention arrack and rice. Suleiman, the author of the first
part of the " Relations," who was a merchant of Bussorah®
about 851, seems to have journeyed from Serendih to Al
Ramni (Sumatra), and from thence on to Zahaj (Java).
Masudi of Baghdad visited India and China in a.d. 916,
and mentions the products of the East Indian Archipelago —
nutmegs, cloves, cubebs, camphor, areca nuts, and sandal-
wood — which leads us to suppose he visited the various
islands where these were produced.
Coming down to mediaeval times, an Arab traveller called
Ibu Batuta, " the traveller without peer of the whole Arab
nation " as he is affectionately called by a holy man of his
own faith, was the next to visit Java. He was born in
' Malabar.
2 The Nicobars.
* Quedahi.
* Probably on the Concan coast.
•' Printed in Paris, 1718.
' Bussorah was founded by Caliph Omar a.i>. 635 purposely to encourage
the Indian trade by the Persian Gulf.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 91
Tangier on the 24th February, 1304, and set out on his
travels in his twenty-first year. He did not return to his
native land until 1347, and during this time he covered in all
75,000 miles. He visited India, China, Cambodia, where he
was duly impressed with the very rich region, and the King
of Champa, who had 326 children. Thereafter he visited
Java, possibly settling for a time at Gresik, whence he
proceeded to Sumatra. Here he spent a season awaiting
the change of the monsoon, eventually leaving the island
in a ship belonging to the King of Sumatra.
Ibu Batuta, although by profession a holy man, seems to
have regarded all his co-religionists as specially created for
his comfort and convenience. Wherever he went he
appears to have shamelessly preyed upon them and deemed
them sufficiently repaid by the fact that they were being
honoured by administering to his needs. Everything was
on a scale of unexampled grandeur and magnificence. It
can be well imagined, therefore, that on his return to Arabia
he spread about reports of the riches and splendour of the
East and the greatness of its emperors ; this brought a
band of Mahometan adventurers from many parts under
the cloak of rehgion to Java, who accepted " handsome
presents " for their religious ministrations, and were not
above keeping an unusually large number of wives.
Majapahit. — With extravagant airs and haughty tone,
numbers under one pretext or another found their way to
Majapahit and its neighbourhood and permanently settled
in the land, marrying the daughters of the rajahs and
regents, by whom they were looked upon as foreign princes
in disguise, capable of performing miracles and connected
with the spirits of the upper and under-world. They were
consequently greatly respected by the common people. In
this way did they gradually obtain a control over the whole
country, which eventually ended in the whole population of
Java throwing down their images and worshipping Allah.
92 JAVA
The next step of these Arabs was to lead their proselytes
against their own princes and rulers, whom they deposed,
destroying their splendid capitals wdth fire and sword.
They then placed the people under a yoke from which
they have never been able to free themselves ; this will be
related in the following pages.
In 1375 an Arabian scholar named Ihu Muldna Malik
Ibrahim,^ who it is said had already firmly planted Mahome-
tanism in Johore and various places in Sumatra, hearing
that the princes of Java had not yet given up their idolatrous
and heathen practices, although the people on the north
coast from continual intercourse with the merchants from
Arabia were ripe for conversion, decided to proceed to this
country. Later on his cousin (the Eajah Cliermen) em-
barked from somewhere in the Straits of Malacca with his
daughter, whom he hoped to marry in the cause of religion
to the Emperor of Majapahit, Prahii, AugJia, Uijaya. The
rajah took with him all his follow^ers, and landing at Gresik,
estabhshed himself at Desa Leran, w^hich is about six miles
distant from Gresik, and was at this time an important
trading place. Here he built a mosque, and by his good
life and habits began soon to gain converts.
Shortly after the mosque was built many of his followers
and relations died and were buried there ; their tombs are
still to be seen.
Other high priests now began to arrive in the East Indies,
and the city of Palembang was eventually converted by
Baden Rachmat, the prince of this place, Aria Damar having
long practised Islamism (so it is said) in private before his
people gave up their " ancient waj^s."
After Mulana Malik Ibrahim had made many thousands
of converts, he sickened and died on Monday, the 13th March,
in the year 1412. He was buried with much pomp in the
* Not to be confused with Sheik Mulana Ebrahim, who was later on
Susuhunan of Cheribon.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 93
hills behind Gresik, and his grave is still veneiated as that
of a saint.
Baden Rachmat now came to Gresik, which had already
become an important centre of the new religion. He
brought his sister with him, who soon became a member of
the Emperor of Majapahifs harem. To Aria Ddmar, the
Prince of Palembang, a son was born by his newiy-married
Chinese wife, w^ho was given the name of Eaden Patah.
This son when grown up w^ent to reside first at Ampel (near
Solo) and afterwards at Demdk, a town he himself founded.^
Here he became the object of suspicion, his ways being those
of a zealous devotee to Islamism. He was, however,
induced to appear at the court of Majapahit, and the
emperor, recognising who he was, not only accepted his
homage, but forgave him for his faults of omission and
commission, and sent him back laden with presents and
honours as Adipate. With this new title he estabhshed him-
self at Demak stronger than before and began to intrigue more
than ever for the introduction of Islamism among the people ;
he surrounded himself with all the most celebrated advocates
he could find in Java of the new^ rehgion. He w^as shortly
after this attacked by the Hindu forces of Majapahit near
Sidaya and beaten with heavy loss, his general being killed.
Disappointed but not discouraged, he set to work to
strengthen his forces, collecting an army of 150,000 men.
He now openly repudiated the Emperor of Majapahit. He
thereupon was a.d. 1475 acclaimed sovereign and champion
of the new religion.
Believing his strength sufficient, he sent his army under
the son of the general that was killed to attack Majapahit.
Their progress has been described as ollows : —
" The army of the Faithful, highly elated and determined
1 Full particulars of Eaden Patali, whose real father was the Bitara of
Majapahit, and of his founding the city of Demak are given in Part III.
of the last chapter.
94. JAVA
upon the downfall of paganism, were met by the united forces
of 3Iajapahit, and a severe and desperate battle took place which
lasted for seven successive days. In this protracted engagement
the former were at first worsted, but the commander, availing
himself of the enchanted box and miraculous weapons, at last
succeeded in driving the enemy before him, and the city of
Majapahit, surrounded on all sides, submitted to the hostile
forces, the king and his immediate followers having previously
quitted it in disorder and fled to the eastward."
The pride of the land — of the East — was gone, Mahome-
tanism had triumphed, and the army of Javanese converts,
under the lead of the Arab adventurers, had destroyed their
own capital. Buddhism was now gradually crushed out of
existence.
These Arabs were undoubtedly men of sharper intelhgence
than the Javans. They were, moreover, better educated ;
they had travelled, and were capable of acting in combina-
tion for a great end. They were further actuated by
religious zeal, and once they had laid their heavy hand on
the population, which on account of climate and other
reasons was less actively inclined, and was blessed with a
rehgion that had never greatly appealed to its imagination,
it was easily overcome and converted ; and when one of its
own rulers (Raden Patah), a prince of the house of Majapahit
himself changed his religion, the end of Buddhism in Java
was inevitable.
Baden Fatah, who died in 1519 at a great age, was
followed at Demdk by Fangerang Sdbrang Lor as Susuhunan.
He was the son of a renowned Javan chief who had embraced
Mahometanism.
Another Arab named Sheikh Noervedin Ibrahim ibu
Maulana Israel, called later the Susuhunan Goenoeng
Djati,^ who had come to Java about 1480 and settled on
the north coast, formed an alliance with Raden Fatah of
Demdk, and proceeded to Cheribon to preach the new
' Also Junung Jati.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 95
religion and establish a kingdom. He soon conquered and
converted the Javanese there, who mention in their annals,
which have been handed down, that, unlike the other
Susuhunans, he won by the gentle means of persuasion and
not by the sword.
History has proved he was the most able and enterprising
of all the apostles who came to Java and settled there.
In 1526 the Susuhunan of Cheribon conquered Banten
(Bantam), which weakened the empire of Pajajaran, as
related. This was destroyed in 1570, before his death in
1580 at the wonderful age of about 115 or 120, if the dates
given, which there is in this case small reason for doubting,
are correct. In the later years, especially in the war with
Pajajaran, the Susuhunan's son Pangera7i Yusuf, who was
now king at Bantam, conducted the operations. His son
succeeded him at Cheribon.
To a younger son of the Susuhunan of Cheribon were
assigned the lands lying between the Chitaram and Tangaran
rivers, which had formerl}^ formed part of Cheribon and
Bantam. The young prince in 1505 assumed the title of
Rajah of Jo Karta or Jakatra, fixing his capital near the
Kampung of that name, where he and his descendants
continued to reign until they were expelled by the Dutch
in 1619.
At this time the ancient empire of Java was divided into
no less than seven separate and independent governments —
Bantam, Jokarta, CJierihon, Pajang Kedu, Kediri and
Madura ^ — the several chiefs of which in general assumed
the title of Kiai Gede ; sometimes they took the more
religious title of Sultan or Susuhunan.
One of the descendants of Sheikh Noervedin built for
himself a wonderful palace at Cheribon. The facade of this
extraordinary building consists of several towers like
1 Francis Drake mentions there were only five sovereigns of Java when
he visited Bantam in 1577.
96 JAVA
kiosks surrounded with verandahs, each of which is ascended
by a spiral staircase inside. At the back of the palace is
an artificial lake, studded with numbers of islands, com-
municating wdth each other by means of subterranean
passages. This lake, which now unfortunately has more
the look of a swamp than of a clear sheet of water, is thickly
grown with tall rushes. In the interior of the main position
of the building are several apartments connected w^ith each
other by small bridges spanning narrow dried-up channels,
which were once running rivulets.
The object of the luxury-loving sovereign of Cheribon in
erecting a place of this kind seems to have been to enjoy an
incessant sound of rushing and falling waters. When the
lakes and rivulets w^ere full and the fountains played, this
abode must have resembled one of those enchanting palaces
so often referred to in the " Arabian Nights." ^ In almost
every room there w^as a fountain. The water, still flowing
in many of the upper chambers, rushed in torrents from the
tops of the tow-ers and fell down steps into the basins
below\
In the courts adjoining are numerous tanks, profusely
ornamented wdth birds, fishes, animals, and serpents in
stone. These sculptured figures are placed in all kinds of
places, some appearing to glide through artificial brushwood
and others being perched on trees. Originally the water
must have been throw^n forth in glittering streams from
every mouth and nostril, but this is not so now.
There is one room apart from the rest of the main build-
ings which was approached by a bridge. It was called the
room of the " ayer clamboo," ^ or curtain of w^ater. This is
a fairly large apartment, and must have once been gorgeously
fitted up. The sovereign used here to enjoy his siesta with
1 It is believed by Javan scholars the " Arabian Nights " were written
in the island of Bali by an Arab who visited the place.
- Malay.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 97
the members of his harem, the curtain that protected his
privacy consisting of the cascade, which, Hke a transparent
veil, fell gently before him.
The materials employed in this building are the same as
the Chinese use for making their artificial grottoes and
rockeries, namely, mortar, clay and cement, profusely
studded vAth. shells, flint and pebbles.
This particular palace, which must have surpassed every-
thing of its kind in Java, was the woik of two ingenious,
hard-working Chinamen, whose patient toil and unwearied
labour the cruel and jealous sultan rewarded by depriving
them of their eyes, so that none of the neighbouring princes
could construct a similar palace.
The Second Empire of Matarem.
The emjpire of Matarem resuscitated by J oka Tingkir.--
Nearly six centuries had passed since the disappearance
and extinction of the old Hindu empire of Mendang Kamulan
or Matarem, when Jaka^ Tingkir, a descendant of the last
prince of the better-known later Hindu empire of Majapahit,
was invested by the Arab Susuhunan of Gresik with the
title of sultan over the kingdom of Pajang^ in 1568.^ The
new sultan now appointed one of liis staunch adherents
called Pamanahan to be adipati of a district belonging to
Pajang called Matarem,* from which the newly-appointed
prince was called henceforth Kyahi Ageng Matarem. At
this time Matarem was little more than a wilderness and was
inhabited by no more than three hundred poor Hindu-Javan
families, but after six years of mild and equitable adminis-
tration this province was converted by its ruler into a fertile
and populous country, and the inhabitants of the surround-
' Jaka means " boy " or " young man."
* Pajang was part of the present residency of Djockjocarta.
8 It was at this time that the fishponds which are now preserved at
Grissee for the Ikan baudeng were dug.
' Part of the present residencies of Djockjokarta, Soerakarta.
J. — ^VOL. I. H
98 JAVA
ing districts voluntarily submitted to his authority. The
capital of this kingdom was almost on the same spot as the
present town of Djockjokarta, and the royal residence was
taken up where the present desa called Pasar Gede stands
to-day.
Suta Wijaya, called Sena'pati. — In 1575 Famandhan died,
and he was succeeded by his son Suta Wijaya, who took the
command of all the troops of the empire under the title of
Kiai Gede Agung Senapati Sugalaga,^ commonly distin-
guished by the single title of Sena'pati. The Sultan of
Pajang, the overlord, when crowning Senapati, enjoined on
him to present himself yearly at his court at the feast of
Milut.
The ambition of the new monarch, however, was un-
bounded and the court of Matarem was filled with various
predictions, dreams, and enchantments in which Senapati
was promised the assistance of Kiai Gede Laut Kidul (the
goddess of the Great South Sea or Indian Ocean), who
declared herself wedded to him. He was instigated to
build a large and extensive kraton on the site of the dalam^
his father had built. Garrisons were placed at the limits of
his territory, and he burnt some of the adjacent desas and
assumed an attitude of complete independence, bringing by
degrees many of the neighbouring districts under his
subjection.
The Sultan of Pajang, feeling uneasy, sent ambassadors
to Matarem to demand an explanation. They were in the
first instance entirely duped by the flattering manner in
which they were received, but afterwards discovering the
real state of affairs, they reported to the sultan, who is
represented as saying, ** The will of Providence rules all
events."
The chiefs of Tuban and Deniak, however, became
1 Senapati is a title like commander-in-chief.
•^ Enclosure.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 99
apprehensive of the gi'owing power of Matdrem and induced
the Sultan of Pajang to send a considerable force against
the Senapati. This consisted of five thousand picked men,
whilst that of the Senapati did not exceed eight hundred,
the latter fearing an engagement, as his troops were in-
experienced and undisciplined, whilst those of the Sultan of
Pajang were of the highest order, halted at a short distance
from Bramhanan, where the enemy's forces were encamped.
During the night the Senapati burned all the kampungs
in the neighbourhood, and set fire to the long grass at some
distance from Brambanan, in the rear of the enemy's camp.
By this means he persuaded them that the Matarem forces
had taken their departure, in order to seize the kingdom of
Pajang by surprise.
Dirring the following night there was a great thunder-
storm, and in the morning the mountain Merhahu burst with
a dreadful explosion, throwing out ashes and large stones ;
the rivers overflowed their banks and inundated the country,
which is low-lying, occasioning considerable confusion and
some destruction in the Pajang camp. This led the com-
mander, who was the sultan's son, to make a speedy
retreat.
Halting at the village Tumpait, situated close to Karhu
Sura, he visited the tomb of the Pangeran Karhu Sura, who
was descended from Abdalah, the eldest son of Baden Pdtah.
The sultan was here told of a prophecy which foretold the
immediate downfall of the kingdom of Pajang. The effect
of this on him was so great that he fainted and fell from his
elephant. The Senapati now proceeded to Pajang and was
pardoned by the sultan for his conduct.
One of the Senapati' s retinue now proposed to assassinate
the sultan, but the former dechned to hsten to this, but,
notwithstanding, he secretly gave the sultan a strong poison
from which he died.
The Pajajaran and Majapahit Regalia. — In consequence of
H 2
100 JAVA
this a succession war broke out, in which the senapati, after
defeating the sultan's son, seized the regaha, which had
descended for the most part from the princes of Majapahit or
Pajajaran, and consisted of the royal saddle called gataya,
the head-dress called machang gugiih, and a set of gamelan
called Sekar dalima, besides all the insignia and orna-
ments of royalty, many of which are still preserved in
the regalia of the princes of Soerakarta and Jogyakarta
(Djockjokarta).
From the possession of this regaha a certain right was
derived by which the holder was supposed to be the here-
ditary sovereign of the whole island of Java.
In consequence the Senapati lost no time in raising his
family to the highest dignities. He assumed for himself
the title of Sultan, and elevated all his nephews to the rank
of P anger mis, or princes. His next step was to collect an
army together and train it in the use of arms and to regular
discipline. When ready it was marched eastwards against
the Adipati of Surabaya, who at this time held supreme
authority over the eastern districts as Widana to the Sultan
of Pajang.
The troops of Surabaya, together with those of the chiefs
of Pranaraga and Madion, assembled at Jipang/ where they
awaited the arrival of the Matdrem forces. At the moment
when a general engagement was about to take place a letter
was delivered to both chiefs from the Arab Susuhunan of
Cheribon requesting them to desist from fighting.
This they agreed to, but the adipati soon repented and
assembled his army anew to march to Matdrem. Sultan
Senapati hearing of this, marched to Madion^ and seized the
Dalavi Kraton, the chief having previously fled with his son
to Surabaya, leaving behind him his beautiful daughter
whom Senapati married. The march was now continued
1 Near Blora.
' Madioen.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 101
towards the province of Pasurnan, of which Senapati
determined to make himself master.
The chief of Pasurnan was incHned to surrender, but was
dissuaded from doing so by his pateh. One day when
Senapati, accompanied by only forty men of his bodyguard,
was reconnoitring the enemy's camp he met the pateh, who
had come out with the same intention ; a skirmish took place
and the pateh was wounded by a lance and fell to the ground.
Sultan Senapati lifted him up, and, placing him on a
mare, sent him back to the chief, with a letter tied round his
neck. The chief of Pasurnan no sooner saw him in this
disgraceful predicament than he repented of having taken
his advice, and ordering his head to be severed from his
body, sent it to Senapati in token of submission.
After this Senapati returned to Matarem and appointed
the late chief of Madion chief of Jipang or Jipan-} The
Sultan Senapati carried his empire in the west as far as the
rivers Losari and Indramayu, bringing all the western
provinces, which included Cheribon, under his authority.
The continued opposition of the eastern people, however,
prevented him from fixing the boundaries to the east, and
during his whole reign they were never subject to his
authority.
To the provinces, however, of Matarem, Bagelen, Banyu-
mas, Pajang, and Jipang which descended to him from his
father he added those of Pati, Kudus, Semarang, Kendal and
Kaliwungu.
Death of Senapati, the Founder of the Second Empire of
Matarem. — In 1600 Sultan Senapati died. As founder of
the Matarem Empire and of the dynasty which still retains
a nominal rule in Java his memory is held by the Javanese
in high esteem. He is also respected for the discipline he
introduced into the army, and the valour, ability, and
high-mindedness which he always displayed. By the
1 Transformed sometimes by Europeans into " Japan."
102 JAVA
Javans he is looked on as another Alexander, and he is the
first in their history who is considered to have understood
the art of war.
Sultaji Jolang. — Before SeJiapati's death he made his
eldest son Pangeran Puger governor of the new province of
Demdk, and appointed his younger son Mas Jolang to be
his successor. After his death, how^ever, the eldest son
naturally disputed the right of his younger brother, but the
latter defeated him and was duly acknowledged as Panem-
hahan or Sultan. Sultan Jolang died in 1613 during another
war of conquest in the desa called Krapijak, from which he
is mostly named Panenibahan Seda Krapijak.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, named Panambahan
Merta Pura, but this prince not being able to conduct the
government on account of ill-health, or more probably
being removed by the intrigues of his family, who declared
him to be insane, made way for his younger brother Baden
Rangsang, known as Sultan Ageng. The name Rangsang
not suiting him, he altered it to Chakra Kusuma.
Sultan Ageng. — This prince began a flourishing reign by a
signal victory over the Surabayan and Madurese forces,
through which he brought the eastern provinces of Malang,
Untung, Japan,^ Wirasaha,^ Pasuruan, and Surabaya under
his subjection ; following up his successes, he subdued ali
the eastern provinces as far as Balamhangan on the Straits
of Bali, thus once more reuniting under one chief all the
eastern provinces that had originally acknowledged the
authority of the Rajah of Mendang Kamulan, in the first
empire of Matdrem.
Dissensions at this period arose between the people of
Bantam and those of the Sunda districts, and the chief of
Sumedang^ applied to Matdrem for assistance ; being invested
1 The province of Modjokerts, or old diatriot of Modjspait.
* Near Pasuruan.
' Soemedang,
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 103
by the sultan with the chief authority over those districts,
he soon induced all the far western chiefs, alarmed at the
approach of the Matarem arms, to acknowledge his supre-
macy.
Some years before this, however, the Enghsh and Dutch
had established themselves at Jakatra, and were already
beginning to prove aggressive to their neighbours. First
the town of Jakara was plundered and laid in ashes, and
henceforward Jahatra was disconnected from Matarem.
In 1622 an embassy from the Sultan of Matarem was sent
to the Governor- General Coen, who returned his compli-
ments to the sultan by an embassy under Dr. de Haan, who
acknowledged the Prince of Matarem as the Sovereign of
Java under the title of Sultan Ageng Muhammed, the high
title of Siilta7i being properly and officially obtained through
an Arab Sheikh at Mecca.
Reign of the Susuhunan Ha Mangku Bat I. begins. — Upon
his death in 1645 his eldest son, then 26 years of age,
succeeded him as Susuhunan Ha Mangku Rat,^ and during
his reign the empire began to dechne for the second time in
its history. Ha Ma^igku Rat took up his residence at a new
kraton^ which had been built by his father at Pleret, a few
miles to the south of Pasar Gede, where the old kraton
stood.
The Susuhunan a Morister and Tyrant. — Mangku Eat I.
was a most inhuman tyrant, a veritable demon who delighted
in slaughter, and his whole reign was marked with mis-
government and almost inconceivable crimes. On coming
to his throne he murdered in cold blood more than twenty
thousand relations and subjects.
His mother, however, managed at last to stem his anger
— he was apparently half mad — and effected peace between
him and his uncle the Pangeran Puger, with whom he was
1 Sometimes written Ha Mengku,
2 Destroyed in 1826 during the Java war.
104 JAVA
hotly at variance. There was therefore a short period of
tranquilHty at Matarem, during which the court was removed
from Pleret to Karta, less than a mile farther to the south.
In 1659 the cruelty of this atrocious tyrant again showed
itself. His own son the hereditary prince having married a
Surabaya princess, who was being bred up for the harem of
his father, was forced to stab his own wife in his father's
presence, after which he wreaked his vengeance on the
supposed authors of the crime of allowing any one to marry
a girl brought up for the royal harem.
The Eegent of Surabaya, his grandfather, with all his
wives, children and grandchildren, was killed. His son was
banished.
From this period the Javan historians state that the
Susuhunan never forgave an offence however trifling, and
*' when he was unhappy he always put to death those who
were the cause of his unhappiness, and on the slightest
occasion was subject to the most violent gusts of terrible
anger."
Death of one of the Susuhunan' s Wives. — In 1667 on the
death of one of his favourite wives, Batu Pamalang, he
confined one hundred of her attendants in a dungeon below
the kraton and deprived them of food until they all died, as
a befitting manifestation of his sorrow. The injustice and
severity of the Susuhunan became still greater as he advanced
in years. His fits of anger became more frequent, and day
and night were employed in barbarous executions. There
was no security for life ; every one was upon his guard, and
fear reigned among the highest and the lowest.
Terrible Cruelties of the Susuhunan. — Among the numerous
atrocities committed by this monster he violated his own
daughter Ratu Bratva, although she was betrothed to the
son of the Sultan of Cheribon.
One of his fathers-in-law, the Eegent of Madiyun, who
had ventured to oppose the tyrant, was seemingly pardoned,
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 105
and received Tvith all honours in the kraton, only to be
krissed (stabbed) before the tyrant's eyes together with all
his kith and kin, among them one of the Susuliunan's own
daughters, the regent's concubine. Their bodies were
thrown into the river to be carried out to sea. To crown
this act, as it were, a massacre unparalleled in the annals of
the country was carried out. At a signal from a cannon
fired from the palace all the priests of Matdrem with their
wives and children, to the number of upwards of six thousand
souls, were indiscriminately butchered for being opposed to
his cruelties. On the following morning when the Susu-
hunan appeared in public, it was observed he was much
agitated and remained "without saluting his courtiers or
uttering a word for the space of an hour.
Punishment of the wicked Susuhunan. — Ha Mangku Bat^
at last met with condign punishment in the war forced on
him by Truna Jaya, who was a grandson of the Regent of
Madura, Chakra Ningrat (or Ningkat).
Truna Jaya seized the Susuhunan's kraton and the
regalia, including the magnificent crown of the ancient
empire of Majapahit with its enormous diamond. There
was a desperate engagement, in which the Susuhunan's
uncle, the venerable Pangeran Purhaya, 80 years of age,
summoned all the Matdrem chiefs around him and went
first into the field of battle, performing extraordinary feats
of valour, till his horse was shot under him and he was
overpowered after a desperate fight on foot. Thirty
thousand lives on the two sides were lost in this fight.
Death of Ha Mangku Rat I. — The conquered tyrant, who
vdth. his son fled first to Indragiri in Sumatra,^ eventually
settled in the Banyumas and died at the desa Wana Jasa not
far from Ajibarang.
In conformity to his request his body was carried across
^ Called also Ha MengJcu Eat.
^ Now known as Rioiiw.
106 JAVA
the country toTvards Tegal in search of a spot where the
earth was sweet-scented and buried a few miles inland from
the town. There it still lies, the tomb being held in high
regard, and it is from this circumstance that the place goes
under the appellation of Tegal Wangi or Tegal Arum.
Wangi and Arum signifying " fragrant " or " sweet smell-
ing."'
Hamangku Rat's crimes are to-day forgotten, and nothing
but reverence and homage is paid to his remains.
Ancient Majnpahit Regalia removed to Kcdiri. — Truna
Jaya after his victory hastily removed all the plunder
together with the Susuhunan's daughters from Matdrem to
Kediri, which was the headquarters of the rebel chiefs who
had conspired for the downfall of Matdrem.
Ha Mangku Rat II. — The son who had followed his
dethroned father in his flight was acknowledged as Siisu-
hunan Ha^riangku Rat II. hy the representative of the Dutch
East India Company, Admiral Speelman, and after a long
war against his uncle the Pangeran Pugar, who had been
acknowledged as prince by part of the population, was
recognised by the Javans as the rightful ruler. He was,
however, but a weak, unworthy wretch, who cared for
nothing but his wives, v/hom he guarded with brutal
jealousy. He sent to Admiral Speelman and asked him to
procure him another woman whom he had long desired to
possess. She was a princess of Blitar, who was the divorced
wife of one of his brothers. After the conquest of the
kraton this young lady had been carried away by Truna
Jaya and given as a present to the eldest Sultan of Cherihon,
who in his turn had sent her to the Sultan of Banten. Speel-
man naturally scorned to accede to his request.
The war in the eastern provinces was continued against
Truna Jaya, the young Susuhunan follow^ing the Dutch
army, who now tried to put an end to a struggle which was
very detrimental to the commercial welfare of the country.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 107
Kedin besieged. — Kedin was besieged for nearly three
months, and was at last taken by assault, Truna Jaya
making his escape. Great riches were found in the palace —
chests of Spanish dollars, besides ingots of gold and the
most valuable part of the ancient regalia.
The Susuhunan claimed nothing but the crown of Maja-
pahit, leaving the remainder to be distributed among the
troops.
The Crown of Majapahit. — When the crown was delivered
to him it was seen that its most splendid and beautiful
ornament, the enormous centre diamond, was missing.
Susuhunan immediately set inquiries on foot, but to the
great grief of the Susuhunan and all the Javan chiefs the
jewel was never recovered. A Dutch officer, Captain
Francois Tack by name, is generally thought to have
purloined it.
Surrender of Truna Jaya. — At last TniwaJa?/a surrendered
on the condition of his life being spared. On arriving at the
Jcraton he entered the hall of audience with all his wives,
where the Susuhunan was seated with Admiral Speelman
and numerous Dutch officers.
When he drew near to the Susuhunan to show his sub-
mission, Truna Jaya kissed his knee, but was stabbed by
the prince with a kris while in the act. The inhuman
Susuhunan now ordered his assembled people to finish the
work he had begun, Avhereupon they fell on the unfortunate
wretch, stabbing him in a thousand places and cutting his
body to pieces. They then severed the head from the body,
rolled it in the mud, made a mat of it, and at last threw it
into a ditch by order of the Susuhunaii.
The war against the Madurese and the people of East
Java being now at an end, the kraton at Karta was re-
occupied.
The new Kraton at Karta Sura. — Shortly after, however,
a new kraton was built at Wana Keiia, seven miles to the
108 JAVA
west of the present town of Sura Karta,^ which received the
name of Karta Sura.
The empire of Matdrem was now left existing, but its
independence and grandeur had gone. The power in Java
was now in the hands of the Dutch East India Company.
A new character at this period appears on the stage,
under the title of Sura Pati. Tliis man, whose name was
Si Untung, had been the slave of a Dutchman at Batavia of
the name of Mohr,^ who is represented to have been of low-
origin, but to have been advanced to the highest dignities,
even to a seat in the council, by means of the riches and
influence he had acquired through the services of this slave,
to whom he became in consequence much attached. Mohr,
however, discovering an intimacy between Untung and his
daughter, chastised him severely and afterwards had him
confined in the public stocks.
Untung contrived to effect his escape from them during
the night and to release his fellow-prisoners. They then
fell upon the guard which mounted at daylight, and taking
them unawares, massacred them all. He now decamped
towards the Privangan lands, and passing through Jakafra
and Jasinga,^ raised two thousand followers, with whom he
reached Kerta Sura.
Captain Francois Tack, whom the Company sent to Kerta
Sura to demand the extradition of the deserter, met with
resistance, as the whole force, consisting of four hundred
Europeans and six hundred natives, was fiercely attacked
in the alun alun,* and nearly the whole party was killed.
Tack himself being severely wounded.
Fresh campaigns followed, ending in the more complete
subjection of Matdrem and the increase of the Dutch power.
1 Soera Kertu.
2 Presumably one and the same as the rich clergyman of that name.
9 Until lately the property of the Motman family, formerly belonging
to the Englishman Robert Addison.
* Aloon aloon (open space or park).
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 109
In the meantime family feuds disturbed the peace of the
kraton ; the hereditary prince, Pangeran Adipati Hmnangku
Nagara, had married the daughter of his cousin Pangeran
Piigar, but in a month began to disregard her, paying more
attention to the other ladies of his harem. She returned,
therefore, to her father's protection. One of the distin-
guished personalities at the court at this time was the son
of the prime minister, a young man of agreeable manners
and handsome appearance called Su Kro.
The hereditary prince, jealous of the universal admiration
which he enjoyed, determined to lower him by the infliction
of the greatest possible disgrace. Naturally of a fiery
disposition, he became excessively enraged at an accident
which occurred to him while hunting in the forest of Randa
Wahana,^ which occasioned a lameness in his legs. As soon
as he returned home he sent for this youth, whom he
immediately ordered to be bound and severely flogged with
a rattan. He then directed him to be tied to a tree infested
with red ants of a peculiarly unpleasant kind that sting
fiercely ; they soon covered his body — a favourite mode of
inflicting tortures. Here the son of the prime minister
suffered dreadfully ; but his tortures were not yet at an
end. He was afterwards again flogged till he nearly died,
and then sent to the house of his father, who, although much
enraged, was obliged to suppress his resentment.
Determined afterwards to revenge himself, the young man
sought out the neglected wife of the hereditary prince, who,
as before mentioned, was a daughter of the Pangeran Pugar.
and had been obliged to leave her husband and fly to her
father on account of his brutal character and manners. An
attachment between Su Kro and the young lady was soon
formed, but the criminal connection was discovered through
an intercepted letter from the lover to his mistress.
1 Near where the sugar factory of Randa or Eandoe Goenting now
etande*
110 JAVA
The hereditary prince, Hamangku Nagara, now went to
his father in a rage and told the story in his own style,
blaming the P anger an Pugar for it all.
The old Susuhunan was highly incensed at the discovery,
and the Pangeran Pugar, to avert from himself and his
family the effects of his resentment, resolved to take the
life of his daughter. He accordingly ordered his seven sons
into his presence, and informed them of the necessity of
their becoming the instruments for taking the life of their
sister in order to avoid the wrath of their uncle and sovereign.
They naturally at first refused, but at length yielded on his
threats of punishment. The place chosen for the execution
was the prince's own garden. The young princes having
communicated to their sister the fatal orders with which
they were charged, she received them with calmness, merely
asking for time to bathe herself. When this was done a veil
was thrown over her and the brothers pulled the fatal cord.
The lover Su Kro was now sought for, his life having been
demanded by the Susuhunan and croum prince. The father
of Su KrOy however, endeavoured to assuage the anger of
the sovereign, who thereupon had him seized, deprived of his
kris, and confined in a cage of bamboo. Su Kro hearing all
this, determined to sell his life dearly, and surrounded
himself with some desperate and determined Bugis from the
island of Celebes, who belonged to the warlike tribe of
that name in Sumatra. He was, however, found by
some troops of the Susuhunan, who secured and disarmed
him and immediately dosed him with a poison, whose
effect was slow and lingering. During his last agonies
the Susuhunan kept on pressing for his death, sending
repeated messages from the kraton inquiring how it was.
At last the attendants or those responsible for his despatch
seized the unhappy victim by the hair, dragged him on to
the ground, and strangled him by stamping upon his
neck.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 111
The punishment of the prime minister, who was confined
in a cage, was meantime reserved.
Hamaiigku Rat III. : the Sunan Mas. — Susuhunan
Hamangku Rat II. died in the year 1685, and his son
Hamangku Nagara, of whom so much has ah-eady been
related, ascended the throne as Hamangku Rat III.,
generahy called the Siman or Susuhan Mas, and sometimes
Hamangku Bat Mas, or Mangkurat Mas. He was a worthy
descendant of his vile grandfather, who, as has been related,
died in the Banyumas district in exile. On his coming to
the throne he excited much disapprobation and disgust by
his ungi'ateful neglect of the customary rites due to the body
of his dead father and his indecent eagerness to ascend the
throne before it had barely been vacated.
The practice or aclat of the country required him to
wash and purify the corpse, but he left this task to the
women.
As soon as he was crowned he remembered the father of
Su Kro, and he ordered him to be put to death with all his
relations. Javans of this stamp never forget, although
they know well how to dissimulate their vindictiveness.
Mangkurat Mas was in this respect a true Javan besides
being a voluptuous and wanton tyrant. The more pain he
could inflict, the more deaths he could cause, the greater
satisfaction it gave liim, and his appetite in this direction
grew w^orse as he grew older.
Dm-ing his reign any Javan who had a beautiful wife or
anything exciting the desires of the Susuhunan had to look
to his safety, for he was seized and murdered whilst his wife
was honoured with a place in the harem, but only tem-
porarily, as this estabhshment was continually being
replenished by new inmates, the older ones being turned
aside. One day whilst sitting in a little stone house in one
of the squares of the kraton watching his tigers he had a
hundred of his women thrown naked into the arena of the
112 JAVA
beasts, delighting in seeing them torn to pieces before his
eyes. Nothing softened this inhuman monster.
Once while out hunting game in the district of Pronorogo,
where the inhabitants were not used to court manners,
Mangkurat Mas with his bow and arrow killed a deer ; the
chief of the district of Pronorogo seeing the game fall, ran
and directed a priest to slaughter the animal according to
the Mahometan rites, that it might be legal food. He was,
however, unused to the severe punctilio of the Javanese
court, which permits of no order, however trivial, being
given in the royal presence without the " nod of assent."
The brutal Mangkurat Mas was furious and proceeded to the
spot to punish this gross breach of etiquette, and before the
thousands who were assembled, including the females of
his own family, ordered the chief to be emasculated, and
gloated on seeing his host faint before him from the intense
pain of the operation, which was performed with an ordinary
hunting knife. This act was too much for even the for-
bearance and slavish loyalty of the Javans, and the relations
of the chief of Pronorogo were just about to retaliate, when
the Susuhunan, who had received notice of their intentions,
eluded their vengeance by a precipitate flight. All the
Javans of quality fled from the court, among them two sons
of F anger an Pugar, who raised a rebellion with the object of
dethroning this cruel monster and making their father
Susuhunan. Pangeran Pugar, who had heard of the sen-
tence of death against himself, fled to Samarang, where the
Dutch received him and conditionally proclaimed him
sovereign of Java.
As soon as the Susuhunan Mangkurat Mas was informed
of the departure of Pugar he appHed to the Governor of
Samarang to have him delivered up, but received for reply
an intimation that he was under the protection of the Dutch,
and that if the Susuhunan wanted him he must come to
fetch him himBelf.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 113
Enraged at this evasion, he ordered that Baden Suria
Kasuma, the son of the Pangeran Pugar, should be put to
death. The young prince was accordingly brought into his
presence for that purpose, when a great eruption of the
Merapi suddenly took place, the mountain emitting a sound
like thunder and a flame which lit up all Kerta Sura. The
Susiihunan thinking that his end was approaching, sent
the young prince back into confinement, when the sounds
immediately ceased and the mountain emitted no more
flame.
The Sunan conceiving now all danger to be at an end,
once more ordered the execution of the young prince, but a
more violent eruption than the first instantly rent the
mountain asunder. The alarm of the Sunan was now real,
and considering this w^as a garo-garo, or sign that the prince
was favoured by the Almighty, he altered his intentions,
received his intended victim into favour, and appointed
him a pangerayi with an assignment of one thousand chachas
of land.
This caused the first Javan succession war, which raged
in the central and eastern districts of the island for four
years, depopulating the country wholesale.
The Susuhunan Mangkurat Mas banished to Ceylon. — The
end was the seizure of Susuhunan Mangkurat Mas by the
Dutch, who banished him to Ceylon (which was still in their
possession). Notwithstanding he did his best to come to
some arrangement with them by presenting them with a
sum of 70,000 dollars in specie and a promise to comply with
every requisition if they would only recognise him as
sovereign of Java.
Pangeran Pugdr installed as Susuhunan by the Dutch. — The
Pangeran Pugar, although acknowledged as sovereign since
1703, was not actually pubhcly installed mitil the 19th June,
1704, at Semarang. In compensation of the expenses of
the Dutch, and with the promise of their direct protection,
J. — VOL. I. I
114 JAVA
Pugar ceded, or rather was forced to cede, to them the
provinces of Demdk, Japara, and Tegal.
On ascending the throne he assumed with the concurrence
of the Dutch the title of Susuhunan Paku Buvana Senapati,
Ingalaga Abdul Rachman Panatagama, which may be
rendered " The Saint who is the Nail of the Universe, the
Chief Commander in War, the Slave of God, and Propagator
of the True Faith " (see titles, Chapter XIX.).
Death of Paku Buvana I. — Pugar, or Paku Buvana I.,^
died in 1719 at the age of 70, and the Dutch East India
Company recognised his son Pangeran Prabu as his successor.
His claim was disputed, however, and another war of
succession broke out, at the end of which he remained in the
possession of the title of Susuhunan, but his subjection to
the Company was reconfirmed.
One of the fiist acts of his reign was the murder of his
uncle Pangeran Aria Matarayn together with his six sons
and two sons-in-law. These troublesome rivals were
strangled.
The rest of the disaffected princes with their adherents
were shipped to Ceylon and the Cape of Good Hope, but
his son Mangku Nagara, who had joined the rebels, was
pardoned by his relenting father.
Sunan Prahu upon his death in 1727 was succeeded by his
son Paku Buvana II., who, being only 16 years old, was
placed under the joint guardianship of his mother and the
prime minister. The reign of this prince also opened with
a murder, his elder brother being suspected of a love affair
with one of the prince's concubines. The concubine was
strangled, while the brother was sent to the Dutch fort at
Semarang, whence he was banished to Ceylon. Later on it
transpired that the suspicion against him and the concubine
was groundless.
In 1733 the prime minister was sent to Semarang, where
^ Sometimes called Buwana.
THK KANARIE LANK, SAMARANG.
TJE UKEAT BUDDHA IN THE CUANDI MKNDUT.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 115
he was divested of all his dignities, then relegated to un-
healthy prisons at Batavia, and finally deported to Ceylon.
Accounts were now received from Ceylon of the death of
the ex-Susuhiinan Mcnigkiirat Mas, and at the request of the
new Susuhunan the family of the deceased were permitted
to return to Kerta Sura. On them distinguished titles were
conferred, and considerable grants of land were made to
them. To Mangku Nagara the Susuhunan gave the name
of Wira Mengala with one thousand chachas of land ; to
Mangku Mingrat he gave the name of Pangeran Tepa Sana
with nine hundred chachas ; and to Baden Jaya Kasiima the
title of Pangeran with three hundred chachas. The fourth
son died, but his eldest child received the title of Pangeran
Purbaya with an assignment of saiva.
The Chinese Rising. — The year 1740 is always remembered
as that of a great calamity in wliich it was clearly manifest
that the Susuhunan was a wholly untrustworthy vassal.
This calamity was the rebellion of the Chinese under the
Dutch governor-general Valkenier^ at Batavia and the
subsequent Chinese rebellion over almost the whole north
coast.
When the Chinese determined to rebel against the Dutch
they clandestinely negotiated with Paku Buvana, who was
burning to free himself from a highly noxious yoke, and who
was in hopes that an opportunity had at last arrived to get
rid of the Dutch.
His first act was to seize the Dutch garrison in the fort
at Kerta Sura, which was taken by surprise, the unfortunate
men being offered the alternative between death ^ and
circumcision with conversion.
The Chinese and Javan Forces march to Samarang. —
The Chinese and Javan forces were united and marched to
1 Who died in prison after being there eight years. As governor -general
he is said to hare made several millions of guilders.
2 Those that preferred death were beaten into a jelly with bludgeons.
I 2
116 JAVA
Samarang, intending to expel the Dutch, but the task was
greater than had been anticipated, and the latter, securely
entrenched with a strong wall on one side and the sea on
the other, were content to act on the defensive, thus stale-
mating their enemy. The Susuhunan was very dissatisfied
with the Chinese commanders, and discord was the result.
The Dutch profited by this, and endeavoured to sow the
seeds for further disagreement between the two races. The
Susuhunan at the same time began to realise the mistake
he had made, and humbly submitted to the East India
Company promising amendment, and his submission was
accepted.
Chinese proclaim their own Susuhunan at Kerta Sura. — It
was now the turn of the Chinese to be dissatisfied, and
marching to Kerta Sura, they deposed Paku Buvana and
proclaimed their own Susuhunan, a grandson of the late
Susuhunan Mangkurat Mas, who was only 12 years of age.
The new Susuhunan'' s name was Mas Garendi, and he is
generally known as the Sunan Kuning,
The Chinese soon laid the kraton in ashes, Paku Buvana
barety escaping with his first wife, who was set on a horse.
All the princes and attendants captured were instantly put
to death in cold blood, whilst the royal princesses and wives
of the Susuhunan were violated in a shocking and brutal
manner. The Chinese in their coarse wantonness even made
the unfortunate princesses dance before them.
The dethroned prince of course turned to the Dutch for
assistance, promising them much more than he could ever
give if they would restore him to the throne.
Towards the end of 1742 the Dutch, with the help of
their ally Chakra Ningrat of Sampang (Madura), retook the
burnt kraton from the Chinese. Paku Buvana was replaced
on his throne and the Sunan Kuni7ig relegated to Ceylon.^
The following year Paku Buvana signed a new treaty by
^ A full account of the Chinese rebellion is given in Chapter VI.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 117
which he ceded more provinces to the Dutch (his protectors)
and undertook to pay a tremendous war indemnity.
The sum was of course never paid — it was never expected
it would be ; the claim, however, to it acted as a means for
keeping the Susuhunan in check.
Removal of Seat of Government to Sura Kerta. — The burnt
kraton was not rebuilt, but in conformity with ancient
custom the Sunan removed the seat of government from
Kerta Sura to the village of Sala (Solo), about seven miles
further east, where a palace was built. The new capital was
called Sura Kerta (the transposition of the words Kerta
Sura) adi ning Bat, which means " the most excellent town
of heroes in the world."
Sm'a Kerta is the present residence of the susuhunans or
emperors of Matarem.
It was here that the governor-general Van ImhoiT made
his celebrated visit to the Susuhunan as soon as the new
kraton was ready. Although the Chinese were now
thoroughly pacified, there was not yet perfect peace in the
country. Five of the Susuhunan' s brothers roamed about
everywhere sowing the seeds of mutiny and disaffection.
A son of one of these princes who had been called back
from Ceylon, called Radam Mas Sayid when a young man,
but afterwards honoured with the title of Pangera,n Mangku
Nagara, was associated with them. Another brother,
Pangeran Ma7igku Bumi, who had been chief of the provinces
of Sukawati, also joined the rebels.
This was the beginning of the third Javan war of succes-
sion, which brought misery and famine all over the land.
In 1749 Paku Buvana was very ill, and the reduced state
of his authority and the distracted condition of affairs
afforded an opportunity, too favourable to be overlooked
by the Dutch, of at once attaining the great object of all
their political interference — the sovereignty of the country.
A weak prince on his death-bed at war with his brothers
118 JAVA
and at variance with his son the crown prince, whom he
suspected of too great intimacy with one of his concubines,
was easily brought to any terms, in the hope of continuing
even the nominal succession in his family.
The Sovereignty of Java transferred to the Dutch East India
Company. — He was compelled by a formal official deed ** to
abdicate for himself and his heirs the sovereignty of the
country, conferring the same on the Dutch East India
Company, and leaving it to them to dispose of it in future
to any person they might think competent to govern it for
the benefit of the Company and of Java." After recom-
mending his children, and especially the heir apparent, to
the protection of the Dutch representative Van Hohendorff,
the unfortunate monarch expired.
This important if not singular deed was dated the 11th
December, 1749.
From this deed is derived the right by w^hich the Dutch
Government grant in fee to the native princes the adminis-
tration, or part administration, of those districts while these
continue to be their possession.
Paku Buvana III. — The crown prince was raised to the
throne as Paku Buvana III. by the East India Company,
although he was only nine years of age. Mangku Bumi at
the same time had himself formally proclaimed as the new
sovereign and assumed the title of Sultan of Yogyakerta, or
Susuhuna7i Haniangku Paku Buvana Senapati Matarem, on
the 15th December, 1745. To strengthen his cause he gave
his eldest daughter Ratu Bendara in marriage to his cousin
Mangku N agar a.
A new war now raged, and the Dutch, refusing to recognise
the claims of Mangku Bumi, were attacked by him first at
Janar, at Kampung in Baglen, and then at Tidar, a hill in
Kedu. The Dutch were both times completely routed.
Those that escaped the sword in the second fight were
drowned in an adjoining marsh, murdered by the countryfolk.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 119
The forces of Mangku Bumi were sometimes reduced to a
few hundred and at other times swelled to several thousands,
the chiefs and people deserting him in his distress and
flocking to him in his prosperity. After three victories
obtained over the Dutch he fell upon them at Pakalongan
and plundered the place. Mangku Bumi now carried all
before him, and was once at the gates of Solo, which capital
the Javans represent to have been saved from plunder by
the superstitious veneration for the cannon called 7iiai
stomi, which the rebels no sooner descried on the alun alun
than they sounded a retreat.
An estrangement now arose between Mangku Bumi and
his son-in-law Mangku Nagara, to settle which the latter
potentate called the Company in. Van Hohendorff, the
Governor of Samarang, was willing enough to support the
claims of Mangku Nagara for a large slice of the kingdom,
provided he assisted the Dutch in subduing his father-in-law
Mangku Bumi, but this did not content the ambitious
young man.
In 1754 Governor Hartingh succeeded Van Hohendorff,
and after studying the question at issue, which was gradually
destroying the principal provinces of Mid-Java, proceeded
to Sura Kerta in 1755 with a view to persuading the Susu-
hunan, who was entirely apathetic to what was going on,
to consent to the division of the empire of Matarem between
himself and his uncle Mangku Bumi, with whom in the
meantime on the 13th of February a treaty of peace had
been concluded by the Dutch. At an interview between
uncle and nephew at Jati Sari, six miles east of Sura Kerta,
peace was made.
The First Sultan of Yogyakerta or Djocjo Carta. — The
treaty with the East India Company above mentioned
recognised Mangku Bumi as the first Sultan of Yogyakarta,
under the title already stated.
The empire, or what remained of it, was divided into two
120 JAVA
states, the potentates each receiving one portion under the
suzerainty of the East India Company.
Ma7ig'kii, Nagara I. — Majigku Nagara also submitted on
the 17th March and was given the rank and title of Pangeran
Adipati, with an assignment of Paku Buvana's possessions
to the extent of four thousand chacJias in the districts of
Kadivang Malesa and the southern mountains.
The Sultan Mangku Bumi proved himself to be one of
the best princes that ever reigned in Java. His capital
he estabhshed within a few miles of the site of the ancient
capital of Matdrem or Mendang Kamulan and built a
splendid kraton, which is the present residence of his
successors.
Paku Buvana IV. of Sura Kerta. — Paku Buvana III. died
at Sura Kerta in December, 1788, and was succeeded by one
of his sons, Paku Buvana IV., called the Susuhunan Bagus.^
Hamangku Buvana II. of Yogya Kerta. — In 1792 the first
Sultan of Yogyacarta died at the age of 82, and was followed
by his son Hamangku Buvana II., called the Sultan Sepuh.
In 1808 General Daendels became governor-general, and
being of opinion that the ceremonies which his representa-
tives had to observe at the courts of the native princes were
rather humiliating, he abolished them, causing no small
discontent thereby. The sultan demurring at the new
conditions. General Daendels marched to Yogya Kerta to
bring him to reason, and after a stormy interview in the
Water Castle, deposed him in the kraton on the 20th December,
1810, and appointed the crown prince to reign in his stead.
Daendels at the same time sent the two p)angerans, Nata
Kusumu^ and Nata Di Ning Bat, as prisoners to Cheribon
with orders to the Dutch resident to make away with them
in prison.^
^ Bagus is the Javan for good.
^ Later on one of Sir Stamford Raffles's staunch, allies.
' Daendels was recalled before their execution, and Raffles cancelled
the order on his arrival.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 121
The English arrived in Java with a large force in 1811,
and the old Sultan of Yogya Kerta, who by a singular over-
sight on the part of Daendels had been allowed to remain at
the kraton, although not in power, took the opportunity of
the discord among the Dutch, French, and EngHsh troops
to reassert his paternal authority, always held very high
among the Javans, and assumed charge of the government
as Sultan of Yogya Kerta, notifying the new British resident,
Captain Eobinson, who had just arrived there, accordingly.
The sultan's first act was to send for the prime minister, and
as a reward for his friendship with the Europeans he
ordered him to be strangled on the spot.^
The old sultan becoming tyrannical and overbearing, Sir
Stamford Raffles, as is related in another chapter, proceeded
to Yogya Kerta, with the British troops under General
Gillespie, and seizing the kraton, deposed him and banished
him to Penang.
Hamangku Buvana III. of Yogya Kerta.- — The crown
prince thereupon reassumed, as Hamangku Buvana III.,
the throne taken away from him by his father. In this
affair the British were assisted by Mangku Nagara II.
Paku Alam I. — Raffles now created another small king-
dom to counterbalance the overpowering influence of the
sultan by giving a younger brother a small portion of the
sultanate with the title of Pangeran Adipati Paku Alam, one
of the conditions being that, like his equal in rank at Sala
{Solo), Mangku Nagara, he should always keep a legion of
his own for service under the British Government.
Finally the Captain Chinaman at Yogya Kerta after his
conversion to Islam was rewarded by the sultan for his
services by his appointment as regent in Kedu, with the
1 This happened on an Ari Pahinj, one of the five days of the Javan
pasar week, which day ever since has been held an evil day for all the
members of the princely family. On an Ari Falling no journey may be
undertaken, no work may bo started, and no fresh medicine taken.
122 JAVA
titles and names of Badem Tumenggung Secha Di Ning Rat,
and received one of the princesses in marriage.^
Hamangkii Buvana IV. of Yogyakerta. — Hamangku
Buvana III. died in 1814, and his eldest son, Pangeran Dipa
Negara, whose mother was only a wdfe of lower rank, was
excluded from the throne, which was ascended by his
younger brother Badem Mas Jarot as Hamangku Buvana IV,
The new sultan, who was only 13 years of age, was placed
under the joint guardianship of his mother, two princes, and
the prime minister. Though the people w^ere content.
Baffles w^as not, and he dissolved the body of guardians and
made the prince's granduncle, Paku Alam, guardian in
their stead and regent of the Empire.
Paku Buvana V. — In 1816 Java reverted once more to
the Dutch, and in 1820 Paku Buvana IV. died at Sura
Kerta, his successor being his son Paku Buvana V. The
reign of this monarch was of short duration.
Hamangku Buvana V. of Yogyakerta. — The Sultan Jarot
of Yogya Kerta died in 1822, leaving two sons by his Batu
Ageng. The elder of them, Baden Mas Menol, not yet three
years old, was his successor as Hamangku Buvana V.
The Javanese have a story that his father, the fourth
sultan, was poisoned by his uncle Pangeran Mangku Bumi,
who, they say, expected to ascend the throne, or at least ta
be made regent and guardian of his two young grandnephews.
The truth of this, however, was never proved, and the only
ground that the Javans bring forward in its support is a
rumour that the sultan suddenly fell ill and died after
partaking of a dish sent him by Mangku Bumi.
Paku Buvana VI. of Sura Kerta. — Paku Buvana V. died
in 1823 in the third year of his reign, without leaving a son
born of a Ratu, for which reason his son Baden Mas Saperdan
was raised to the throne as Paku Buvana VI.
' The Chinese have nowadays several villages in the province of Kedu,
in which there is not a single Javan.
THK pan(;kkan pokkkonk(;uko. with his wifk and daughter.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 123
At this time there was a party at the court of Yugya
Kerta who were very disaffected towards the Pangeran
Mangku Bumi because he had been bred and brought up by
Paku Alam in friendship towards the Dutch ; at the same
time they disapproved of the exaggerated luxury reigning
at the court, and complained of the impoverishment of the
people. At the head of this party was Menol's (the new
sultan) micle, the Pangeran Di'pa Negara. It was this
prince conjointly with the Ratus Ageng and Kenchana
(mother and grandmother to the young sultan) and Pan-
geran Mangku Bumi (his granduncle) who had been appointed
the guardians of the sultan, the government being in charge
of the prime minister and the great seal given to the resident
Jonkheer Anthon}^ Hendrik Smissaert.
This was the unfortunate moment when the Dutch
Government endeavoured to introduce its new regulations
with regard to the tenure of land by Em'opeans in the native
provinces, and the fire that was smouldering beneath the
combustible matter now received a draught of air, as it
were, from the Government, the result of which was war.
This war, with Dipa Negara as the principal leader, raged
calamitously in Central Java for five years, no peace being
made until in 1830 Dipa Negara was led to attend a con-
ference with the Eesident of Magelang and taken prisoner ;
he was banished to Celebes, where the brave man died in
1855.
During 1826 the second sultan, who lived in exile in Amhon,
was called back and replaced on the throne, which he had
to share with his young grandson. The Dutch hoped
hereby to end the war, a hope that was not reahsed. From
this time the tw^o sultans were styled Sultan Sepuh and
(Menol) Sultan Anom — that is, the old and the young sultan.
Hamangku Buvana VI. of Yogyakerta. — In 1828 the old
sultan died, but Hamangku Buvana V. {Sultan Anom) hved
till 1855. Sultan Anom's younger brother, Pangeran
124 JAVA
Adipati Manghu Bumi, was now made sultan as Haviangku
Buvana VI., the former having left no sons.
During the time of the war the SusuJiunan at Sura Kerta,
through the great influence of the resident, Henry Mac-
Gillavry ^ (and some say of the brothers Dezentje ^), remained
faithful to the Dutch, although the temptation to join the
rebels was great. After the war the Government, to cover
some of their expenses, took possession of a considerable
part of the native lands. At the same time a proportional
part of the Susuhunan's territory was seized.
The measure was considered politically a wise one, but
the Susnliunan, considering his vast services to the Dutch,
felt he had been distinctly TVTonged, and, looking upon it as
a poor return for his remaining faithful during a trying time,
left Sura Kerta for the south coast, where he resolved to
live the rest of his life in pious devotions. He was, however,
not allowed to remain long in peace, but was taken prisoner
and banished to Arribon, where he died in 1849.
Faku Buvana VII. of Sura Kerta. — In his stead a brother
of the fifth SusuJiunan (who was a brother to the fourth
and born of a ratu) and Fangeran Purnhaya was crowned as
Palcu Buvana VII.
Baku Buvana VIII. of Sura Kerta. — This Susuhunan had
a short reign, living only till 1858, when he was succeeded
by his eldest half-brother, Pangeran Ngabehi, born of a
wife of the second rank.
This prince ascended the throne at Sura Kerta as Baku
Buvana VIII., but in 1861, three years after his elevation,
he died at the age of 72 years.
Baku Buvana IX. of Sura Kerta. — His successor was the
eldest son born of a ratu of the banished sixth Susuhunan of
the same name, who is known as Baku Buvana IX.
Baku Buvana X. of Sura Kerta. — The latter lived until
' Tlie son of an Englishman.
^ August Jan Casper and Johannes Augustinus Dezentje.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 125
1894 and was succeeded by his eldest son the crown prince
as Paku Buvana X.
Hcmiangku Buvana VII. of Jogya Kerta. — Sultan Ha-
mangku Buvana VI. of Yogya Kerta, one of the best and
kindest of princes, an honest and virtuous man, died in
1877, and was succeeded by his eldest son (who was installed
as crown prince in 1872), the present reigning Sultan
Hamangku Buvana VII.
In 1883 the eldest son of Ratti Mas, Hamangku Buvana^ s
second wife (the first bore him no son), was made crown
prince as Pangeran Adipati Hamangku Xagara ; he died,
however, in 1891, and his next brother, su:ffering from
attacks of insanity, had to be divested of his rank. The
third son of the ratu therefore obtained the title which he
has held since 1895.
The Princes of Paku Alam. — The first Paku Alam,
appointed, as ah*eady related, in 1812 by Sir Stamford Raffles,
died during the Java war in 1829 ; his son and successor,
Paku Alam II., hved to the age of 75 years. Paku Alam III.,
the latter's son, reigned from 1858 to 1864, and was succeeded
by a cousin of his as Paku Alam IV. This prince, who died
in 1878, left no son worthy of the throne, which was mounted
by his uncle, a son of the second prince of that name ; he
reigned as Paku Alam V. until 1901, when he was succeeded
by his eldest son, Pangeran Nata Kasuma, as Pangeran
Adipati Paku Alam VI., who died in 1902. He was
followed by his son as Paku Alam VII., who still
reigns.^
The legion which was stipulated for b}" Raffles v/as
disbanded in 1892. With this the Javan history of the
country concludes.
The chronological tables here given show the list of
sovereigns — Hindu, Javan, Brahman, Buddhist, and
1 A highly aristocratic and well-bred man, with the courtly and
jharming manners of the true Javan.
126 JAVA
Mahometan — who have ruled over Java from the earHest
traditions until the present day.
BesumS of Ancient Java. — The foregoing account of
" Ancient Java," which we have endeavoured to make as
clear and lucid as possible, is based upon a mass of informa-
tion which is in parts more or less unintelligible owing to
the hideous confusion and frequent inaccuracies in the dates
of the various chroniclers, no two of whom agree. The
story, however, as now told and the dates given may be
accepted as practically, if not quite, correct, and, it having
been told as consecutively as was possible, an intelligible
view can be taken of the whole of the ancient history of Java.
Among the principal events which have occurred are : —
Firstly, the arrival of the Hindu Aji Saka, with whom a
new period began. At this time a race of Kalangs or
Basaksa, or aborigines, was living in some parts of the
island.^ They had partially emerged from the barbarism
and savagery into which, through being cut off from all
civilisation for centuries, they had fallen. Their covering
of civilisation was beginning to make itself apparent through
an admixture of the blood of another race which had more
or less recently arrived, and, as stated, was probably called
Javan or Javanese.
Secondly, it is clear that on the arrival of the expedition
from India the inhabitants were so far advanced as to be
in a state to receive and make use of the culture of their
Hindu masters, and to begin the construction of the mighty
monuments in Middle Java which constitute one of the
wonders of the world.
This first Hindu empire was established at Matdrem and
was called Mendang Kamulan. When this was extinguished
the kingdoms of Pajajaran in the west and Majapahit in
the east rose into importance.
1 From remains found at Soekaboerin and near Garvet it is seen that an
ancient stone period was once in existence in Java (Preanger district).
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 127
After the destruction of the famous city of Majapahit by
the Mahometans, a court was formed at Demdk and the
Payang, from which eventually arose the second empire of
Matdrem, firstly at Kerta Sura and later at Sura Kerta.
Afterwards the decay which had long before set in owing to
the disintegrating influences of the European invasion
became more pronounced, and Matdrem was split into two
kingdoms, one with its seat of government at Sura Kerta
and the other at Yogya Kerta.
The power, however, of the monarchs was still further
reduced by the establishment of small sultanates in each
kingdom under the aristocratic Javan families Maiigka
N agar a and Paku Alam.
The result is that to-day the Susuhunan of Sura Kerta
and the Sultan of Yogya Kerta, the last representatives of
a bygone monarchy, are merely political puppets in the
hands of their masters the Dutch, for although to the
stranger the pomp, show, and glitter with which they are
surrounded would indicate power and dominion, it is know^n
very well by the Dutch Government, if not by themselves,
that beyond ruhng in domestic and social affairs they are
to all intents and purposes powerless in the land of their
ancestors.
128 JAVA
(A) List showing the Line of Mahometan Sovereigns who have
ruled in Java since a.d. 1477 down to the Present Day,
also
(B) Chronological List of some of the Principal Events which
have happened from a.d. 75 to a.d. 1570.
(A)
List of Mahometan Sovereigns.
(From old Records.)
^^^ At Demak.
A.D.
1477. Raden Patah.
1519. Pangerang Sabrang Lor.
1533. Sultan Bintara.
At Pajang.
1577, Sultan Pajang.
1606. Adipati Demak. (Subject to the Sultan of Matarem
" Jolang.")
At Matarem.
1568. Adipati Pamanahan. (Subject to the Sultan of Payang.)
1575, Panembahan Senapati. (Threw off the supremacy of
Pajang in 1582.)
1601. Sultan Jolang.
1613. Raden Rangsang, or Sultan Ageng.
1646. Susuhunan Ha Mengku Rat I.
At Kerta Sura.
1677. Susuhunan Ha Mengku Rat II.
1685. Susuhunan Ha Mengku Rat Mas III,
1703, Pangeran Puger, or Susuhunan Paku Buvana I.
1719, Susuhunan Prabu Ha Mengku Rat.
1727. Susuhunan Paku Buvana II.
At Sura Kerta.
1743. Susuhunan Paku Buvana II.
1749, Susuhunan Paku Buvana III,
1755, The kingdom of Matarem was now divided into two, with
two capitals and sovereigns entirely independent of
each other.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 129
At Sura Kerta.
At Yogya Kerta.
Reign
Reign
began
began
A.D.
A.D.
1755, fSusuhunan Paku
\ Buvana
III.
1755.
j Sultan Ha Meng- ] I
i ku Buvana ^ j
1788.
IV.
1792.
II
1820.
V.
1812.
III
1823.
VI.
1814.
IV
1849.
VII.
1822.
V
1858.
VIII.
1855.
VI
1861.
IX.
1877.
,, VII
1894.
X.
(B)
Chronological Table of Principal Events in Java.
(From various Javan Sources.)
A.D.
75 — 77. Aji Saka, a Hindu, arrives in Java, probably near
Rembang or Tuban.
413. Fa Hien, a CJiinese priest, wrecked near Rembang.
1160. Singliapura founded by Malays from Palembang. A
King of Java invades the new colony repeatedly.
1195. The King of Daha, in East Java, expands his kingdom.
1291. Marco Polo, the Itahan, visits Sumatra.
1300. Ibu Batuta, an Arab, settles in East Java.
1335. The Emperor of Java invades Singhapura and drives the
Malays away to Malacca.
1359. Sultan Mohammed Shah becomes the second King of
Malacca.
1375. The King of Malacca marries a daughter of the Emperor
of Java, and is presented with the country of Indragiri,
in Sumatra.
1375. Mulana Mahk Ibrahim, a celebrated Arabian scholar,
arrives in Java to convert the people.
1412. Mulana Ibrahim dies at Gresik.
1477. The first Mahometan sovereign of Java, Raden Patah (a
son of the Emperor of Majapahit in actuahty, although
his reputed father was Aria Damar, the Prince of
Palembang), establishes his court at Demdk.
1 Also spelt Pakoe Boewono by the Dutch.
J.— VOL. I.
K
130
JAVA
A.D.
1477.
1477.
1526.
1570.
The Hindu city of Majapahit destroyed by the Islamised
Javanese, under the leadership of the Arabs and R4den
Patah.
The Mahometan rehgion estabhshed in East Java.
The city of Bantam succumbs to the intrigues of the
Susuhunan of Cheribon, an Arab by birth.
Final blow to Buddhism. Tiie Hindu -Javan Empire of
Pajajaran, which had its capital at Pakuan (Batoe-
toelis), near Buitenzorg, destroyed by the Susuhunan of
Cheribon.
(C)
Chronological Table SHOvirmG the Evolution of the
Different Ancient Hindu, Javan and Mahometan
Empires or Kingdoms in the Island of Java down to
THE Present Day.
The Empire of M:^ndang Kamulan (Matarem).
(D j ockj akarta Residency . )
(A.D. 75 to A.D. 1002.)
A Hindu settlement (Sourabaya Residency)
(A.D. 200, ijerhaps earlier i).
The Kingdom of
Jang'gala.
Sourabaya
Residency
(A.D. 950 to 1)
(A.D. 875?)
The Kingdom of
Kediri or Dalia.
Kedin
Eesidencv
(A.D. 950 to
A.D. 1294)
(and A.D. 875?).
The Kingdom The Kingdom
of N'garawan. of Singasari.
Kedin Pasoeroean
Residency Residency
(A.D. 950 to—) (A.D. 950 to—)
The Great Kingdom of Jang'gala
(the capital was later called Tumapel)
(A.D. 1002 to A.D. 1275).
The^Empire of Pajajaran
(capital near Buitenzorg)
(A.D. 1030 to A.D. 1570).
The Empire of Majapahit
(caTjital near Modjo Kerta)
(A.D. 1275 to A.D. 1477)
(A.D. 675?).
The Kingdom of Demak
(A.D. 1477 to A.D. 1577).
The Kingdom of Pajang. The EmT)ire of Matarem.
Djockjakarta Residency
(A.D. 1577 to A.D. 1606^
' There is little doubt that there was a large Hindu community in the
Sourabaya province as early as a.d. 300, perhaps earlier.
ARABIAN INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 131
The Empire of Mat are m.^
(a.d , 1568 ^ (still in existence) ).
Titles.
The Panembaliau Senapati. \
The Sultau. > At Matarem (Djockjakarta Residency).
The Susuhunau.
The Susiihunan. At Kertasura (a.d. 1677).
The Susiihunan. At Sura Kerta (a.d. 1743).
I
\
I i
The Royal House of the Susuhunau The Royal House of the Sultan at
(commonly called the Emperor of Yugyakarta
Java) at Sura Kerta (a.d. 1755 (still m existence) ).
(a.d. 1755 (still in existence) ). |
I I
The princely House of Ihe princely House of
Mangku Nagara Paku Alam
(A.D. 1755 (still in existence) ). (a.d. 1812 (stiU in existence) ).
' This empire possibly in its earlier days went under the name of
Wii'ata, which name disappeared for certain in 775, possibly about 568,
about when the empire was rechristened Mendang Kamdlan (see Chapter I.,
Part II.).
- From 1568 to 1582 under the supremacy of the Sultan of Payang,
after which Payang became subject to Matarem.
Note. — All ancient Hindu and Javan chroniclers agree on one point,
although their dates are at variance, namely, that a time existed when
the rajahs of the following ancient Hindu empires or kingdoms ruled
practically the whole island : — Mendang Kamiilan, Jang'gala (!), Pajajarau,
and Majapahit.
k2
CHAPTEE III
Chinese Intekcoukse with Java
Early Chinese Knowledge of Java. — It is frequently stated
that the Chinese had acquired an intimate knowledge of the
East Indian Archipelago some time before the Christian era,
but no proof of this, so far as we are aware, has ever been
given. At the same time there are good reasons in support
of this statement. The Chinese have ever been an astonish-
ingly secretive race, guarding their knowledge with jealous
care, a quality apparently intuitively inborn in them. A
people who understood the use of the mariner's compass as
early as B.C. 2634, had a knowledge of printing and gun-
powder, and who had inherited a great store of scientific lore
about the continent of Asia for thousands of years, and who
are even supposed to have discovered America, must have
visited the East Indies and Java before Hippalus made his
way across the Indian Ocean. No records, however, exist
of any such early voyages, although they must have been
made.
During the reign of the Han dynasty (b.c. 116) there is
mention made in the Chinese histories of ambassadors being
sent to some court in the south, and that since then that
coimtry had always paid tribute.
Later on, during the reign of Hsuah of the Han dynasty
(B.C. 73), the Eomans and the Hindu rulers of India sent
regular tribute to China.
The Chinese ambassadors presumably travelled to their
destination overland ; if, as is possible, they went by sea,
it seems a natural assumption that they must at some time
or another have touched the coast of Sumatra, but no
mention is made to this effect.
K..
.■?wr ■ - - . "'.iS*_ ■
WAVANi, I'.IINA. Ill; I 1II\I-:SE PLAV.
CHINESE INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 183
Again, about a.d. 222 two commissioners were despatched
from China on an expedition to foreign lands in the south ;
but here also the particulars are so vague and scanty that
no authoritative assertion can be made that Java or Sumatra
was among the numerous lands visited.
For the first authentic statement of a Chinaman visiting
Java we have to wait until a.d. 413. In this case there can
be no doubt about the matter, as Chinese history is clear and
distinct upon this point.
The name of this distinguished visitor is Fa Hien, a
Buddhist priest, who, deploring the depths of degradation
into which the priests of his religion in China had fallen,
decided that a voyage to India in quest of the original
copies of the Buddhistic writings would prove more to his
colleagues than any number of lectures from him as to their
immoral life and the lax way in which they were carrying
out the tenets and maxims of a beautiful rehgion.
He wished, moreover, to prove that their faults and errors
were more the result of absolute ignorance than an inten-
tional neglect or indifference on their part. Fa Hien left
for India in 400, and spent four years wandering over the
land in search of the documents. He finally left India for
Ceylon, and there took ship for China. An account of his
journey from Ceylon has been left to us. It is as follows : —
Account of Fa Hien's Journey. — " Fa Hien left Ceylon on board
a merchant vessel, which carried about two hundred men. Astern
of the great ship a smaller one was fastened as a provision in case
of the large vessel being injured or wrecked on the voyage.
Having got a fair wind, they sailed eastward for two days, when
they encomitered a storm and the ship sprang leak. The
merchants then wanted to rush into the smaller vessel, but the
crew of that ship, fearing that it would become too crowded, cut
the towing cable and fell oJBE. The merchants were very much
afraid, and their lives stood in the greatest danger. Then,
dreading lest the leak should gain upon them, they forthwith took
their goods and merchandise and cast them overboard. Fa Hien
184 JAVA
also flung overboard his water -pitcher and his washmg -basin, as
well as other portions of his property. He was only afraid lest
the merchants should throw into the sea his sacred books
and images. And so with the earnestness of heart he invoked
Avalokiteshwara and paid reverence to the Buddhist saints of
China, speaking thus : ' I have wandered so far in search of
the law, may you by your spiritual power drive back the water,
and cause us to reach some resting place.'
" The gale lasted thirteen days and nights, when they arrived
at the shore of an island, and the tide going out, they found the
place of the leak ; having forthwith stopped it up, they again
put to sea, and continued their voyage. In this sea there are
many pirates ; when one falls in with them, he is lost.
" The sea is boundless in extent — it is impossible to know east
or west, and one can only advance by observing the sun, moon,
or stars ; if it is dark, rainy weather, you have to follow the wind
in perfect uncertainty. During the darkness of night one only
sees the great waves striking each other, and shining hke fire,
whilst shoals of sea monsters of every description surround the
ship. The merchants were much perplexed, not knowing what
course to steer. The sea was so deep that no sounding could be
taken, and also there was no place for anchorage.
" At length, the weather clearing up, they got their right
bearings and once more shaped a correct course and proceeded
onwards. But if during the bad weather thej'' had happened to
strike a hidden rock, then there would have been no way to escape
alive. Thus they voyaged for about ninety days, when they
arrived at a country called Yava-di.^
" In this country heretics and Brahmans flourish, but the law
of Buddlia hardly deserves mentioning. ^
" After having stopped here for five ^months, Fa Hien again
embarked on another m.erchant vessel, having also a crew of two
hundred men or so. They took with them fifty days' provisions
and set sail on the 16th day of the fourth month. Whilst Fa
Hien was on board of this ship they shaped a course X.E. for the
province of Canton in China. After a month and some days, at
the stroke of two in the middle watch of the night a black squall
suddenly came on, accompanied with pelting rain.
1 Abbreviation most likely of Yava Dwipa : Java Din of Ptolemy.
' It apparently existed, however.
* December to May.
CHINESE INTERCOURSE WITH JAV^A 135
" The merchants and passengers were all terrified. Fa Hien
at this time also, with great earnestness of mind, again entreated
Avdlokit^shwara and all the priesthood of China, praying for the
assistance of their divine power to carry them through until
dayhght. When the day broke all the Brahmans, consulting
together, said : ' It is because we have got this Buddhist priest
on board with us that we have no luck, and have incurred this
great mischief ; come let us land this monk on the first island we
meet with, for it is not proper that we should all perish for the
sake of one man.'
" But a man who had taken Fa Hien under his care then said :
' If you land this monk, j^ou shall also land me with him, and if
not you had better kill me, for if you really put this priest on
shore, then when we arrive at China, I will go straight to the king
and tell him what you have done. And the king of the country
is a firm believer in the law of Buddlia, and greatly honours the
priests and monks.' The merchantmen on this did not dare to
land him. As the weather continued very dark, the pilots looked
at each other without knowing what to do. More than seventy
days had now elapsed, the food and water were nearly all gone,
they had to use salt water for cooking, as they had only two pmts
of fresh water per head left, so that it was nearly all finished. The
merchants now deliberated and said : ' The ordinary time for
the voyage to Canton is fifty days,^ but now we have exceeded
that time by many days already, surely we must have gone
wrong.'
" On this day they put the ship on a N.W. course to look for
land, and after twelve days' continuous sailing they arrived at
the southern coast of Lan Shan in the prefecture of Chang Kwang.^
They here obtained fresh water and vegetables, and from seeing
a certain kind of herb, they knew that they were in China, but
not seeing men or traces of them they again scarcely knew what
to think. Some said that they had not yet arrived at Canton,
others maintained they had passed it. In this uncertainty,
therefore, they put off in a little boat and entered a creek looking
for some one to ask what place it was they had arrived at. Just
at this moment two men who had been hunting were returning
home. On this the merchants requested Fa Hien to act as
' They thus had heen often before.
2 This is a little to the north of Canton.
136 JAVA
interpreter, and it was only then they knew what place they had
come to."
The following passage from Fa Hien's account contains
an adventure which happened to him whilst visiting a
temple at Ceylon : —
" Fa Hien had now been away many years from China ; the
people with whom he conversed were all men from foreign
comitries ; even the mountains and valleys, the plants and trees,
which he saw around him, were unlike those of old times. More-
over, his fellow-travellers were separated from him ; some had
remained behind, and some were dead ; he had only his own
shadow to look at, and so his heart was continually saddened.
All at once, as he was standing by the side of this jasper image, he
beheld a merchant present to it, as a religious ofiEering, a white
fan from China. Involuntarily he gave way to his sorrowful
feelings and tears filled his eyes."
From the foregoing extracts it may be gathered that the
Hindu colonists in Java kept up an important intercourse
with their mother-country and carried on trade with China.
It is also quite clear that the population in Java at this
time must have been already very considerable, otherwise
Fa Hien would hardly have mentioned that the Brahman
religion was flourishing there. It is moreover to be noted
that he met none of his countrymen in Java/ for had he
done so he would certainly have said so, seeing he was
moved to tears in the Ceylon temple at the sight of a Chinese
fan. Fa Hien arrived in Java about December and departed
in May, and there is reason for believing that he landed
somewhere on the north-east coast, most likely in the
neighbourhood of the present district of Kembang.
In the history of the first Sung dynasty it is mentioned
that in the year 435 the king of the country, Djavada,^
1 He did not travel in Java, and therefore did not visit Bantam or
Grissee, which were the most likely places where Chinese would be found,
if there were any.
2 Yavidi, Yawadi.
CHINESE INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 137
whose name was Sri Padadoalapamo,^ sent an envoy to
carry a letter and some gifts to the Emperor of China,
which is the first actual confirmation of the kings of Java
presenting tribute to the Chinese.
The historical works of the Liang dynasty (a.d. 502) enter
into more details about Java than any previous accounts.
The following is an extract fiom one such, and refers to
old Bantam : —
" The country of Lang Oa-su, or Langga,^ is situated in the
Southern Ocean ; its length from east to west is thirty days
and from south to north twenty days ; its distance from Canton
is 24,000 U.^
" The climate and the products of the soil are about the same
as in Siam. Lignum aloes in its different qualities and camphor
oil are very abundant everywhere. Men and women have the
upper part of the body naked ; their hair hangs loosely down and
around their lower limbs ; they only use a sarong of cotton.
The king and the nobles, moreover, have a thin flowered cloth
for covering the upper part of their body [slendang] ; they wear
a girdle of gold and golden rings in their ears.
" Young girls cover themselves with a cloth of cotton, and
wear an embroidered girdle. In this country they have made the
city walls of piled -up bricks ; the wall has double gates and
watch-towers. When the king goes out he rides on an elephant ;
he is surrounded with flags of feathers, banners and drums,
and is covered by a white canopy. His military establishment
is very complete. The people say that their country was estab-
lished more than four hundred years ago. In 515 the prmce sent
an envoy with a letter and presents to the Son of Heaven."
During the Tang dynasty (a.d. 618) a little more infoima-
tion regarding Java is vouchsafed. Kaling (Kling) is also
called Djawa * (Japara) : — ■
" The people make fortifications of wood, and even the largest
1 The name is no doubt hypothetical.
* This was in the district of Bantam.
" A li ie, roughly a mile.
* Djawa. Djapa, or Djapo.
138 JAVA
houses are covered with palm leaves. They have couches of
ivory, and mats of the outer skin of bamboo.
" The land produces tortoise-shell, gold, silver, rhinoceros
horns, and ivory. The country is very rich ; there is a cavern
from which salt water bubbles up spontaneously. They make
Avine of the hangmg flowers of the cocoa palm ; when they drink
of it, they become rapidly drunk. They have letters and are
acquainted with astronomy.
" The king lives in the town of Djapa,^ but his ancestor Kiyea
had lived more to the east at the town of Palukasi [probably
Toeban]. On different sides are twenty-eight small countries
[districts], all acknowledging the supremacy of Djawa. There
are thirty -two high ministers on the mountains of Lang piva
[Dieng],^ where the king frequently goes to look at the sea.
" This country sent envoys to the emperor to bring tribute,
together with those of Dvahala, Dvapatan [Bali]. The emperor
favoured them with a reply mider the great seal, and as Dvahala
asked for good horses these were given to them."
At this time the Chinese were already coming to Java in
considerable numbers for trading, and in the east at Yorta7i,'^
Tuhan, and Grissee several, and perhaps many, had settled
permanently. Consequently when one of the Javan chroni-
clers ^ records the wreck of a large junk near Semarang in
921, and states that the Chinese in her formed an establish-
ment on the island of Java for the first time, he is making
a statement which is not in accordance with probabihties,
for there is all likelihood that some had been established in
the island three or lOur centuries before this date.
In Chapter I., Part II., of this history, the account is given
of the great Chinese expedition (a.d. 1292) sent to punish
the King of TumapeV by the first Mongol Emperor Kublai
Khan. The sons of Heaven on this occasion fared badly,
1 Japara. Japara was subject to the King of M6ndang Kamiilan,
whicli was in fiill life and vigour at this time.
■^ L-ang, Di-ang.
8 Bangil.
* Chapter I., Part II.
* In the Sourabaya district, and corresponding in all probability to the-
anoient capital of Jang'gala.
CHINESE INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 139
the army returning to China, a mere remnant of what it was
on its arrival, as a lesult of the devastating effects ot fighting
during the wet monsoon.
The history of the Ming dynasty (a.d. 1368) furnishes us
with further particulars of Java. The tribute at this time
appears to have consisted of comely black slaves^ and various
products of the island. For instance, in 1381 three hundred
slaves, men and women, were sent, whilst in 1382 one hun-
dred were forwarded, and, as it were, to make up for this
small number, 75,000 catties of pepper and eight large pearls
were sent as well. The emperor in his graciousness vouch-
safed to return some eunuchs to Java with silver seals
inlaid with gold, together with costly silks and gauzes
embroidered with gold.
In 1432 the Chinese w^ere trading with Pekalongan, and
were gradually assuming a monopoly of the trade of the
country, so that by the time the Portuguese arrived at
Bantam (a.d. 1500) it was almost entirely in the hands of
this born race of traders.
One hundred years after this the Chinese histories make
special mention of the red-haired barbarians (Dutch and
English) estabhshing a ** toko " (office) on the east bank of
the Bantam river, whilst the Franks (Danes) had another
and were trading on the west bank (a.d. 1600).
When a Chinese ship arrived there at this time a chief
came on board to procure information and see what there
was on the ship. He was at once presented by the Chinese
captain with a basket of oranges and two small umbrellas.
The chief then wrote to the king, and on the ship entering
the river, the king was presented with fruits and silk.
The king had four Chinese and two native writers to keep
his books, and Chinamen who knew the foreign language '
acted as his interpreters, one man for every ship. For
1 From Madagascar and Java.
' Malay and Javanese.
140 JAVA
trading purposes the King of Bantam assigned two places
outside the town where shops were built by the energetic
Chinese. In the morning the trade was carried on, every
one going to the market-place ; at noon it ceased. The
king levied market dues daily, which the Chinese readily
paid, such was the profit they made.
Bantam was during the seventeenth century a most
important trading place, and eight or nine large junks full
of goods arrived here yearly. The same was the case in
East Java at Yortan (Bangil) and Grissee ; when the Dutch
were firmly established in the island the Chinese were the
mainstay of the trade, besides which they farmed everything
they possibly could, whether it was the duties or the taxes.
The shipping of goods or the unloading of cargoes was
entirely in their hands ; the trade with the neighbouring
islands was more or less their monopoly, while there w^as
not a single industry in which they were not the prime
movers. The artisans for building houses or ships were
Chinese ; when contractors were required for the delivery
of sugar, rice, or pepper they w^ere Chinese, and what the
Dutch owe to this race in Java is incalculable.
There is, of course, a commercial instinct born in every
Chinaman which is uppermost in all his thoughts, and for
the sake of gain he will stop at nothing. At the same time
there is nothing mean about him, and the big merchants are
among the best and most honest in the world.
Shortly after Jacatra fell and the city of Batavia was
established ; the first captain Chinaman was appointed on
the 1st July, 1620. This was So Bing Kong, who died in
1631, and whose grave is still to be seen in excellent preserva-
tion on the Jacatra road.
He was followed by Bing Am, who in 1650 bought a large
piece of forest land outside the fort of Ryswyck in Jacatra,
which was later called Tannabang and purchased by the
Dutch family of the name of Bik (see note, p. 142).
CHINESE INTERCOURSE WITH JAVA 141
The next captain Chinaman was Si Kwa, vv'ho died in
1663, his duties being performed by his widow until the
29th June, 1678, when by order a captain, Heutenant, and
** senior " Chinaman were appointed. The Chinaman Tjop
Wanjok, who had hved forty years at Batavia, was the
man chosen for captain. He was described as the" most
popular and principal of all the Chinese at Batavia." It
was expected of him that in all important matters he should
consult with the two other officers.
This was the origin of the " Chinese Council of Batavia"
(Chineeschen Eaad), which was established by a Government
Besluit or Order dated the 26th May, 1747.
In 1740 the great Chinese rebellion broke out, but in
1743, when the Chinese all returned to Batavia, they were
given many privileges they had never had before, besides
being allowed to buy land and estates more freely. This
was the origin of an increased trade in sugar and the
establishment of more sugar mills in the neighbourhood of
Batavia.
The reader may consult a report before a Select Com-
mittee in London by John Deans, Scott & Co. (1814 —
1826). This document will be found a useful addition
to this chapter.
List of estates around Jacatra ow^ned by Chinese between
1650 and 1684 :—
Name of Land. Purchager.
Tanah-abang. Bing Am.
List of estates as far as Buitenzorg owned by Chinese after
Resolution of the East India Compan}^ 8th July, 1685 : —
Bought Name of Estate. Purchaser.
April 11, 1707 . On the Tangerang river . Tan Boeko.
May 11, 1707 . Malanbang .... Due Hoeiiko.
May 7, 1709 . At Bekassie . . . Que Boucqua.
April 1, 1712 . A piece of ground on river Quat Siog.
Tjidanie.
July 7, 1724 . A piece of ground at Bekassie Ni locco.
142 JAV^A
After the defeat of the Sultan Ageng of Bantam ** Tang-
geran " and " Bogoh " were included by the East India
Company in its boundaries.
Note. — Bing Am built a large house for himself on the top of
the hill, which therefore received the name of Bing Am's Hill,
but later on was called Tanah Bang Hill (perhaps from Tanah
Bing). About 1709 G. G. van Riebeeck built himself a house or
enlarged the old one on this hill, which still stands (a photo of
the original house is given). In 1740 the land and house seem to
have been bought by David Johamies Smith, and on his death
about 1768 the property was sold for 80,000 ryksdaalders. A
small portion of the land was bought or leased by Gillian Maclaine
in 1823, who built himself a house there in 1827, which cost
nearly £20,000, but in May, 1828, he sold it to Wilham Thompson,
of the English house of Tiiompson, Roberts & Co., who again sold
it in 1829 when he returned to Europe.
(Extract from Java Courant, 21st May, 1829 : " For sale the
house at Tanna Bang, at present occupied by Mr. W. Thompson.
Apply Thompson, Roberts & Co.")
John Macneill, of Maclaine, Watson & Co., bought this same
house in 1840, but on the 8th November, 1843, sold it to John
Campbell, the head of the firm of Paterson & Co., which started
at Batavia in 1832 and eventually merged in Martin Dyce & Co.
in 1842. Wlien G. Maclaine sold the house he had built he
went into van Riebeeck's old palace, and the head partners of
Maclaine, Watson & Co. hved here for several years, after which
they took up their abode at another house in Tanah Bang, near
the end of the present Gang de Riemer, a house which apparently
had been built in 1816 by John Deans, the head of the well-known
Batavia, Samarang, and Sourabaya house of Deans, Scott & Co.
When the partners of Maclaine, Watson & Co, left van Rie-
beeck's old house John Campbell went into it. John Campbell,
now, came from Argyllshire, and according to Colonel Leith
Bonhote (whose father was a partner in Maclaine, Watson & Co.)
this house was christened " Argyll Lodge," and was so Imown for
a considerable number of years. (This on inquiring has proved
correct.) It has now, however, gone back to its original name
" Tanah Bang House " ; all this land around Tanah Bang
belongs nowadays to the Bik family.
THIRD PERIOD
The Arrival of the Europeans
CHAPTER IV
Java's First European Visitors
Sighelmus. — We must dismiss as rather improbable the
story given us by the Saxon chronicler that in the " glorious
reign of King Alfred " (a.d. 883) one of this king's favourite
ecclesiastics, named Sighelmus, was sent to the East Indies
" to help the poor distressed Christians there," though he
certainly did make a voyage to some foreign country, for
William of Malmesbury states as a fact that he visited the
tomb of St. Thomas at Maliapur (Peacock Town) and brought
back with him a quantity of jewels and spices.
Marco Polo. — We come then first of all to the travels of
Marco Polo, that prince of exaggerators who in 1292 visited
Sumatra,^ and thus has the honour as far as is known of
being the first European to visit the East Indies. Most of
the tales of this traveller are so filled, however, with in-
temperate expressions, and as we know are so grossly
exaggerated, that considerable caution must be used when
reading him. When he tells us of Java that there were
" eight kingdoms with as many kings," that " its people are
idolaters," and " the country contains abundance of riches,
spices, lignum aloes, sappran wood, and various kinds of
drugs," we know he is relating true facts which have been
given to him by his Chinese friends, who no doubt had
travelled in the same junk with him from China.
Odoric di Pordenone. — The next European visitor to Java
was Odoric di Pordenone in Friuli, a Minorite friar of the
Order of St. Francis. He was born in 1281, and is supposed
to have begun his travels in 1318, returning to Europe about
* He was there from September to April.
J. — VOL. I. L
146 JAVA
1330 and dying the year following. He visited Constanti-
nople, thence overland to the Persian Gulf and Madras. He
tells us he left Madras by sea and in fifty days reached
Sumatra, " in which I begin to lose sight of the North Star
as the earth intercepted it, and in that country the heat is
so excessive that all the folk there, both men and women, go
naked, not clothing themselves in anywise." He described
the natives here as "an evil and pestilent generation,"
who had no formal marriage and among whom " all women
were common property." Odoric passed down Sumatra,
visiting " Eesengo " or " Eejang," where the famous gold
mines are.
From Sumatra he crossed over to Java, a country which
was ruled by a king who had seven other monarchs tributary
to him. He evidently visited Majapahit, for he was greatly
struck by its riches and by the magnificence of the palace in
which its sovereign had his dwelling. He observes that
Java is the second best island in the world, Sumatra appa-
rently being the best ; otherwise when he recounted later
his visit to a land which " produced sago, honey, toddy, and
a deadly vegetable poison, which was used to smear the
blowpipe darts of the natives, who were nearly all rovers,"
he would undoubtedly have held that this island, which can
be no other than Borneo, was the best.
Nicolo Conti. — For over a century after this no further
account is given us of any European travellers finding their
way to Java, or writing upon it, until we come to a noble
Venetian of the name of Nicolo Conti, who travelled in India
and the East between 1419 and 1444. He eventually
reached Pegu, whence he crossed to Java. He says that : —
" In Further India are two islands towards the extreme
confines of the world, both of which are called Java, . . .
distinguished by the names of the Greater and Less " — the
Java Major and Java Minor of other travellers, usually
identified with Java and Bah, but by some with Sumatra
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 147
and Java. Conti would seem to be describing Java and
Sumbawa. He remained in Java nine months. After
fifteen days' sail beyond these islands eastward, two others,
he says, are found, " the one called Sandai (Ceram), in
which nutmegs and mace grow, and the other is named
Bandan (Banda). This is the only island in which cloves
grow, which are exported hence to the Java islands."
Ludovico di Vartheyna. — A Bolognese named Ludovico de
Varthema, whose travels have been edited by the Kev. W.
George Percy Badger for the Hakluyt Society, travelled in
India and the Eastern Seas from 1503 to 1508, and touched
Java about 1505. He was accompanied by a Persian and
visited the island of Bandan (Banda), " where the nutmegs
and mace grow," and then " the island of Bornei (Borneo),"
whence they " crossed over to Giava (Java)."
Meantime, however, Marco Polo had arrived home and
the accounts of his travels had got abroad ; but instead of
being lauded as a hero he was considered an astonishing
prevaricator of the truth, who had little regard for the
wisdom of the people, when he expected them to believe
him and his fantastic tales.
The King of Portugal, however, whose mind had early
been attracted " by the treasures of the Arabs " and of
" rich India," began to think that there was truth in the
reports that were being circulated, and called his chief
navigators together in order that he might interrogate them
upon the matter. He eventually ordered that sailing
voyages be taken down the coast of Africa. Cape Nun or
Non, i.e., " no further," was the Hmit of the West Coast of
Africa as then known to Europe. Cape Bojador was later
on reached, so named from its great compass (it stretches
out forty leagues into the Atlantic). Here were met those
strong currents running past it that had apparently been
the real barrier to the circumnavigation of Africa by the
Phoenicians and the Carthaginians from the west, as those
L 2
148 JAVA
that after the voyage of Da Gama, still to be related, gave
their name to Cape Corrientes, north of Delagoa Bay, had
prevented the Arabs from circumnavigating the continent
from the east.
Before this, however, the Norman navigators of Dieppe are
reported to have secretly visited the West Coast of Africa
south of Cape Nun and to have established factories there,
whence they imported articles of African produce, including
ivory, for the manufacture of the carved trinkets for which
Dieppe has ever since been known ; and in 1402 the Sieur
de Bethen Court, a native of Grainville la Teinturiere, in
the Pays de Caux, settled a French colony in the Canaries
(so called because they abounded with wild dogs), the dis-
covery of which is also claimed by the Spaniards, who
became masters of the islands in 1483.^ It is not unhkely,
however, that they were originally discovered by the
Phoenicians, and have always been identified with the half-
fabulous Insulce Fortunatce of classical geography.
In 1411 Madeira was discovered (so called from its woods),
and was then found to have been previously visited about
the year 1344 by a j^oung Englishman named Eobert
Machin, who ran away to sea with " fair Anne of Dorset "
(really a Frenchwoman, Anne d'Arfet), and was fortui-
tously cast with his young wife on this island, where
their romantic grave gives its name to the province of
Machico.'^
The Azores (so called from the goshawks abounding on
them) were discovered in 1448.
The following year the Cape Verde (Green) Islands were
discovered.
Sierra Leone (so called from the nightly roaring on the
mountains ranging along it) was reached in 1463, and in
1 The " canary bird " was first brought to England about this date.
^ For all this see " Report on Old Records of the India Office," by Sir
George Birdwood.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 149
1484 Don Diego Cam made his renowned discovery of the
Congo kingdom.
Two years later the King of Portugal, John 11./ employed
Bartholomew Diaz and sent him off with instructions to try
and find some particulars of the East Indies. The journey
was a terrible one, the ship being small with only a very
diminutive victualling bark for company, which on their
sighting the Cape was lost owing to the bad weather. This
led the crew of his own vessel to mutiny. Captain Diaz
managed, however, to pacify them at last with the assurance
that they could put into land and refresh as soon as possible.
Bartholomew Diaz put in at the Cape of Good Hope, and
called it " Caho Tormentoso " (Cape of Storms). " No,"
said the King of Portugal on his return to Lisbon, " Cabo
de la Buena Esperanza " — that is, rather, the " Cape of
Good Hope " for finding India.^
Next of all Don Vasco da Gama, " a man of quality," we
are told, who possessed all the talents necessary for such an
employment, was given instructions to take command of the
new squadron fitted out for a journey to the East. He
embarked on Saturday, the 8th July, 1497, and sailed down
the Tagus.
His flagship was the Angel Gabriel, a vessel of 120 tons
burden, and he was accompanied by the Saint Raphael, the
Pilot, and a storeship. Vasco da Gama was commissioned
Admiral and General, his brother Paul and his friend
Nicholas Coello being appointed to commands under him.
About four miles from Lisbon, on the sea-shore, stands
the sanctuary of Belem {i.e., Bethlehem), built originally by
" The Navigator " for the resort of sailors. Thither the
night before his departure Da Gama conducted the com-
1 A new king ; the previous one, called " The Navigator," had died in
1460.
'^ On the 12th October, 1492, Columbus, seeking to discover India, found
America.
150 JAVA
panions of his expedition to pray for its success, and there
they spent the whole night in heartfelt supplication that
their journey might be successful and their ends attained,
a prayer which was most certainly answered.^ The follow-
ing day, when the adventurers marched once more into
their ships, the whole population of Lisbon turned out on
to the beach, headed by an unending procession of priests
in long robes, bearing banners and singing anthems, the
whole crowd singing with them ; and when Da Gama spread
his sails to the wind, not knowing to what fate they might
bear him, the vast multitudes remained motionless and
silent by the sea, until he with his whole fleet had passed
out of sight.
This was a great day in the history of the Portuguese
nation.
On the 20th November following, at noon, he doubled
the Cape of Good Hope, and steering northward, sailed
along the beautiful and richly- wooded coast so accurately
described by Camoens.
On Thursday, the 17th May, 1498, the Malabar coast was
sighted, and on Sunday, the 20th, they cast anchor before
the city of Calicut. Here he was warmly welcomed by a
Moor there, who spoke the Portuguese tongue, and with
the permission of the zamorin at once established a factory
under the superintendence of Diego Diaz, the brother of the
first discoverer of the Cape of Good Hope. After some
trouble with the Moors, who as soon as they found out the
quest of the Portuguese gave them all the trouble they
could. Da Gama set sail on his return voyage on the 5th
October, carrying a letter with him from the zamorin to the
King of Portugal. This letter read as follows : "In my
kingdom there is abundance of cinnamon, cloves, ginger,
pepper, and precious stones in great quantities. What I
seek from thy country is gold, silver, coral, and scarlet."
> " Report on the Old Records of the India Office," by Sir G. Birdwood.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 151
He returned by way of the East Coast of Africa, by which
time his crew had so diminished that he was obhged to bm^n
one of his consorts, the Saint Raphael, commanded by his
brother Paul Gama, taking the men on board his own ship.
On the 1st February, 1499, the Mozambique Channel was
reached, and on the 20th March he again doubled the Cape,
Avhence he proceeded to the Azores, arriving at last in the
month of September at Lisbon, having lost by sickness more
than one hundred men, amongst them his brother.
He was received by the king and his court with every
possible favour, being created Count de Vidiguera with the
arms of Portugal, and given '* rich and lucrative appoint-
ments."
Vasco da Gama was a man in truth, as w^as borne witness
to by his men and officers who remained faithful to him ;
and these he did not now^ forget, as many w^ould have done,
but showered gifts on them down to the last man.
When the Portuguese, rounding the Cape of Good Hope,
burst into the Indian Ocean '* like a pack of hungry wolves
upon a well-stocked sheep-walk," they found a peaceful and
prosperous commerce that had been elaborated during three
thousand years by the Phoenicians and Arabs and was being
carried on along all its shores. The great centres of this
trade were then at Calicut, Ormuz, Aden, and Malacca.
Here were collected the cloves, nutmegs, mace, and ebony
of the Moluccas, the sandal- wood of Timor, the costly
camphor of Borneo, the benzoin of Sumatra and Java, the
aloes-wood of Cochin China, the perfumes, gums, and silks
of China, Japan, and Siam, the rubies of Pegu, the fine
fabrics of Coromandel, the richer stuffs of Bengal, the
pearls of Ceylon, the ginger of Malabar, the musk of Tibet,
the civet and ivory of Zanzibar, and the balsam of Berbera,
and so forth.^
The King of Portugal soon saw that it was of vital
" Report on the Old Records of the India Office," by Sir G. Birdwood.
152 JAVA
importance for his country to possess the great Arab
centres in the Indian Ocean, and the difficulties which
presented themselves to Da Gama on his first voyage led
the king to send out a second fleet of great strength con-
sisting of thirteen ships, with 1,200 soldiers on board.
This squadron sailed in March, 1500, under the command
of Don Pedro Alverez da Cabral. The sum of his instruc-
tions appears to have been " Preach first, but if this does not
prove successful, use the sword." Cabral touched Sofala,
Mozambique, Quiloa, and Melinda, arriving at Calicut in
September. Here he quarrelled with the zamorin, who
burnt the Portuguese factory by way of revenge and
massacred fifty people in it. Cabral hereupon pillaged the
town and then sailed for Cochin, where he built a new
factory and made an advantageous treaty with the prince.
On his return voyage he visited Melinda, Mozambique,
and Sofala, compelhng the chiefs to become tributary to
Portugal.
One of his vessels, commanded by Peter Diaz, discovered
the port of Magadoxa, south of Cape Guardafui.
Cabral returned with his fleet to Portugal in 1501 and was
received by the king with much pomp and ceremony. The
king (now King Emanuel) was convinced by him that it
would be only possible to secure the splendid fortune that
had fallen to him in the East by a great show of power and
overwhelming force.
Meantime, however, in March, 1501, before Cabral's
return, four ships sailed from Lisbon under Juan Nova,
who on Lady Day discovered the island he called Con-
ception.^ He then visited Cochin and Cananore, from
whence he sailed to Calicut, where he sank the fleet the
zamorin had prepared to attack the Portuguese when they
next came.
' It first received the name of Ascension from Albuquerque when
rediscovered by him on the 20th May, 1503.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 153
On the return voyage Nova chanced on St. Helena's day
to discover the island of St. Helena, which on account of its
excellent supply of water proved during the days of the
sailing ships of such advantage to all engaged in the India
trade.
The great Vasco da Gama was now requested to sail to
India for the second time, and a fleet of twenty ships was
placed under his command, and he obtained from the Pope
Alexander VI. the bull which conferred on him the title of
*' Lord of the Navigation, Conquests and Trade of Ethiopia,
Arabia, Persia and India."
Factories were estabhshed at Sofala and Mozambique
and an alliance formed with the Kings of Cananore and
Cochin against the Zamorin of Calicut. He bombarded
Calicut and severely damaged the town and the zamorin's
palace, and after having plundered all the Arab ships in the
roads returned to Portugal in December, 1503. Shortly
after this, in the same year, a fleet of three ships under
Alfonso de Albuquerque, a fleet of three ships under Fran-
cisco de Albuquerque, and a fleet of three ships under
Antony de Saldanha (who was the first Portuguese to visit
SaldanhaBay in 1503) were specially commissioned to block
the Eed Sea against the overland India trade through
Egypt. One of the heutenants of this squadron, Ruy
Lorenzo, discovered the island of Zanzibar, and, with
Mombas and Brava, made it tributary to Portugal in 1503.
Francisco de Albuquerque on reaching Cochin found the
king besieged by the Zamorin of Calicut, who had made war
on him for entering into an alliance with the Portuguese.
The zamorin was soon compelled to sue for terms, and gave
the Portuguese permission to build a fort at Calicut. Fran-
cisco de Albuquerque, after establishing a fort at Quila and
another at St. Thome and leaving a small force for the
protection of the allies of Portugal in India, sailed for
Portugal, but neither he nor his ships were ever heard of
154 JAVA
again. One of the ships under him also discovered on the
outward voyage the Curia Muria islands and the island of
Socotra, rediscovered in 1504-5 by Diego Fernandez
Pereyra.
The Portuguese discovered the island afterwards known
as Mauritius in 1505.
In this year the King of Portugal sent out another fili-
bustering fleet — the largest that had so far been sent, con-
sisting of twenty-two ships and 15,000 men — under the
command of Francisco de Almeyda, the first Portuguese
Governor and Viceroy of India. He built a large fort at
Cananore.
The following year another fleet of sixteen ships under
Tristan da Cunha, who was the discoverer of the island of
that name and of Madagascar, was sent to India, and this
was immediately followed by another six ships, again under
Alfonso de Albuquerque.
Ceylon was discovered, it is said by accident, in 1507 by
a son of the first Viceroy of India, who was apparently
sailing upon the ocean looking for pirates (or prizes).
Muscat was next rendered tributary and Ormuz taken.
First Portuguese Visit to Sumatra. — Alfonso de Albu-
querque now decided to extend the power and dominion of
the Portuguese still further eastward, and sent Diogo Lopez
de Sequeira in command of a fleet of five ships to Sumatra^
and Malacca, a town of which he had heard much.
Malacca. — Some hold that from the time of the Phoeni-
cians Malacca, or some centre near it, was an emporium for
the spices, tin, and other products of the East Indian
Archipelago. At the moment the Portuguese arrived it
was a thriving and populous town, doing a large trade with
all the neighbouring countries. It was, in short, the key
of the navigation and the emporium of the whole of the
trade of the East Indian Archipelago, Siam, the Phihppines,
^ Visited for the first time in 1608.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 155
the China Seas, and Japan. The Arabs from Arabia, Persia,
and India gathered here ; but they had not the monopoly
by any means, for Hindus, Pegunese, Siamese, and Chinese
were also doing a considerable trade here. The Arabs had
settled in Malacca in specially large numbers ; but still
greater was the number of Javan merchants to be found
there, a fact which is noteworthy. No section of the com-
munity of Malacca was richer and held more powder than the
Javans.
The town when the Portuguese arrived stretched along
the sea-shore, being divided in two by a small river. Here
were a mosque and the houses of the different merchants,
who hved together in separate divisions. The two parts
of the town were joined by a wooden bridge.
At both ends of the town were to be found the principal
quarters of the Javans. In the east the merchants from
Tuban, Japara, Soenda Kalapa or Jacatra lived together,
in the west those from Palembang. The head of the Javan
people was Rajah Uti Muti, which is evidently a mutilated
name. He was an old man about 80 years of age.
When Diogo Lopez arrived with his five ships at Malacca
he visited the Rajah Uti Muti, who received them with fear
and doubt. The Portuguese appear to have behaved at
Malacca as they did in most places they visited, and their
actions, besides being treasonable, were apparently highly
repugnant to the Javans. It was not long, therefore, before
trouble arose with this proud and highly-bred race, which
nearly ended in Diogo Lopez being killed.
When this reached the ears of Albuquerque he decided to
proceed to Malacca himself to punish the rajah for his
treatment of his countrymen. As is well known, Albu-
querque was a brave, intrepid, and daring navigator, with
not a particle of fear, and he fully made up his mind that,
cost what number of lives it might, Malacca should belong
to Portugal. So shortly after attacking and capturing Goa
156 JAVA
on the 17th February, 1510, he sailed for Malacca. He
arrived here on the 24th July, 1510, with a strong fleet of
nineteen ships, and at once visited the rajah, who, seeing
the force against him, decided, partly no doubt from fear,
but also because of an enmity against the Sultan of Malacca,
to join hands secretly with the Portuguese and seize the
town, and agreed to hold six hundred Javans at their
disposal.
The sultan received Albuquerque fairly well, and after
some persuasion gave him a piece of ground of a size " suffi-
cient to be covered by one buffalo hide only." The hide,
however, the wily Albuquerque cut into thin strips, measur-
ing out therewith four sides, within which the Portuguese,
who had brought ashore spades, bricks and mortar, built
a storehouse of very considerable dimensions, leaving large
square openings in the walls for the guns. When the king
caused an inquiry to be made as to why these had been left,
the Portuguese returned him for answer that these openings
were needed by white men for windows, with which reply
he was content. After this the Portuguese landed, in the
night, cannon, small arms and ammunition, packed in cases,
saying their contents were piece goods. Several months
afterwards the forts were complete, and by way of apprising
the natives of the fact several houses were fired on and
destroyed.
The present town of Malaka, so called from the fruit-
bearing tree myraholanum, which grew in abundance on
the hill behind the town, which gives a natural strength to
the situation, was founded in 1252, when the King of
Majapahit ^ attacked the town of Singapura.
After the fort was built the Portuguese became more and
more aggressive and arrogant towards the natives. The
sultan saw too late the mistake he had made in his policy,
' Or the King of Japara. Centuries before tliis it is said there had been
a settlement here.
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. (tHE FIRST ENGLISHMAN TO VISIT JAVA.)
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 157
and endeavoured to get rid of them, but finding this im-
possible, he fled, and the town fell into the hands of the
Portuguese.
For his assistance the rajah was made shaJihander, or
post officer, by Albuquerque, a none too high reward, seeing
that without the help of the powerful Javan party the
Portuguese would have been driven into the sea.
It was not long, however, before Albuquerque found
reason to fall out with the rajah also. He disliked the
power that he held and mistrusted him, which distrust was
not lessened when agents of the rajah accused him of being
in league w^ith the son of the sultan. The rajah, his son,
his son-in-law, and a nephew w^ere therefore seized and
imprisoned. Finally they w^ere tried and punished by death,
on the same piece of ground where Sequeira nearl}^ paid the
last penalty for his aggressiveness. The wife of Eajah Uti
Muti endeavoured with a huge sum of money, and the
promise to leave Malacca at once and proceed to Java, to
procure the release of her aged husband and son, but the
Portuguese would not hear of it. After this Albuquerque
sailed for Sumatra on the 24th July, 1511, and then returned
to Europe. In the place of Uti Muti another Javan of
importance and wealth called Pati Katir was appointed
to be shaJihander, but being later bribed by a sum of money
and the present of one of her daughters by the wife of Uti
Muti, who A\'ished for revenge, he gave the Portuguese no
end of trouble. At last, however, he had to flee. This
happened just at the beginning of 1513.
First Portuguese Visit to Java, 1511. — Meantime another
of Albuquerque's lieutenants, Antonio de Abreu, had been
sent to visit Java, and calls were made at Gresik, which was
full of Chinese traders, Tuban, Amboyna, and Banda, where
the spices were found.
In 1522, Bantam. — In the next voyage wliich Albuquerque
ordered him to make De Abreu visited Bantam, wliich was
158 JAVA
then under the rule of a Hindu prince. This prince was
already beginning to feel the pressure from the Mahometans
sent to visit his kingdom and to proselytise his people by
the Sultan of Cheribon. He saw, therefore, the opportunity
of freeing himself from an objectionable thraldom and
possible loss of his kingdom, and he therefore departed from
his usual mode of procedure and seclusion by openly
welcoming the Portuguese strangers, agreeing to allow them
to trade and offering them a site whereon to build a fortress,
" banqueting them in a royal fashion." The Portuguese
accepted all this, and promised to return again and make
use of the king's friendhness. The king hearing this, and
fearing that they were not satisfied, offered them as a
further mark of his attention and desire for their friendship
one thousand bags of pepper annually from the day on which
the building of the fort was begun.
Later on Francisco de Sa was despatched to Java with
six vessels as a result of the King of Bantam's friendhness.
Joao de Barros in his " Decades " gives the following
description of Java^. at this time : —
" The city, which is in the middle of the opening of the
Straits of Sunda, stands in the centre of a large bay, which
from point to point may be about three leagues wide, the
bottom good, and the depth of water from two to six
fathoms. A river, of sufficient depth for junks and galleys,
falls into this bay, and divides the town into two parts.
On one side of the town is a fort, built of sun-dried bricks ;
the walls are about seven palms thick, the bulwarks of
wood, well furnished with artillery."
Java was then said to have six good seaports — " ChiamOy
at the extremity of the island, Chacatara (Jacatra), Tan-
garam, Cheginde, Fandang, and Bintan (Bantam) — which
have a great traffic on account of the trade carried on, not
only with Java, but with Malacca and Sumatra. The
1 Bantam, althougli it reads more like an account of old Majapahit.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 159
principal city of this kingdom is Daro, situated a little
towards the interior, and we are assured this town had
150,000 inhabitants, and that the kingdom had upwards of
100,000 fighting men. The soil is very rich ; an inferior
gold of six carats is found. There is abundance of butcher's
meat, game and provisions, and tamarinds, which serve the
natives for vinegar. The inhabitants are not very warlike,
much addicted to their idolatries, and hate the Mahometans.
The Javans,^ however, are proud, brave and treacherous,
and so vindictive that for any slight offence (and they
consider it most unpardonable, the touching of their fore-
head with your hand) they declare amok to revenge it.
They navigate much to every part of the Eastern Archi-
pelago, and say formerly they used to navigate the ocean
as far as the island of Madagascar.^ At Daro four or five
thousand slaves may be purchased, on account of the
numerous population and its being lawful for the father to
sell the children. The women are handsome and those of
the nobles chaste, which is not the case with those of
the lower classes. There are monasteries or convents for
the women, into which the nobles put their daughters when
they cannot match them in marriage according to their
wishes. The married women when their husbands die as a
point of honour die with them, and if they should be afraid
of death they are put into the convents. The kingdom
descends from father to son, and not from uncle to nephew
(son of the sister), as among the Malabars and other infidels
in India. They are fond of rich arms ornamented with
gold and inlaid work. Their knives are gilt, and also the
points of their lances ; many other particulars might be
added concerning the productions of this island, in which
thirty thousand quintals of pepper are collected annually."
1 Javans are always spoken of apart, having Hindu blood in them, while
the other inhabitants are the Malay and Sunda race.
2 This is quite true.
160 JAVA
Francisco de Sa was, as already related, despatched to
Bantam with six vessels from Portugal by the king as soon as
accounts reached him of the success of the first mission there.
These vessels on their way out called at Malacca, but on
leaving this port they were overtaken by a storm, and but
one of his vessels, that commanded by Dironte Coelho,
reached the port of Calapa,^ where she was driven on shore,
all the crew perishing at the hands of the Arabs, who were
then masters of the country around, they having a short
time before taken the town from the native (Hindu) king
who had concluded the treaty with the King of Portugal
and given him the site on which to erect the fortress.
Antonio de Britto was now sent off to the Moluccas,
where he spent several years roving about.
In August, 1526, on his return from Ternati to Malacca,
he " touched at the port of Paneruca " (Panaroekan), where
he found a countryman of his, Joao de Moreno, who had
twenty Malay junks under his command. From here he
proceeded to a town in the neighbourhood ^ and seized a
junk full of cloves.
The Portuguese were now beginning to understand the
geography of the East Indies, and sent full accounts home
to their king. Don Joao studied all these accounts and
particulars for some time, and finally, being a far-seeing
man, came to the conclusion that for the Portuguese to be
masters of the situation and commanders of the Straits of
Sunda and all the pepper of those kingdoms a strong
fortress must be immediately built at Bantam ; further,
that if the Portuguese possessed three fortresses, one on
Acheen Head, one on the coast of Pegu, and one at Bantam,
the navigation of the East could be controlled and in a
manner locked by these keys. The King of Portugal would
1 This is another name for a point in the Bantam district.
2 Probably Yortan (Bangil) or Surabaya.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 161
then be lord of all its riches, and " the Enghsh and the
Turks (Arabs) could be kept from trading here."
The idea was good, but with the wild characters, partly
the riff-raff, of the Portuguese nation who were now going
to the East the quality of the colonists became a matter of
much greater importance than was imagined, for nothing
could be done, or any security assured to the new colonists,
without the assistance of the natives of these countries.
The priests of the Portuguese religion, who were landed
everywhere to preach the Gospel, certainly at first won the
hearts of the people, always • greedy for novelties, by their
meek and lowly manner, and by the example of their
modest and at first virtuous life ; their charitableness and
disinterested assistance moreover to the sick and the poor,
as also the pomp and majesty of their divine service, the
paraphernalia for which they always carried about with
them, enchanted the Oriental races, and the natives of these
countries, hearing the wonders which the foreigners carried
with them, welcomed their merchants everywhere. It did
not take long, however, before their eyes were opened, and
they found the strangers were wolves in disguise and the
very incarnation of the devil. The spiritual fathers were
moreover, as time went on, an utter disappointment to
them, and they discovered that they did not aim only at
the salvation of their souls, but had an eye to their money,
whilst the traders disposed of the goods (frequently seized
without any payment) in a most usurious and unscrupulous
manner. The priests, moreover, became more puffed up
by their successes, and found it beneath their dignity to
walk on foot any, longer. The day had passed for that, and
palanquins embellished with gold now became the style.
In fact the natives everywhere were so heartily sick and
disgusted with the Portuguese that they were ready to
welcome any other race that should come along, if only it
would turn these wretched degenerates out. For the next
J. — VOL. I. M
162 JAVA
forty-five years the Portuguese were the masters of the
East, and this was the period of their greatest renown.
From Firando/ in Japan, to the Red Sea, from India to the
Cape of Good Hope, they were the sole and absolute lords
and dispensers of the riches and treasures of the East, and
their positions along West Africa and in Brazil completed
their world power. What the Phoenicians had been the
Portuguese were now, and more. But the power built up
with a poor foundation soon began to decay.
A lack of commercial knowledge, a want of military and
political resource, a scarcity of really good men, and an
entire want of tact in colonising foreign countries belonging
to Oriental races whom they drove to desperation by their
cruelties were bound to tell. One has only to read the
accounts of the expeditions of Da Gama, Menezes, Suarez,
Sequeira, and the other viceroys to perceive that with rulers
as cruel as these no nation could succeed ; for if the viceroys
were like this towards the natives, what was to be expected
from the common, ignorant men who had been nothing in
their own country ?
The Portuguese therefore lost all the advantages gained
by their splendid maritime discoveries wholly through
their own fault, and that they were ousted by the more
humane, conciliatory, level-headed, well-balanced and in-
telligent Dutchmen, a nation of born colonists, is a thing
for which all Christians must for ever be thankful. The
period of the highest development of the Portuguese com-
merce was probably from 1590 to 1610, just before their
overthrow by the Dutch, when their political administration
in the East was at its lowest depth of degradation. At this
period a single fleet of Portuguese merchantmen sailing
from Goa to Cambay or Surat would number as many as
one hundred and fifty or two hundred and fifty vessels.
To-day only one ship sails yearly from Lisbon to Goa, so
' Nagasaki.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 163
low has fallen a people who once commanded the whole
commerce of the Eastern world. The Portuguese empire
in the East Indies from its beginnings in 1511, when Albu-
querque established himself at Malacca, to the final extinc-
tion of their power in 1641, when they were thoroughly
routed by the Dutch and Malacca fell, had always rested on
rather an unsubstantial foundation, and was only main-
tained by a ready sword. Although trading in Sumatra
and Java, they do not even appear to have had factories
here, unless they had one at Bantam or old Jacatra for a
short period.^
In 1527 an Englishman of the name of Robert Thorne,
a merchant from London, happened to settle in Seville, and
whilst here heard all about the discoveries in the East. He
immediately made known his ideas to King Henry VIII.,
who listened to his accounts with much attention, but
nothing was done for fifty years.
First Efiglish Expedition to the East Indies. — In 1577
Francis Drake made his memorable voyage round the world
with the following squadron : —
The Golden Hind, of 100 tons (Francis Drake, Captain-
General) ; the Elizabeth, of 80 tons (Captain John Winter) ;
the Marigold, of 30 tons (Captain John Thomas) ; the Swan,
of 50 tons (Captain John Chester) ; the Christopher, of
15 tons (Captain Thomas Moon).
These ships were manned with 164 men and plentifully
furnished with provisions. A great deal of knowledge of
1 The Portuguese at one time possessed the following places in the Far
East : — In Ceylon : Point de Galle, Colombo, Jafnapatam, Manar. East
Indies : Malacca, Pegu, Martaban, Junkceylon, Qiieddah, Mindanao, the
Moluccas, the Banda Islands, Macassar (where they built a fort), Timor
(where they built a fort). Bantam. China : Macao, Formosa (on which
they built five forts, one at Keelung, one at Hobo, two at Tauvanfoo, one
at Takow). Japan : Firando (an island outside Nagasaki). All these
possessions were held in subordination to the supreme Government at Goa,
where the viceroy presided over the civil and military and an archbishop
over the ecclesiastical affairs of the whole of Portuguese Asia.
M 2
164 JAVA
the East, which had to a great extent been a sealed book
to the EngHsh up to the present, was now obtained, and this
was to be further amphfied by the return shortly afterwards
in 1579 of Thomas Stephens, a Britisher, from Goa, where
he had resided for some time.^
Of the Moluccas Captain Drake did not relate much in
his log-book beyond that he was well received and en-
couraged to remain, as the Kings of Tidore and Ternate
were disgusted with the Portuguese. Here he took in
three tons of cloves, and the King of Ternate agreed to
supply the English with all the cloves the island produced.
Of Bantam, however, we are given rather a full account : —
" On leaving the Moluccas we sailed for Java, where we met
with a courteous and honourable entertainment. The island is
governed by five kings, who Uve in perfect good understanding
with each other. The Javans are a stout and warlike people,
go well armed with swords, targets and daggers, all of their own
manufacture, which is very curious both as to the fashion and
temper of the metal. They wear Turkish turbans on their heads ;
the upper part of their body is naked, but from the waist down-
wards they have a pintado of silk trailing on the ground, of that
colour which pleases them best. They manage their women quite
after another rate than the Moluccans do, for these latter will
hardly let a stranger see them, whereas the former are so far from
that nicety that they will very civilly offer a traveller a bedfellow.
And as they are thus civil and hospitable to strangers, so they
are pleasant and sociable amongst themselves, for in every
village they have a public -house, where they will meet and bring
1 Thomas Stephens was educated at New College, Oxford, and went to
Goa in 1579, where he was rector of the Jesuits' College in Salsette. Hie
letters to his father are said to have roused great enthusiasm in England to
trade directly with India. In 1583 three English merchants — Ralph Fitch,
James Newberry, and Leedes — ^went out to India overland as private
merchant adventurers. The jealous Portuguese threw them into prison at
Demuz, and again at Goa. Later on, however, Newberry settled down at
Goa as a shopkeeper, and Leedes entered the service of the Great Mogul,
whilst Fitch, after lengthy and protracted journeys in Ceylon, Bengal, Pegu,
Siam, Malacca, and other places in the East Indies, returned to England
through Persia.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 165
their several shares of provisions, joining all their forces together
in one great feast for the keeping up of good fellowship amongst
the king's subjects. They have a way peculiar to themselves
of boiling rice : they put it in an earthern pot, which is of a conical
figure, open at the greater end, and perforated all over. In the
meantime they provide another earthern pot full of boiling water,
into which they put this perforated vessel with the rice, which
swelling and filling the holes of the pot, but a small quantity of
water can enter. By this sort of boiling the rice is brought to
a very firm consistency, and at last is caked into a sort of bread,
of which with butter, oil, sugar and spices they make several
very pleasant kinds of food."
The journey across the Indian Ocean was in May and
June, and when they arrived at the Cape, Drake says in his
log-book that they found with pleasure " how the Portuguese
had abused the world in their false representations of the
horrors and dangers of it."
In the circumnavigation of the globe he had spent two
years and eleven months, leaving Plymouth on the 5th
November, 1577, and returning on the 26th September,
1580. On his return he was knighted, and Queen Elizabeth
visited his ship at Deptford, where the shore was densely
crowded with people anxiously waiting to see it. The
Queen was received with befitting honours and sump-
tuously entertained by the new knight on his hundred-ton
vessel.
Drake was thus the first Englishman to open intercourse
between England and the East Indies, as well as the first
Englishman to circumnavigate the globe.
Second English Expedition to the East Indies. — After this
it was the constant policy of the Queen to encourage as far
as possible the flame of public spirit in men of family and
wealth. Among these was Thomas Cavendish (or Candish as
he sometimes styled himself), of Tremley in Suffolk, esquire,
a gentleman of honourable family and large estate (this
latter lying in the neighbourhood of Ipswich, a place then
166 JAVA
doing a large trade). He received an early inclination to
go to sea, and decided as he came of age to convert part of
his lands into money and go out to see the world. He
equipped a stout bark called the Tiger, of 120 tons burden,
in which he accompanied Sir Eichard Greenville in his
voyage to Virginia in 1585. This voyage gave him an
insight into some of the difficulties and dangers of the sea,
but instead of damping his ardour it only increased it, and
as soon as he returned he decided to fit out a squadron to
voyage round the world, and whilst this was getting ready
gained all the information he possibly could from men who
had travelled with Drake.
He sailed on the 10th July, 1586, from Plymouth, his
squadron consisting of the Desire (140 tons), the Content
(60 tons), and the Hugh Gallant (40 tons), all supplied at
his own expense with provisions for two years, and manned
with officers and men, many of whom had served under
Drake in his famous voyage and so w^ere men with experi-
ence. After a long and eventful voyage they found them-
selves at last in the Straits of Bantam on the 1st March,
1587. At first no one on shore w^ould communicate with
them. After they had been here eleven days, nine or ten
of the king's canoes laden with oxen, hogs, hens, geese, eggs,
sugar, cocoanuts, plantains, oranges, lemons, wine and
aqua vitae went out to them, and two Portuguese came on
board, who gave them a full account of the people and their
customs.^
The king, they learnt, was a very great man, with one
hundred wives, and all stood in awe of him. Having paid
for these victuals and presenting the king with " three
great pieces of ordnance " for his courtesy. Cavendish
departed, arriving at Plymouth, in England, in the same
quiet way in which he departed, on the 9th September,
1588.
1 The account is given later in the chapter " Travellers' Tales."
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 167
Almost immediately the Spanish Government, through
their ambassador, apparently a crafty fellow, complained
to Queen Elizabeth that reports had reached them of Drake
and Cavendish having infringed their " divine rights " by
sailing round the globe. Ehzabeth haughtily replied that
what it was lawful to Spaniards to do it was lawful also to
Enghshmen, " since the sea and air are common to all men."
Thereupon the Spaniards launched against England the
" Invincible Armada."
This Armada was met by the British fleet mider Sir
Francis Drake, Lord Howard of Effingham, Lord Thomas
Howard, Sir John Hawkins, and Sir Martin Frobisher, with
what result every schoolboy knows.
They were scattered in all directions. Never was there
such a thorough downfall, and its effects were far-reaching.
Cavendish was in due course knighted when his report
reached the Queen.
At the " White Hart " inn, Ptymouth, a collection of
burghers, yeomen, fisherfolk, and mariners were drinking
and chatting over their ale, jubilant still about the destruc-
tion of the Spanish Armada, which gave food for talk for
many years, when in came a man, gaunt and weather-
beaten, and ordered ale of "mine host" in tones louder
than had ever before been heard there. He then demanded,
in still louder tones, pen, ink and paper, and, ensconcing
himself in a corner, wrote the following despatch to Lord
Huns don, the Lord Chamberlain : —
" To THE Right Honourable the Lord Hunsdon, etc.
" Right Honourable, — As your favour heretofore hath been
most greatly extended toward me, so I humbly desire a continu-
ance thereof, and though there be no means in me to deserve the
same, yet the uttermost of my services shall not be wanting
whensoever it shall please your Honour to dispose thereof. I am
humbly to desire your Honour to make known unto Her Majesty
the desire I have had to do Her Majesty ser\'ice in the perform-
ance of this voyage, and as it hath pleased God to give her the
168 JAVA
victory over part of her enemies, so I trust ere long to see her
overthrow them all. For the places of their wealth, whereby
they have maintained and made their wars, are now perfectly
discovered, and if it please Her Majesty, with a very small power
she may take the spoil of them all. It hath pleased the Almighty
to suffer me to circumpass all the whole globe of the world, entering
in at the Streight of Magellan and returning by Ye Cap de Buena
Esperanca, in which voyage I have either discovered, or brought
certain intelligence of all the rich places of the world, that ever
were known or discovered by any Christian. I navigated all
along ye coast of Chile, Peru, Nuevo Espana, where I made great
spoils. I burnt and smik nineteen sail of ships, small and great.
All the towns and villages I ever landed at I burned and spoiled,
and had I not been discovered on ye coast I had taken great
quantity of treasure. The matter of most profit unto me, was
a great ship of the king's which I took at California, which ship
came from ye Phihppines being one of the richest for merchandise
that ever passed those seas, as the king's register, accounts,
merchants did show. From ye Cape of California, I navigated
to ye islands of Ye Philippines, the riches and stateliness of which
country I fear to make report of, lest it be not credited. I sailed
along ye islands of Maluccus, where among some of the heathen
people I was well intreated, where our countrymen may have
trade as freely as the Portugals, if they will themselves. From
thence I passed by Ye Cape of Buena Esperanca and found
out by the way homeward Ye Island of Saint Helena, and from
that Island God suffered me to return unto England. All of
which services with myself I humbly prostrate at Her Majesty's
feet, desiring the Almighty long to continue her reign among us,
for at this day she is the most famous and victorious Prince
that liveth in the world.
" Thus humbly demanding pardon for my tediousness I leave
your Lordship to the tuition of the Almighty.
" Your Honour's most humble to command,
" Thomas Candish.
" Plymouth this 9th of September, 1588."
This done, the wild-looking sailor demanded more ale
and " did quaff of same freely." Before long in the inn
and its portals, far into the street beyond, men were fighting
to hear this weather-beaten stranger, who had arrived in a
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 169
mere cockle-shell of a boat, relate stories that made their
mouths water, of the gold and riches of the Indies, China,
and the Spice Islands. "Why," asked he, "should ten
thousand Spanish and Portugal galleons go forth to the
Indies laden with Peruvian ingots and return full laden
with spices, silks, gold, silver, and jewels ? Why should
these papists get all and the people of the mightiest
sovereign in the world nothing? Let us set forth," said
he, "and clear Philip's ruthless and unscrupulous ruffians
from the Eastern Seas." The invincible navy was no more.
Now, now, was the time, he shouted.
To all ports and harbours in the kingdom his story
went forth, down the Thames from London Bridge to
Tilbury, from Plymouth to Portsmouth, and from there to
Harwich.
Owners of ships were now chafing under the threefold
barrier which a mean policy of rapacity on the part of
Philip II. of Spain had set up to obstruct the " traffick of
England with Eastern lands." Queen Elizabeth must be
petitioned to remove this.
Third English Expedition to the East Indies. — Meantime in
1591 certain merchant adventurers of London decided to
risk sending a squadron round the Cape to the East Indies,
and Captain George Raymond, who had voyaged with
Cavendish, was placed in command, the fleet consisting of
the Penelope, the Merchant Boyal, and the Edward Bon-
adventure.
The departure of these vessels created a lively commotion,
not only among the mercantile community of London, but
throughout five kingdoms. To the Spaniards and Portu-
guese, who were wildly angry, the business seemed one of
offensive effrontery. Evil was predicted from France, and
the Dutch thought the venture somewhat bold.
The voyage was unfortunate from the start. At the
Cape the Merchant Boyal was sent back full of sick men
170 JAVA
from the three ships, and in a storm after leaving the Cape
the Penelope, with Captain Kaymond on board, was lost ;
so that the only ship which reached the East was the
Edward Bonadventure, under Captain James Lancaster.
At Acheen a cargo of pepper was secured, and Lancaster
returned home, battling with pirates, scurvy, and hurri-
canes, and in a continual dread that he might meet any
*' Portugals." After passing the Cape the ship was swept
by tempestuous seas and carried right up to Labrador. At
last, after trials unknown, the ship, with gaping timbers and
more or less a dismantled wreck, finally reached Plymouth,
three years from the day she had left.
The Dutch, with their customary patience and their slow
but sure methods, w^hich are a characteristic of this fine and
noble nation, had been meantime slowly taking note of all
these voyages, and it came home to them that whilst perhaps
the Spanish could do what they could not, they themselves
could do as much as the English. If the English could make
voyages to the East Indies, so could their seamen, and they
were right. They first set about getting all the information
they could, and if possible securing the services of under-
seamen, or pilots, who had served Drake and Cavendish,
and the information obtained from these men was such that
by degrees the merchants of Amsterdam began to think an
Indian expedition practicable, and to be willing to run the
hazard of such an undertaking on account of the prospects
that opened of prodigious profits. After further mature
consideration a company was formed by Henry Hudden,
Beinier, Pauw, Peter Haffelaar, John Jans, Charles de Oude,
John Poppen, Henry Buyck, Dirck van Os, Syvert Peirersz
Seem and Arrenten Grootenhuise.
At the first meeting it was decided to despatch without
delay four vessels to the Indies by way of the Cape of Good
Hope, under the command of Cornelius Houtman, who had
just returned from Portugal, where at the risk of his life he
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 171
had been gleaning all the mformation he could about the
East.
First Dutch Expedition to the East Indies. — On the
2nd April, 1595, the shipping at the Texel was all decorated,
and to the sound of artillery and the cheering of the Dutch
folk four ships sailed out. The Mauritius was 400 tons
(John Molecate, master, with Cornelius Houtman as agent,
or supercargo, on board), and was armed with six large
brass cannon and fourteen small pieces and manned with a
crew of eighty-four ; the Hollandia was 400 tons (John
Digmums, master), had six large and fourteen small brass
carmon, and was mamied with a crew of eighty-four ; the
Amsterdam was 200 tons (Schiltinger, master), and armed
with six pieces of brass guns and ten other little ones, and
manned with a crew of fifty-nine ; the Dufke was a small
ship of 50 tons, armed with " two pieces of brass cannon
and six little cannons," and manned by a crew of twenty-
four. They were bound for the East Indies, and this fleet
was to lay the foundation of that matchless Eastern empire
which to-day is the most precious gem in the Netherlands
crown. The manning of the fleet was no difficult matter,
and it is a remarkable fact that the crews were made up of
a number of rough and disorderly young men, regular
*' ne'er-do-wells," sons of respectable, rich parents, wanting
less in courage, boldness, and strength of mind than in love
of disciphne and duty, whose absence from home was
apparently more desirable than their presence there.
Cornelius Houtman had a difficult task, and he performed
it well, and these young men, once it was thoroughly im-
pressed upon them that the honour of their country was at
stake, proved the mainstay of the expedition.
The fleet had now sailed on its momentous voyage, and
one of the most glorious chapters in the history of the Dutch
had been opened. Sir Thomas Cavendish's words, " Now,
now, is the time," had passed unheeded, and the Enghsh
172 JAVA
were too late — a state of affairs which reminds one of the
old adage, " The more haste, the less speed."
The Dutch had started long after the Portuguese, and
later than the Enghsh, to the East, but they had had an
advantage which the English had not, namely, that their
knowledge of the East was already greater, owing to their
early established trade with India, through Lisbon, so that
the details of the business, and what was required by the
natives, were thoroughly well known to them, and they
became not only first in the field for trade, but entirely
outstripped the Enghsh in their geographical discoveries
during the seventeenth century.
Houtman's voyage was long and weary. Gales and hurri-
canes pursued them ; scurvy decimated the crews. Still
they battled on ; the name of Holland was at stake, and
the grit of the nation was put to the test. Well it came out,
too, for although they and the ships were all in a deplorable
condition, they hung on like bulldogs.
At Madagascar the fleet stopped to recruit, and then
sailed for the Maldive Islands.
On the 1st January, 1596, Sumatra was sighted, and in
February they were in the Straits of Sunda. Here they
managed to pick up natives who piloted them to Bantam,
where they arrived on the 23rd June. The harbour was
full of junks and praos,^ a strange sight to these travellers,
who were greatly impressed by it. They felt they had done
something unique in reaching the Indies, and their feeling
of importance swelled, especially on the arrival in the evening
of six Portuguese, who came, they said, at the request of
the king to inquire what they wanted.
The Portuguese, finding the Dutch only wished to trade,
and not to conquer, became very polite, and gave all the
particulars Houtman required. They told him all about
Sir Thomas Cavendish's visit, also about Captain James
1 Tambangans, small vessels, lighters, ^1160:168 or sampans.
n
Sai '■■ilH IJl,. i!: ,. J!' -i|l:S:>M,
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 173
Lancaster's voyage to the Straits of Malacca and the havoc
he had wrought amongst the Portuguese shipping with only
one crank little ship. Next day the Portuguese sent off
cattle, hogs, sheep, hens, onions, garhc, nuts, and all kinds
of spices such as cloves, nutmegs and mace, and large stores
of frankincense, camphor, diamonds, copper, iron, pewter,
sulphur, pepper, and gum benjamin : Houtman was
consequently greatly elated.
On the 30th June Cornelius Houtman had the long-boat
got ready, and, dressed in his finest, made his official call
on the king or governor and touched upon the small matter
of a contract. The governor was suave and polite and
offered coffee and sweetmeats, but was in no mood to discuss
a contract. Houtman returned to the ship disappointed,
but not disheartened, and the 1st July again proceeded on
shore and called upon the governor, " vrho sat with his
council."
First Commercial Treaty between the King of Bantam and
the Dutch. — He was again civilly received, and after a con-
siderable amount of protestation by him as to the innocence
of his visit, the king, who had a mind to trade in the velvet
and scarlet cloth they had on board — of which, as a sample,
a present had already been received by him — eventually
allowed Houtman to depart with the contract or treaty in
his pocket duly signed and sealed. The governor, in
dismissing him, said, " Go now and buy what you will in
our market, jon have free liberty," and Houtman, chucklmg
to himself, returned to his ship. The governor now having
a mind to see the Dutch ships, sent his shahhandar (port
officer) on board to prepare the wa3^ This personage ex-
plained the greatness of the governor and the honour he was
doing the Dutch nation by his visit, it being the first of its
kind he had ever performed.
The governor was received b}^ Houtman at the foot of the
ladder and shown all over the ship ; he admired the cannon,
174 JAVA
and especially the green velvet which was shown him, a
piece of which he took away. When he left the Dutch gave
him a royal salute, which at first frightened him, but after-
wards delighted him when he found he had suffered no
injury. The airs and graces the visitors now gave them-
selves were absurd. Houtman styled himself '* Captain-
Major," ^ and he went into the town with his men gorgeously
apparelled in silk and satin, and with rapiers at their sides.
The captain-major, as was the custom with the emperor, had
a slave carrying a large Chinese '' payung'' (umbrella) over
his head when he walked to the market, in order to shade
his head from the sun, and that all might know of his great-
ness ; another slave walked before him with a trumpet and
another with a gong, which they were continually sounding.
At all this display the king was annoyed, but on the people
it had a great effect and assured them of the importance of
the Dutch. The Portuguese were, however, incensed at the
favour being shown to the Dutch, and while they were
pretending to give them their support, proofs were not
wanting that they were all the time falsely intriguing against
them.
The Portuguese, finding ordinary speech in vain, tempted
the king with a bribe of four thousand pieces-of-eight if he
would only get his natives to destroy all the Dutchmen
and place their ships in the hands of the Portuguese. News,
however, reached the Dutch about what was being contem-
plated, and they took the necessary precautions against an
attack. The king, on the advice of the Portuguese, prepared
now a large banquet to w^hich Houtman and all his officers
were invited. It was to be a feast of great rejoicing, with
much music and dancing. The Portuguese were not to be
invited. The trap was cleverly laid, but the Dutch were
far too wide awake to be caught. They sent a messenger
to the king to inform him that they were quite prepared for
1 Clerks on board styled themselves " Captain."
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 175
his attack when he was ready to make it, and advised him
not to believe the odious reports circulated by the Portu-
guese, as they were peaceful traders and unlike the English
pirates and marauders/ The king was surprised at this
message, and at once disclaimed any hostile intentions and
renewed his invitation for the feast. The Dutch, however,
declined it. The Portuguese still continued to pour all
sorts of stories in the king's ears, and these became at last
so dreadful that he began to fear for his kingdom. An inci-
dent that occurred at this moment, which was naturally by
the enemies of the Dutch made the most of, was the little
Dufke coming into the river and taking soundings. Hout-
man, moreover, continued his unnecessary braggadocio and
show, and in spite of warnings went ashore one day with
seven of his seamen. The whole party was immediately
arrested. The governor sent a message now to the rest of
the Dutchmen to go on trading as no harm would come to
them, and a few days later sent one of the imprisoned
Dutchmen on board the Mauritius, accompanied by an
interpreter and nine slaves, to say he would soon free
Houtman, who was in prison for having used violent
language. The Dutch, however, not trusting the governor,
seized the interpreter and the nine slaves and placed them
in chains. On hearing this the governor was very angry,
and sent a message that if they were not instantly let loose
Houtman and the other Dutchmen would be put to death.
The interpreter was immediately released.
On the 4th September, Houtman being still in prison, a
council was held on the Mauritius, and it was decided to
send a letter to . the governor demanding the prisoners'
release, and threatening reprisals. As no reply was received,
the following day at noon all the ships moved in close to
the town. When they had drawn as near as they could, the
^ Captain James Lancaster destroyed also some Javan shipping in the
Straits of Malacca.
176 JAVA
pinnaces were manned and sent out to seize three junkB
lying there. Two were taken, the Portuguese slaves on
board asking for quarter, but the third junk was set on fire
by the Portuguese to prevent the Dutch becoming masters
of her.
This action nearly cost Houtman and the other Dutchmen
their lives, and they sent a message to the Mauritius begging
them to desist, otherwise they would be killed by "being
tied to stakes and shot through with arrows," or else " be
blown from the mouths of cannon, neither of which deaths
they desired." At last the prisoners were ransomed and
peace made with the governor. It did not last long, how-
ever, for the Portuguese soon stirred up more trouble, and
finally the Dutch were forbidden to trade any longer at
Bantam.
They sailed in November for Kakatra, arriving there on
the 13th of that month. The king made a visit on board,
and went away well satisfied. Afterwards the fleet sailed
down the coast in sight of Tuban and Sedayo until it reached
Joartam ^ ; here the natives tried to cut them off. Li the
fight that took place one hundred and fifty natives were
killed and twelve Dutchmen.
The fleet now steered for Madura, where the king came off
to pay an official call, but the Dutch not understanding, and
fearing an attack, fired and killed the king.
They now considered the question of returning, having
abandoned the Amsterdam, which was leaking and nearly
sinking, and after a visit to Bah, which they reached on the
26th February, 1597, they turned homewards.
On the 10th August the coast of Holland was sighted, and
the following day the Mauritius sailed to Texel, being
followed three days later by the Amsterdam. The ships
had returned, but the crews were utterly exhausted and
were so weak that they could scarcely furl sail.
^ Yortan.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 177
As soon as it was known that the Mauritius and the
Amsterdam, which had been given up for lost, had returned,
the nation rejoiced from end to end, and great was the
sensation caused in the mercantile circles of Amsterdam.
The shrewd and calculating merchants saw at once that the
whole trade of the East Indies was at their disposal, and
could no longer be monopolised by the crafty Spaniards
and the Portuguese. At once preparations were made by
the old Company for following up their successes. Mean-
time, however, another group of merchants in Amsterdam
had decided to equip a fleet for the East, but, like wise men,
the two Companies amalgamated. The Dutchmen knew the
proverbs that *' time was money " and " unity was strength,"
which their English neighbours had still to learn. The
names of the new group of merchants were Vincent von
Broucherst, Simon Jansz, Covert Dirrickz, Cornelius vo7i
Camjpen, Jacob TJiomasz, Elbert Simonz Jencheyn, and John
Harmansz.
The inhabitants of Bantam were described by the home-
comers as a very cleanly race, washing five or six times a
day. The trade was said to be chiefly carried on by the
Chinese, who arrived yearly in nine junks with porcelain,
silks, damasks, gold thread, and iron pans, returning with
pepper, cloves, mace, and other merchandise.
Some of these Chinese remained for a year selling the
goods, returning when the next season for the junks to
arrive came round. In that case they bought themselves a
wife, or two or more, selling them again when leaving.
From the account given of Houtman's stay at Bantam, it
may be noted that " from Sumatra the natives said the
Egyptian King Solomon got his gold wherewith he beautified
the Temple and his palace, and in the Bible was called
Orphuz, and also his spices were fetched from Banda by
his ships."
Sumatra, of course, it is known, has been visited from
J. — VOL. I. N
178 JAVA
time immemorial by strangers in search of gold, silver, and
other metals.
" The women of the town, at this period were well kept from
the men who were Jews. The rich men kept many who lay all
day long without anything on chewing a nut called betel, their
slaves around them, continually rubbing them.^ The concubines
wait on the married women. The women of the rich especially
are very idle and do nothing all the day, except lie down, the
slaves doing all the drudgery. The rich men also sit all day long
upon mats, and chew betel, having ten or twenty women, accord-
ing to their purse, about them."
Jacatra (Old Batavia) when the Dutch visited it would
seem to be almost of as much importance as Bantam (it was
sometimes called Sunda Calapa). It had about three
thousand houses at least, built fairly closely together.
These were surrounded by high palisades of bamboo. The
city was estabhshed on both sides of the great river. It w^as
said of Jacatra when it was described, " Faith, this is ye
principal town of traffik in these parts."
The money that was used at this time in the exchange of
Bantam %vas apparently chiefly copper : —
" Their copper money cometh out of China, and is almost as
great and heavy as a quarter of a dollar and somewhat thicker,
and in the middle having a square hole. Two thousand of
them are worth a rial of eight, but of these there are not over-
many. They used to hang them upon strings, and pay them,
without telling, for they stand not so narrowly upon the
number, for if they want but twenty -five or fifty it is as nothmg.
There is also leaden money of bad lead and very rough ; it hath
in its middle a square hole. They are hanged by two hundred
upon a string. They are commonly ten, eleven or twelve thousand
to a rial of eight ; of these cometh a great quantity out of China,
where they are made, so that there is a plenty or scarcity, and
they rise and fall in value."
Second Dutch Expedition to the East Indies. — The fleet
1 The native 'pijit or massage.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 179
that was despatched by the new Company consisted of six
ships and two yachts, manned by five hundred and sixty
seamen and commanded by James CorneHs van Neck, of
Amsterdam. It sailed from Texel on the 1st May, 1598.
Whilst off the coast of Africa they encountered one of
those terrible storms for which the Cape of Good Hope is
noted ; the ships were consequently dispersed in all direc-
tions. They all, however, reached Bantam. A good trade
was done at once. Notwithstanding the endeavours of
the Portuguese, who continued their sly and underhand
practices, no trouble occurred, and the inhabitants began
to find they had to do with real merchants, who paid
liberally (or seemed to) for all they received and only
desired to trade.
Four of the big ships returned to Texel on the 19th June,
1599. The other two and the yachts continued their
voyage to the Spice Islands, and underwent many adven-
tures off the island of Madura, when a treacherous attack
was made upon them and a whole boat's crew carried off as
prisoners. After several unsuccessful attempts to rescue
the unfortunate prisoners they were ransomed.
At Amboina they were cordially welcomed, the inhabi-
tants looking upon them as benefactors who would release
them from the cruelties and tyranny of the Spaniards and
Portuguese.
In August, 1599, they returned to Bantam, where there
lay in the road two Portuguese barks.
Arrangements were now made for erecting a factory,
although nothing further was done, and after presents to
the governor they sailed on the 15th January, 1600, and
arrived in Holland safely, Tsdth, however, only half their
crews, the rest having died of scurvy.
In the meantime other fleets were got ready one after the
other, the Dutch merchants being determined to sweep the
Portuguese out of the Eastern Seas.
N 2
180 JAVA
The anger and consternation amongst the Portuguese and
Spaniards was considerable, and in January, 1601, the
latter, seeing their power gradually slipping away, sent a
fleet of thirty men-of-war to cut off some Dutch ships then
sailing to the East. They attacked the Dutch squadron of
eight ships and were badly beaten, some Portuguese ships
richly laden from the East being seized and brought to
Holland. The two Latin nations now found they had a
foe worthy of their steel which had best be left alone.
The great number of Dutch companies which were now
formed created a lot of trouble. Ships were despatched to
the same ports, and the Amsterdam merchants found they
were frequently competing against themselves ; the prices
of their own goods were lowered in Eastern ports, whilst the
prices of Eastern produce were unnecessarily raised.
The States-General, hearing of this, called a meeting at
The Hague of the directors of all the companies, both of
Holland and Zealand, and compelled them to unite into one
body for future ventures " to w^hich their mightinesses
joined their consent and their authority."
The treaty then agreed upon was confirmed by a patent
from the sovereign poAver for twenty-one years, beginning
from the 20th March, 1602.
The patent being issued, the Company became very
important and made a joint stock of 6,600,000 livres.
With this sum they promised themselves great things,
and fitted out a fleet of fourteen large ships which sailed
in June. Two of these ships went to China and two to the^
Moluccas-; the rest cruised to various ports. The Dutch
were now on the road to success, and richly they deserved
it ; for with all their slowness, once a matter is decided,
immediate action follows. Just so was it in the case of the
trade to the East : once they had made up their minds that
it could be done, they rushed fleet after fleet to the East
without a stop. If to-day they are the masters in the East
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 181
Indian Archipelago they liave only themselves to thank
for it ; and a finer and a more honest body of merchants is
to be found nowhere else in the world.
The British, with their usual lethargy, had meanwhile
been dozing, but hearing now of the successes of the Dutch,
they decided that if they wished any share in the good
things of the East they must be up and doing.
Charter oj the English East India Company. — The mer-
chants of London applied to Queen Elizabeth for a charter,
which was granted them on the 31st December, 1600. By
this charter she created them a body corporate, with the
style of "Ye Governor and Company of Merchants of
London trading to ye East Indies," and " granted " the
charter " under common seal."
It appointed Thomas Smyth, Esquire, Alderman of
London, to be their first governor, and established a court
of twenty directors to be chosen annually on the 1st July,
or within six days thereafter. The Queen likewise granted
them authority to make by-laws, allowed them to export
goods custom free for four years, and allowed them to
export £30,000 in foreign coin, with licence to do the same
every voyage provided they brought that sum by their
trade out of foreign countries into this kingdom.
This charter was exclusive, and the Queen bound herself
not to grant any charter to other merchants for the space
of fifteen years ; but with this proviso, that if within this
space this charter should appear to be in any respect
detrimental to the public, it should upon two years' warning
under the Privy Seal become void. If, however, from
experience it should appear that this new Corporation was a
pubhc benefit, tlien she promised to renew this charter, with
such additional clauses in their favour as should appear
requisite. As soon as this charter was signed the Company
began to raise a joint stock for carrying the project into
execution, and this with such energy that in a very short
182 JAVA
space of time they managed to collect £72,000, on the
strength of which it was decided to fit out five ships to trade
with the East Indies.
The ships were — the Red Dragon, 600 tons (flagship) ;
the Hector, 300 tons (Captain Christopher Colthurst) ; the
Susanah, 200 tons (Captain WilHam Keeling ^) ; the
Ascension, 200 tons (Captain Brand Eoger Styles, factor) ;
the Guest, 130 tons (which acted as store-ship).
The complement of men in these ships was four hundred
and eighty, and the expense of equipping them £45,000,
while the cargo they carried cost £27,000.
The fleet, which was under the command of Captain
James Lancaster, who received the title of Admiral, sailed
from Torbay on the 2nd May, 1601, arriving at Acheen in
November, 1602. Here they found seventeen ships —
Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Indian, and Chinese, from
Guzerat, Cahcut, Malabar, and Pegu — all on the same
mission as themselves. The jealousy that arose was great,
and the King of Acheen had to listen to many stories which
each nation told of the others. Lancaster, endeavouring to
hold himself above all this, called in full naval uniform,
with his suite, on the king, by whom he was greeted very
cordially. The letter from Queen Elizabeth and the presents
were duly handed to him ; these comprised a belt, a case of
pistols, some plumes, looking-glasses, platters, spoons and
glass toys, besides a pair of spectacles and an ewer of silver.
The Company had made no mistake when they believed a
few presents to be likely to carry far more weight in the
counsels of the king than the Queen's letter, for they proved
irresistible. The captain was immediately given the privi-
lege he sought for, namely, freedom of trade and immunity
from the payment of customs.^
' The discoverer of the Cocos-Keeling Islands, in the Indian Ocean.
* Lancaster also established commercial relations with Priaman, in
Sumatra, a pepper centre.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 183
Commercial Treaty between the King 'of Acheen and the
English. — Lancaster, however, was not yet satisfied, and
when he returned to his ship, with the assistance of his
senior officers he drew up on a double sheet of parchment a
portentous treaty, which they afterwards translated into
Portuguese and prevailed upon the king to sign. A copy
of this instrument is at the India Office, and is the first
treaty between a native prince and the East India Company
and the earliest document received from any servant of the
Company m the East. It reads as follows : —
** I most mighty King of Acheen and Sumatra, to all persons
that shall read this present writing, greeting.
'* In token of our special friendship, and upon many good
considerations us moving, and chiefly upon the contem-
plating of the gracious letters received from the famous
Queen of England, we of our especial mere motion do signify
and declare to all people that we have entertained into our
friendship and holy league our well -beloved Sirinissima
Reina de Inglaterra to hold and keep true and faithful
league with her according to the commendable course and
law of all nations, unto whose subjects we wish much
felicity, and therefore doth give and grant by these presents,
for us our heirs and successors, as much as in us lieth to the
said subjects of the most noble Queen of England our
confederate and every one of them these articles, grants and
privileges hereafter expressed and declared."
Lancaster waited here three months without securing
any pepper, and, getting at last impatient, he sailed away,
leaving two factors, Wilham Starkey and Styles, behind
him to collect produce for the Company.
Before his departure the admiral " went to Court once
more," where he had a long final conference.
" The king presented him with a ring set with a very fine ruby,
and three pieces of rich cloth of gold as a present to Her Majesty
184 JAVA
Queen Elizabeth. He likewise presented the admiral with a
ruby ring for himself, and when he was about to take his leave, he
asked him if the Enghsh had the Psalms of David amongst
them ; to which the admiral repHed that they had and sung them
daily. Then said the king, ' I and the nobles will sing a psalm
to God for your prosperity,' which being finished, the king asked
the admiral and his attendants to sing another psalm, though it
were in their own language, and they instantly complied with
the request. This being done, the admiral took his leave, and
the king at parting said, ' I hope God will bless you all your
voyage and conduct you safe to your own country, and if here-
after your ships return to this port, you shall find the same good
usage you have hitherto experienced.' "
Lancaster left Acheen on the 9th November, and meeting
a Portuguese ship of 900 tons in the Straits of Malacca,
battered her to pieces first and then from her bulging hold
hauled forth cloves and pepper. The ship was on her way
from the Moluccas to the Portuguese settlement of St.
Thome, near Madraspatam, where the Company had built a
fort for the protection of their produce from the Dutch.
Lancaster now returned to Acheen, where he found that
Styles and Starkey (or Starckey) had collected sufficient
cargo to fill one ship ; this was put into the Ascension.
Lancaster now took leave again of the King of Acheen,
receiving from him a letter to his " Cousin Elizabeth, Queen
of England, France and Ireland," together with several
presents. These were given to Captain Brand, of the
Ascension, together with letters and reports from the
admiral, on receipt of which the Ascension sailed for
England.^ A short time afterwards the Susanah, also full
of produce, was despatched to England.
Island of Pulo Bun, in the Moluccas, ceded to the English. —
Meanwhile the Guest, which had been sent to the Moluccas,
obtained the Island of Pulo Kun ^ Treaty, thus carrying out
1 Her cargo consisted of 210,000 lbs. of pepper, 1,100 lbs. of cloves,
6,000 lbs. of cinnamon, 4,080 lbs. of gum-lacquer.
2 In the Moluccas.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 185
the admiral's instructions to plant the British flag securely
in these islands.
As soon as the Ascension had sailed, Lancaster, with the
Dragon and the Hector, proceeded to Bantam, where they
arrived on the 16th December, 1602, and as they entered
the roads " shot off such a thundering peal of ordnance as
had never been lung there before."
Lancaster brought the King of Bantam a letter from
Queen Ehzabeth and many presents, and was received
more as the princely ambassador of a great monarch
than as the representative of a mercantile trading com-
pany.
First Commercial Treaty between the King of Bantam and
the English. — After his interview or " audience " he was
granted similar conditions to those he had obtained at
Acheen, which amomited to permission being given to
trade, and this in spite of the protests of the Dutch.
First English Factory opened in Java. — A factory, or
*' house of trade," was opened at Bantam and the cargo on
board the ships landed. By the 10th February, 1603, the
ships Avere all reloaded for the return journey.
When Lancaster left Bantam on the 21st February, 1603,
he left behind him a factory under the charge of William
Starkey, as head agent, with three factors and eight clerks,
as also a pinnace to go backwards and forwards to the
Moluccas, under command of Thomas Tudde (or Tudd) with
thirteen men.
First Dutch Factory opened in Java. — As a result of this
example the Dutch opened a factory at Bantam in October,
1603.^ The founder was Admiral Wybrand van Warwyck,
who had arrived with a fleet on the 19th April, 1603, at
Bantam. He placed in charge as factor Frans Wittert,
with nine clerks, and gave him a liberal capital to work
with. The building was of stone on a piece of ground
1 J. Hageman, " De Engelsohen op Java."
186 JAVA
bought by the Dutch, and was situated in the western part
of the town.
The natives soon preferred deahng with the EngHsh to
the Dutch, as the former's methods were generally more
hberal. The prices, however, were little enough as a matter
of fact, for pepper fetched less than a fortieth of the price
given in London.
This was the beginning of commercial competition between
the two nations, and of a long story of jealousy and intrigue
which was to go on for an interminable period. Added to
this, things never went well with the English in Bantam,
and there were immense disadvantages to their lucrative
trade. For instance, whether from diet or disease, poison
or fighting, scarcely a day elapsed without one of the Com-
pany's servants dying — a matter of serious consequence
among so small a community.
February, 1603. — When Lancaster arrived in London,
despite the prevailing depression caused by the plague,
which had accounted for at least two of the directors of
the East India Company, he received a most flattering
and enthusiastic welcome. He was also called to Court and
knighted.
The Company had done well, having so far received in all
more than a million pounds of spices.
In the East the Dutch and English, who were doing their
utmost to displace the Portuguese, who were scarcely ever
a match for them, kept a jealous eye on each other. There
were continual quarrels and bickerings over petty trading
matters, both being desirous of gaining the monopoly of the
pepper and spice markets. The English maintained they
had a greater right to it than the Dutch, inasmuch as Drake
had planted the British flag in the Moluccas in 1578 and in
Bantam in 1579, which acts had been confirmed and
repeated by Cavendish in 1587. The Dutch, however, from
their point of view maintained the greater right was theirs
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 187
on account of the fact that in 1596 CorneHus Houtman,
with a royal charter in his pocket, not only planted the flag
in Bantam, but erected factories in the Moluccas — this being
quite a different thing to actions of the half-pirates ^ sailing
round the world under the British flag ; they also pointed
out that Lancaster, who was the first Englishman who
actually sailed under a charter from the sovereign, did not
erect factories at Acheen and Bantam until 1602-3, or six
years after Houtman already had a treaty in his pocket,
which would have empowered him to do so had he wished.
It can thus be easily seen that the elements were there for
strife from the beginning, and at a time when these old sea-
dogs led rough lives, amused themselves in a rough manner
and died rough deaths, every opportunity was taken by the
individual members of the two nations to make it as un-
pleasant as they possibly could for one another.
This state of things continued until 1611, matters going'
from bad to worse, until at last the English, getting rather
the worst of it, complained to the Foreign Secretary in
England, who in turn brought the question over to The
Hague, where diplomacy with its devious channels gradually
smoothed matters over.
The Enghsh were also having trouble in India with the
Portuguese, who were doing their utmost to hinder their
trade. They were therefore to all intents and purposes at
war with the Dutch in the East Indies and with the Portu-
guese in India.
The work was too great for them — the Company had not
the means to undertake it. Their trade was bound in the
end to suffer somewhere, and so it did.
In 1611 Captain Thomas Best, in command of the Dragon,
with three other ships mider him, sailed for Surat, where he
arrived in six months. Here he built a factory and began
to trade. He had hardly, however, settled down before
1 Drake and Cavendish.
188 JAVA
the viceroy at Goa sent a fleet to destroy him. It consisted
of four large galleons and twenty-six galleys, in which there
were five thousand men and one hundred and thirty cannon.
The Portuguese fleet was, howevei, fortunately beaten off,
and the factory with all its valuables saved.
The Enghsh now thought that some sort of an arrange-
ment with the Dutch Company would be advisable ; but
after a lot of parleying nothing very substantial was gained
by either side, the Enghsh Company not feeling itself
justified in accepting the conditions offered by the Dutch,
which they characterised as " giving too little, and asking
too much."^ All questions or disputes on both sides were,
however, laid bare, and it was confidently asserted and
imagined that things could now go on harmoniously between
the two nations, and that an end had been put to all the
disputes between the two Companies for twenty years at
least. It fell out, however, quite otherwise, for shortly after
this the Dutch Company's factor in the East Indies, who
was now styled Governor-General and lived at Batavia as
headquarters, attacked Lantore with a large fleet, and,
having defeated the natives, fired the town, plundered the
English factory which had been established there, taking
away the cloth, money, and bullion belonging to the English
East India Company, together with 23,000 lbs. of mace and
150,000 lbs. of nutmegs. The Enghsh factors that were
living there were stripped naked, bound and beaten, thrown
over the town wall, and afterwards dragged through the
city in chains. The English factory at Pulo Kun shared the
same fate. The Dutch, of course, had their side of the story
when representations were made at The Hague, but the facts
remained. Proper satisfaction for this seems never to have
been demanded by the British Government.
The foregoing troubles at Lantore were, however, as
nothing to what was to follow at Amboyna in 1622.
1 This is the origin of the famous phrase.
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 189
At Amboyna the English Company had five factories for
the collection of cloves ; the chief one was at Amboyna
itself, whilst the others were at various points not far away.
The governor was a certain George Muschamp,^ who was
later replaced by Gabriel Towerson, who had been factor at
Bantam.^ He has been described as a good-natured, in-
cautious, but reliable servant, indolent, possibly, and fond
of pomp — a thing which seems inseparable from a long
residence in the Indies, but was probably accentuated in
Towerson's case owing to his marriage with a native, who,
he said, had royal blood in her veins. The Dutch had also
a factory and a fort here, armed with six large cannon and
very strongly built. For two years the Dutch and Enghsh
bore with each other, and although disputes continually
occurred, the governor at Batavia generally smoothed
matters over. Affairs, however, at last reached boiling
point ; differences not only continued but were daily
occurrences, and the governor at Batavia began treating
them, possibly from their very tediousness, with more
indifference, until on the 11th February, 1622, a Japanese
soldier in the castle at Amboyna asked the sentinel what was
the strength of the fort and how many Dutchmen there
were in it. The Dutch being apprehensive and suspicious
of these questions, seized the, Japanese as soon as they
heard of the matter and tortured him on the rack for three
or four days. At the same time an Englishman named
Abel Price, the chirurgeon, was lying in the Dutch prison
for threatening when drunk to set a Dutchman's house on
fire. This man they brought to the Japanese, and stated
that he had confessed whilst under torture that the English
had intended seizing the castle and had asked his assistance.
At the same time they informed Price that unless he likewise
confessed he would also be tortured as badly as the Japanese
1 See Chapter XII., " Batavia."
« See Chapter XII., " Bantam."
190 JAVA
had been, if not worse. At first he dechned to do so, but
under the rack he admitted the truth of the statements of
the Japanese. The following day the Dutch sent for
Towerson and the rest of the Englishmen, who, they in-
formed them, were accused of being guilty of conspiring to
surprise the castle. On their appearing before the governor
they were all seized, Gabriel Towerson being committed to
prison under a strong guard, whilst Emmanuel Thomson was
placed in a dungeon ; the others, John Beaumont, Edward
Collins, William Webber, Ephraim Ramsey, Timothy John-
son, John Fardo, and Robert Broivn, were sent on board the
Dutch ships lying in the harbour. The same day the
governor gave orders for the apprehension of the rest of the
Englishmen in the outlying factories — namely, Samuel
Colson, John Clark, and George Sharrock, who were at the
factory at Hitto ; John Sadler, from Larica ; John Pocol,
John Wetheral, and Thomas Ladbrook, from Cambello ; and
William Griggs (who was brought in irons), from Lobo.
These Englishmen, a mere handful, were supposed to be
planning for the capture of the fortress held by two hundred
soldiers and twenty-four guns. Towerson rightly said it
was ridiculous.
Timothy Jolinson was now the first to be tortured ; he
acknowledged nothing, because there was nothing to
acknowledge. Red-hot irons, however, apphed to the soles
of his feet did what was needed, and he was then racked for
having refused evidence at first ; under this torture he
acknowledged everything that was suggested to him.
The Dutch governor van Speult, a man of a bad type and
weak character, now had the matter conducted from its
legal side and in strict conformity with the law. The pubhc
prosecutor, or Dutch " fiscal," who made a notarial account
of all the proceedings, was an unscrupulous coadjutor to his
master, and was as wax in his hands.
Johnson, after having been cruelly burnt and racked,
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 191
was followed by Thomson, who was treated likewise, despite
his grey hairs. The " fiscal " made minutes of all that the
prisoners confessed.
Beaumont was now tortured with the water ordeal, a
most diabohcal and inhuman proceeding. The victim was
made fast and stretched out, a cloth tied round his neck,
and jars of water were poured into the cloth, the result
being the same as drowning. WiUiam Webber, Edward
Collins, Ephraim Eamsey, and Robert Brown were now
brought from the ship Rotterdam, which lay in the roads,
and at the same time Samuel Colson, William Griggs, John
Clark, George Sharrock, and John Sadler had to undergo
their turn at the rack and water torture. Collins when
confronted, seeing his companions yelling in agony, asked
the '* fiscal," " What would you have me to say ? Tell me,
and though it be false, yet will I speak."
The " fiscal " was in a rage, and answering, " You mock
me," he gave orders to rack him to the utmost. When
almost expiring under the torture he acknowledged that
Towerson was the ringleader, and gave all the details as to
how the plot was to have been carried out ; with his eyes
bulging out of his head and all reason gone, he was taken
away.
The next were tortured first with fire, then with water,
and finally racked. They were hoisted up by the hands
with a cord on a large door, where they were made fast upon
two staples of iron fixed on both sides at the top of the door-
posts ; their arms and legs, which were two feet from the
ground, were stretched to the utmost ; the cloth was then
bound round their neck and face very tightly and kept
filled with water. When they swooned or fainted they were
taken down, and after a few minutes to recover they were
hoisted up again. After this had been done many times
the bodies of some were swollen twice their ordinary size ;
their cheeks were like bladders, and their eyes bulged out of
192 JAVA
their heads. Still the majority stood it without confessing
anything, until they burnt the soles of their feet 'with
candles, sometimes doing it several times, and their elbows,
the palms of their hands, and their armpits.
At last it came to Towerson's turn, and on oath he
declared there was absolutely no truth in the reports as to
a plot against the Dutch. Thereupon they brought several
of those who had confessed before him, and he charged them
as they would answer at the dreadful Day of Judgment to
speak nothing but the truth. These rough men fell upon
their knees before him, praying for God's sake to be forgiven
for whatever they had formerly confessed, which was mostly
false and uttered only to avoid further torment. These
men were therefore once more tortured, and in the end
again admitted that their former statements were corrects
When Colson was told to sign what he confessed he inquired
of the " fiscal " upon whose head he thought the sin would
lie, whether upon him who was forced to confess what was
false or upon him who forced it.
Thus far Towerson in virtue of his position had been
spared the pain and ignominy of the torture chamber and
he had been merely condemned to death.
Van Speult was, however, not satisfied, and he decided he
must make a confession ; he was taken to the torture
chamber, and two large jars of water were seen to follow
him ; those who saw this shuddered. What Towerson went
through and suffered no one will ever know. He was
carried out with drawn and Hvid features, his whole appear-
ance ghastly ; but he had confessed. Eight days were
occupied in this work of torture, and the whole air reeked
with an unbearable smell of burnt flesh. On the ninth day
(February 23rd), when human nature could stand no more,
a surgeon was allowed to go round and dress the sores. The
poor victims were in a dreadful state ; some of the wounds
were putrefied and had maggots in them, and from Clark
KAMMENU PAN(iKKA5. AKIU TJOKKO XAGERU. (lIELTKNANT-C'OLOXEL I.N THK
CAVALRY ; UFFIt'ER IN THE ORANGE NASSAU ORDER.)
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 193
and one or two of the others it is said " great maggots
dropped from them in most noisome and loathsome manner."
On the 28th February, the day of execution, the cruel
gaolers allowed lots to be drawn for one life ; it fell to
Collins. Beaumont was also respited, being a particular
friend of the Dutchmen ; Sharrock, too, was pardoned.
The execution was duly carried out, " a cloth of black
velvet," we are told, by the special consideration of the
governor, being prepared for Towerson's body to fall on,
but we also learn that this being now " spoiled and unsale-
able " was charged to the Enghsh Company. With the
English one Portuguese, Augustin Perez, and about eleven
Japanese also suffered death.
Before the execution it would appear as if all the victims
endeavoured to leave some record of their innocence, but
only a few succeeded. Colson wrote in the flyleaf of his
prayer-book, which was sewed up in a bed : —
" Aboard the Rotterdam lying in the roads of Amboyna in
irons.
" Understand that I, Samuel Colson, the late factor of Hitto,
was apprehended for suspicion of conspiracy, and for anything
I know must die of it ; wherefore having no better means to
make my innocence known, have writ this in this book, hoping
some good Englishman will see it. I do here swear upon my
salvation, as I hope by His death and passion to have redemption
for my sinnes, that I am clean of all such conspiracy, neither
do I know any EngUshman guilty thereof, nor other creature in
the world. As this is true, God bless me. Samuel Colson."
Ha also wrote at the beginning of the Psalms : —
" The JapOTiers were taken with some villainy, and being
most tyrannousry tortured, were asked if the English had any
hand in the plot, which torture made them say Yes, then was
master Thomson and Mr. Johnson, IVIr. Collins, John Clark, brought
to execution, and were burned under the armpits, and hands,
and soles of the feet, with another most miserable torment to
drink water, some of them almost tortured to death, and were
J. — VOL. I. e
194 JAVA
forced to confess that which they never knew, by reason of the
torment which flesh and blood is unable to endure. Then were
the rest of the EngUshmen called one by one amongst which I
was one, being wished to confess, or else I must go to torment,
withal caused Mr. Johnson who was before tormented, to witness
against me, or else he should be tortured again, which rather than
he should endure, he said what they would have him speak.
Then must I confess I never knew, or else go to torment which
rather than I would suffer I did confess that which, as I shall
be saved before God Almighty is not true, being forced for fear
of torment. Then did they make us witness against Captain
Towerson, and last made Captain Towerson confess all, being
for fear of most cruel torment for which we must all die. As
I mean and hope to have pardon for my sins, I know no more
than the child unborn of this business written with my own
hand. Sam. Colson."
William Griggs, who had befoie accused Captain Tower-
son, wrote the following words in his table-book : —
" We whose names are here specified, John Beaumont,
William Griggs, Abel Price, Robert Brown, which do here
He prisoners in the Rotterdam, being apprehended for conspiracy
for blowing up the castle of Amboyna, we being judged to death,
which we through torment were constrained to speak that
which we never meant, nor once imagined, the which we take
upon our deaths and salvation. They tortured us with that
extreme torment of fire and water that fiesh and blood could not
endure, and this we take upon our deaths that they have put
us to death guiltless of our accusation, so therefore that we desire
that they shall understand this that our employers may under-
stand these wrongs, and that yourselves would have a care to
look to yourselves, for their intent was to have brought you in
also, they asked concerning you, which if they had tortured us,
we must have confessed you also, and farewell, written in the
dark."
By the natives this execution was supposed to be a great
triumph for the Dutch over the English, whose standing in
the Moluccas was now ruined.
A very long account of these transactions was made by
JAVA'S FIRST EUROPEAN VISITORS 195
van Speult and his rascally ** fiscal " (who undoubtedly
really did think the Englishmen were plotting against
them) to his superiors at Batavia, but there does not appear
to be any mention of torture in it. Latei on it was reluc-
tantly admitted that " torture of a civil sort had been used."
But the rack, the burning with hot irons, the water ordeal,
the splitting of the toes, and lancing of the breast, and
putting in gunpowder and then firing it, all these can hardly
come under a category of *' a civil sort," and indeed did not.
The official deed was signed by Harman van Speult, Laurence
de Maerschalk, Clement Herffeboom, Harman Crayvauger,
Peter van Zanten, Leonard Clock.
When the story of this massacre reached London the
indignation of the people was great, and the King is sup-
posed to have openly wept. Representations were made at
The Hague again and again, but nothing very much was
done, and reparation was never given. Some Dutch ships
were seized and brought to Portsmouth, but though the
King threatened war, the Dutch knew he was in no position
to can^ out his threats as the public revenue was depressed.
Even van Speult, although he was apparently removed, went
unpunished, but the arch-villain met a violent death later
on, when one of the largest Dutch ships of forty-four guns
on which he happened to be ran aground at Mocha, in the
Red Sea, and fell into the hands of the Arabs, who showed
no mercy. Thus the matter ended.
If it was thought that the Englishmen now, after all these
remonstrances, would receive a little more consideration at
the hands of the Dutch, a great mistake was made ; if
possible, matters grew worse. The Company's servants
were ill-treated and abused everywhere, and were gradually
crushed, so to say, out of existence in China, Japan, Siam,
and Cambodia, while the situation of the Company in Java
and Sumatra, and even in India, was far from happy.
The truth is that the Dutch were taking matters more
o 2
196 JAVA
seriously, more earnestly, and more energetically than the
English, and moreover were being supported by their
Government, which desired the monopoly of the East.
Can we blame them if they made things unpleasant for
their competitors ?
The Dutch were in point of fact doing in the East Indies
what the English themselves wished to do — that is to say,
ousting their neighbours.
It was a life-and-death struggle, in which the Dutch were
victorious, and this was entirely due to the Dutch estabUsh-
ment in the East and their fleets at all the principal stations
being invariably greater than those of the English.
The breach, of course, between the two nations as time
went on became greater, and the weaker merchants had to
give way.
THE DUTCH PERIOD
CHAPTER V
THE RISE OF THE DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST
Notwithstanding an attempt on the part of the Sultan
of Jacatra^ to prevent them, the Dutch opened their trading
house here in 1610. It was very soon discovered, however,
that the natives, who were a mixture of Malays with a
strain of Chinese, Arabian, and Hindu blood, were of a
treacherous character, so that a fort was built as a place oil
refuge. This was in 1612, and on the strength of it the
factor, Jan Pieterzoon Coen, who saw the strategical
advantages of Jacatra, recommended his being granted the
high-sounding titular dignity of Director-General.
From this day Jacatra became the real seat of the Dutch
Government in the East Indies, although Amboyna was
nominally still so, as it had been for many years already.
According to old records the Enghsh flag was first shown at
Jacatra by Sir Henry Middleton in 1604, and again when
Captain William Keehng, of Cocos -Keeling Island fame,
visited the town on the 8th January and the 20th August,
1609, and sold gunpowder to the king.
In 1610 the Enghsh " house of trade," or factory, was
opened by Captain David Middleton with a staff from
Bantam. Some think it was opened by Captain William
Keeling on his second visit to this port in 1609. Be that as
it may, it seems fairly certain that it was established at
Jacatra before the Dutch built theirs.
The factories of the Dutch and English almost faced each
1 Jacatra, until the fall of Pajajaran, formed part of that kingdom.
Afterwards it came under the influence of the Sultan of Cheribon, and later
of Matarem.
200 JAVA
other, the former, it is said, being on the east side of the
" great river " and the latter on the west side.^
As might have been expected, servants of the two nations
were not long in falhng out with each other, and continued
trouble was the order of the day. The Dutch seeing it
coming, fortified themselves also on the island of Ourust,
in the roads of Jacatra, in spite of a protest from the Sultan
of Bantam, to whom the island belonged.
On the 22nd October, 1618, the Dutch began the erection
of a still stronger and larger fort at Jacatra commanding
the water passage, which was completed within a year.
The Enghsh seeing this, determined not to be left behind,
and, despite a protest from Coen, hurriedly built a fort for
themselves with the help of natives.
The Dutch fort was no sooner ready than Coen attacked
the English with a large force, demolishing their fort and
destroying their factory. As a punishment for this a large
English squadron which was at Bantam sailed for Jacatra
as soon as they heard of the catastrophe and destroyed
nearly the entire Dutch squadron lying there. Coen,
rather ashamed of himself no doubt, fled in a ship to the
Moluccas, leaving Jacatra, over which he had just been
appointed governor-general, to look after itself.
When the English ships withdrew and affairs once more
resumed their normal aspect, the place was baptised by the
Dutch Batavia on the 12th March, 1619, and Coen on his
return from the Moluccas on the 28th March decided it
should be the capital of the Dutch East Indies and the head-
quarters of the East India Company.
The English were now theoretically under his jurisdiction,
although they were left as much alone as was possible.
The first thing Coen now did was to attack the sultan and
properly defeat him, after which the foundation of the '* gem
1 Exactly where they stood is described in Chapter XII., " Towns in
Java," Batavia.
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 201
of the East " was laid and preparations made for housing a
large army and carrying on gi'eat trade.
The aim of the Dutch was in the main pm'ely commercial,
and it was many years, therefore, before proper law and
order reigned in this far-off country. Their power, however,
gi'ew rapidly, and the stronger they became the more diffi-
cult it grew for the Enghsh Company, who finally held a
position of mere toleration.
As soon as the Dutch were firmly estabhshed and could
dispose of large and strong fleets, together with a sufficient
proportion of fighting men, they made ready for further
conquests in other Eastern lands, v^ith Bantam as the
starting point. The methods of the Dutch were always
slow but sure, but an abundance of energy and a quite
remarkable amount of forethought in all they undertook,
besides their readiness and ^villingness to settle for life in
any new colony, made them more than a match for the
roving English, whom they apparently outwitted and out-
numbered everywhere.
A rapid glance at the history of the Dutch civilisation of
the East will perhaps not be altogether out of place before
the story of Java is continued.
Dutch Colony of Formosa (1624— 1664).— In 1624 the
Dutch captured a large part of Formosa, and their first
measure was to form a colony here and build defences. A
fort was thrown up on a sand-bank at the entrance of the
harbour of Tanvan (Tanvanfoo), which was after four years
replaced by " Fort Zeelandia," a very large and substantial
structure. Besides this they had a stone fort kno^vTi as
" Utrecht " quite close, on a hill commanding Fort Zeelandia.
Another fort was built later not far off at the mouth of the
Formosa river, which they called " Fort Provintia " ; the
bricks for these forts were brought from Batavia. The
Dutch at once sought for friendly relations with the savage
tribes in the neighbourhood, and by their just and fair
202 JAVA
treatment, which was different from what these had been
accustomed to from the despised Chinese, they were soon
enabled to gain their full confidence and affection ; Jthe_
Chinese and Japanese merchants who were, there 'already
began, however, to feel the trade which they had mono-
polised for years anything but secure, and trouble soon
ensued, especially when the Dutchmen put an export duty
on sugar and rice, the two staple articles even at that early
date. The Japanese complained to the court at Yedo, who
in turn annoyed the Dutchmen at their factory at Nagasaki.
Still the Dutchmen, nothing daunted, rushed along as
usual at a pace no other nation could keep up with, intent
only on obtaining the maximum of financial gains in the
shortest time possible. They exported as much as 80,000
piculs of sugar to Japan in 1627, silk piece-goods, porcelain,
and gold to Batavia ; and they imported into Formosa
paper, spices, amber, tin, lead, and cotton. In addition,
Formosa products, such as rice, sugar, rattans, deer-skins,
deer horns, and drugs, were exported to China. The trade
was fairly considerable, for at this time in one year five
cargoes of raw silk valued at 621,855 guilders were sent to
Japan, and two cargoes of silk piece-goods valued at 559,493
guilders to Batavia and Holland. The whole Chinese trade
amounted to one million gold dollars a year, and generally
meant 100 per cent, profit. The expenses of the Dutch
colony were 214,000 guilders, and after all these were
settled there remained over for the Batavia Government
85,000 guilders. The employees of the Company in Formosa,
as elsewhere, were miserably paid, and were accordingly
obliged to engage in trade on their own account to recom-
pense themselves.
The Spanish, who were estabhshed in North Formosa at
Keelung, were exceedingly annoyed to find the Dutch making
such progress in the south of the island, but were powerless
to do anything. In 1627 the first Dutch missionary, George
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 203
Candidius, arrived, and at once set about learning the
language, which he soon mastered. Most of the villages
round Fort Zeelandia were Christianised, and in each of
them schoolmasters weie put to instruct both young and
old in the Scriptures. In 1629 the Dutch decided that it
was no longer desirable that the Spanish should remain iii
the island, and decided, if possible, to get rid of them by
pacific means, only resorting to force if they proved intract-
able ; but Peter Nuits, the Dutch governor at Formosa,
received no encouragement from Batavia, where they were
much too occupied to spare any more ships at the moment.
In 1641, however, the following despatch was sent by the
Dutch governor in the south to the Spanish governor in the
noith : —
" To Gonsalo PortiHs, Governor of the Spanish Fortress, in the
Island of Keelung.
" Sir, — I have the honour to communicate to you that I have
received the command of a considerable naval and military
force with the view to making me master by civil means or
otherwise of the fortress Santissima Trinidad in the isle of Keelung,
of which your Excellency is the governor.
" In accordance with the usages of Christian nations to make
known their intentions before commencing hostiUties, I now
summon your Excellency to surrender. If your Excellency is
disposed to lend an ear to the terms of capitulation which we
offer and to make dehvery to me of the fortress of Santissima
Trinidad, and other citadels, your Excellency and your troops
will be treated in good faith according to the usages and customs
of war, but if your Excellency feigns to be deaf to this command
there will be no other remedy than recourse to arms. I hope
that your Excellency will give careful consideration to the
contents of this letter and avoid the useless ejffusion of blood,
and I trust that without delay, and in a few words, you wiU make
known to me your intentions.
" May God protect your Excellency many years.
" The friend of your Excellency,
" Paulus Tradenius.
" Fort Zeelandia,
" August 26th, 1641."
204 JAA^A
The reply was courteous but formal : —
" To the Governor of Tanvan.
" Sir, — ^I have duly received your communication of
August 26th, and in response I have the honour to point out to
you, that as becomes a good Christian who respects the oath ho
has made before his king, I cannot and will not surrender the
forts demanded by your Excellency, as I and my garrison have
determined to defend them.
" I am accustomed to find myself before great armies, and I
have engaged in numerous battles in Flanders, as well as other
countries, and so I beg of you not to take the trouble of writing
me further letters of like tenor — may each one defend himself
as best he can.
" We are Spanish Christians, and God in whom we trust is our
Protector.
" May the Lord have mercy on you.
" Written in our principal fortress, San Salvador, the 6th of
September, 1641.
"GONSALO PORTILIS."
In anticipation of attack, the Spanish commander asked
Manila to send reinforcements, which were the more neces-
sary as just before the Dutch governor's letter was received
the authorities had withdrawn three out of the four com-
panies stationed in North Formosa.
The reinforcements arrived, and consisted of eight
Spanish soldiers with a little ammunition. This was all
that could be spared, as the Spanish were fighting in the
Moluccas and required all the men they could. In August,
1642, the Dutch, after a six days' incessant bombaidment,
captured the Spanish forts, with forty pieces of large
artillery, a large quantity of ammunition, 25.000 dollars in
silver and goods to the value of more than one million
dollars. The Dutch were now complete masters of Formosa,
and erected forts at both Tainsin and Keelung in the north.
The former still exists and is the office of the British
consulate.
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 205
Round Keelung, six years later, the Dutch conti oiled
forty-eight villages, and their rule extended everywhere in
the island. In 1650 the number of villages controlled had
risen to two hundred and ninety.
The East India Company was now making an enoimous
revenue from taxes alone, and the island was well ruled by
it. There were at least five or six thousand Dutchmen now
living in the " Beautiful Isle " with their wives and children,
and their occupation of the island seemed at this moment
likely to be a permanent one, when there appeared a Chinese
pirate, Koxinga by name, who in 1662, after a prolonged war,
defeated the Dutch and caused Fort Zeelandia to surrender.
The Dutch authority in Formosa now ended, for although
Keelung was again taken by them in 1664, it was abandoned
in 1668.
When the news reached Batavia that Formosa had been
lost, and that the garrison with all its storey had capitulated,
the Government was somewhat disheartened, and with this
ended all thoughts of the conquest of the Portuguese citadel
of Macao, which they had firmly made up their minds to
reduce and make a Dutch possession.
In the Formosa business they had lost, besides, one
thousand two hundred soldiers, seven ships, and property
valued at £835,000, which fact caused the Company to take
thought before it launched out into further ventures of a
speculative kind. It was later on argued to the directors in
Europe when explanations were demanded that the acquisi-
tions and successes of the Company in the Moluccas,
Malacca, Celebes, and Ceylon more than counterbalanced
its loss of Formosa, which, though a blow, did not actually
affect its commercial prosperity or its superiority any-
where else ; nay, that, in point of fact, it strengthened the
Company in holding that which it had now in its possession.
This may have been so to a certain extent, for the enemies
of the Dutch, the Enghsh, Portuguese, and Spanish, who
206 JAVA
had now been driven afield, were looking out to find an
opportunity to turn them out of their acquisitions. At the
same time there is no doubt that the loss of Formosa was a
distinct blunder, for which, as far as one can perceive, there
was little or no excuse, for had the newly-appointed governor
of Formosa, who was named Coyett, a Swede by birth,
taken things firmly in hand, as he was instructed to do by
the authorities at Batavia, who sent money and all the
ships they could spare, in all likelihood the result would
have been very different. As it was, a strong suspicion
was aroused as to whether this " outsider " was not a
traitor to the Dutch, for although he proceeded to Tain-
vanfoo, in accordance with his instructions, he made the
excuse that, on account of the Chinese pirate Koxinga being
rather tightly drawn round Fort Zeelandia, he saw no
advantage in landing to take charge ; yet he deposited there
all the money belonging to the Company, to the extent of
£12,000, and other valuables which he had brought with
him instead of withdrawing all he could, as he should have
done if he thought the citadel must fall. In any case, in
allowing in the terms of capitulation all property and money
to be handed over to Koxinga, he committed a mistake
which nearly cost him his life, for on his return to Batavia
he was seized and charged with duplicity and sentenced to
imprisonment for life, narrowly escaping death. It would
almost seem as if he had richly deserved his punishment.^
1 Tlie following is a list of the senior Dutch clergymen who served in
Formosa, with the period of their arrival in the island and the date of their
departure or death :-
From
Till
Georgius Candidius
. 1627 .
1631
Robertus Junius .
. 1629
1641
Georgius Candidius
. 1633
1637
Assuerus Hoosgeteyn .
. 1636
1637 (died in Formosa
in this year).
Joannes Lindeborn
. 1637 .
1639
Gerardus Leeuvins
. 1637 .
1639 (died in Formosa
in this year).
ROAD TO TJIPANAS GAKOET.
VOLCANO OF SALAK. (fROM THE HOTEL •' BELLE VUE," BUITEXZORG.)
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 207
Dutch Settlement at Firando, Nagasaki, Japan (1611 —
1812). — The golden age of the Dutch m the East was between
1640 and 1750. They ruled and colonised everywhere.
Ceylon, Java, and Formosa were in their possession ; Malacca
was taken from the Portuguese in 1641 ; and they monopo-
hsed all the trade, so to say, of Sumatra, the Moluccas,
Amoy, Ningpo, Canton, Cambodin, Siam, Tonquin, and
Japan, besides controlling the only recruiting station on the
voyage to and from the East, the Cape of Good Hope. In
India they were doing a large and lucrative trade, and there
is no doubt, had there been only a little more energy dis-
of senior Dutch clergymen
— contd.
From
Till
Joannes Schotanus
. 1638
1639
Joannes Bavins .
. 1640
1647
Robertus Junius .
. 1641
1643
N. Mirkinius
. 1641
—
Simon van Breen
. 1643
1647
Joannes Happartus
. 1644
1646
Daniel Gravius
. 1647
1651
Jacobus Vertreclit
. 1647
1651
Antonius Hambroek
. 1648
1661 (beheaded by
Gilbertus Happartius .
. 1649
Koxinga).
1652
Joannes Cruyf
. 1649
1662
Rutger Tesschemaker .
. 1651 . . ,
Joannes Ludgens
. 1651
Guillelmus Brake!
Gilbertus Happartius .
Joannes Bakker .
. 1652
. 1653
. 1653
All died before 1665,
or about that time.
Abrahamus Dapper
. 1654
Robertus Sassenius
. 1654
Marcus Masius
. 1655
1661
Petrus Mus
. 1655
1662 (beheaded by
Koxinga).
Joannes Campius
. 1655
1662 (beheaded by
Hermannus Buschof
, 1655
Koxinga).
1657
Arnoldus A. Winsem
. 1655
1662 (beheaded by
Joannes de Leonardis .
. 1656
Koxinga).
1662
Jacobus Ampzingius
. 1656
1662 (beheaded by
Koxinga).
Gulielmus Vinderus
. 1657
1659 (died in Formosa
this year).
208 JAVA
played in this quarter, they would have secured the entire
monopoly and, as a sequel, possibly the government as
well.
There was no withstanding their competition — ^it was not
spasmodic hke the Enghshman's, but it was regular, sus-
tained, and thorough.
In 1611 the Dutch sent their first ship to Japan ; they
called at the port of Nagasaki, and were well received by the
JapaneS^e,who-'were- already tiring of the Portuguese, who
had been estabhshed there nearly seventy years. Twenty-
eight years later the Dutch had entirely replaced them.
The reason was plain : they were tactful and more com-
placent than the Portuguese, for, seeing the great profits
which were likely to result to their Company from so
advantageous a branch of trade, they decided to maintain
themselves in good credit and favour with this nation and
blindly and passively obey whatever commands were made
upon them, however hard and unreasonable they might
appear.
Their first warehouse was built in the island of Firando,
at Nagasaki, where they remained until 1641. They were
not allowed to move off this island on any plea whatever,
unless with the special permission of the governor of Naga-
saki and under escort. The first Dutch governor here was
one Kockebecker, about 1635, and one of his first acts was
to assist the Japanese against the people of Simbara, where
there were about forty thousand Japanese who had been
Christianised by the Portuguese, and whom the emperor, to
show his intense hatred for this latter race, condemned to
death. For months they had been besieged, but there were
no signs of their giving in, although they were reduced to
the most desperate counsels by the many unparalleled
cruelties and torments which many thousands of their
brethren had already suffered, and which they themselves
had till then very narrowly escaped by retiring into their
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 209
old fortified place with a fii'm resolution to defend their lives
to the uttermost.
The Dutch ships lying at Firando, acting on the instruc-
tions of their governor, sailed for Simbara, and within two
weeks' time had battered the town with four hundred and
twenty-six cannon balls, both from on board the ships and
from a battery raised on shore, and equipped with Dutch
cannon. This immediate compliance of the Dutch, and
their conduct during the siege, was entirely to the satisfac-
tion of the Japanese, and although the besieged had not yet
given in, they were greatly reduced in numbers ; their
strength was now broken, so that Governor Kockebecker
had leave to depart provided he obligingly left his hand
battery of six guns, together with a further six from the
ships with which to erect another one. Governor Kocke-
becker was only too delighted to assist his friends the
Japanese, although it meant sending his ships to Batavia,
wiiich was a long journey, taking months in those days, in
an absolutely defenceless condition ; for, without cannon
to defend itself with, any ship would be at the mercy of the
pirates who infested these seas at the time, and even for two
hundred years after. The trade on the island of Firando
increased in a wonderful way, and the Japanese took it very
seriously, so much so that in 1641 they allowed the Dutch
to move to Nagasalii itself, and a corporation was founded
called " Hollanda T^junsi," or " Dutch Interpreters,"
which was to consist of one hundred and fifty persons. This
was done, not so much with the desire to assist the trade,
however, as to avoid the necessity of the Dutch learning
Japanese, which the emperor was not specially desirous of
their doing, for through it they would learn too much of the
inner workings of Japanese life.
There was another corporation called " Kairaono Tskaai,"
or, as the Portuguese called it, " Compranakana " (" Com-
pradore " as it to-day is) — in other words, the commissioners
J. VOL. I. p
210 JAVA
for victualling, not only the Dutch factory, but also the
Dutch ships which called there.
There were corporations from which they were to draw
their cooks, others from which to draw their servants, etc.,
Btc. EverytMng was laid down for the Dutch and provided
for by by-laws, and thus early did this wonderful Japanese
race show the powers of organisation and administration
which have since astonished the whole world.
Once a year the Dutch governor travelled to court to pay
his respects to the emperor and to make the usual presents.
The loading and discharging of the ships were done by a
special corporation who provided the number of men
required, the Dutch not being allowed to discharge their
own vessels. At that time the following goods were im-
ported by the Dutch : — Kaw silk from China, Tonquin,
Bengal and Persia ; white gunnies from Coromandel ;
woollen stuffs and serges from Europe ; deer hides, ray
skins, wax, and buffalo horns from Nain and Cambodia ;
tanned hides from Persia, Bengal, and other places ; pepper
and sugar from the East Indies ; cloves and nutmegs from
Amboyna and Banda ; cinnamon from Timor ; camphire
de Baros from Bomso ; quicksilver and saffron from Madras ;
lead, saltpetre, borax, and alum from Siam ; musk from
Tonquin ; gum-lacquer from Siam ; rosmal or storax
liquida from Arabia ; corals and looking-glasses from
Europe (the looking-glasses they broke to make spy-glasses,
magnifying glasses, and spectacles out of them) ; mangoes
and other unripe East Indian fruits pickled with Turkish
pepper, garlic, and vinegar ; blacklead and red pencils,
files, needles, drinking glasses, and foreign curiosities. These
were some of the imports made by the Dutchmen into Japan,
and the profits earned were enormous ; for such was the
population of the country, that the demand, for which the
Dutch had the whole monopoly, was almost unlimited. It
is said that for many years during the golden age in Japan
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 211
they were clearing six millions of guilders, and sometimes
much more. When one comes to consider that only twelve
guilders are required to make one pound sterling, it was no
unwise precaution on the part of the Dutchmen to be on
their best behaviour in Japan and do their very utmost to
retain the monopoly of the trade they did until 1811, when
the English captured Java. The risks they ran were reduced
to the danger from frequent wrecks and losses of goods on
the coasts of Formosa and the Pescadores Islands. But
when this occurred it meant merely a temporary shortage
of supply which automatically caused an increase of profit,
which was scarcely decreased when the supply again met
the demand. As the Dutch were doing in Japan, so were
they doing in a smaller degree in Siam, China, Cambodia,
and Tonquin (the trade in the latter place opened in 1637).
The expenses of the Dutch Japan establishment usually
amounted to about £15,000 sterling, but it varied, as will
be seen from the following :-
For food and other provisions
Boarding
Extraordinary expenses
Charges for the ships
Presents ....
Interest and monthly wages
Warehouse rent
Total . . . 193,162 160,213
The ships homeward bound were loaded with the following
exports : — Copper, camphor (packed in wooden barrels),
bales of chinaware (packed in straw), boxes of gold thread,
japanned c^inets, boxes, chests of drawers, umbrellas,
screens, sacki (an intoxicant liquor brewed from rice), soya
(a sort of pickle), pickled fruits in barrels, tobacco, tea,
marmalade, and gold. This trade, but with decreased
p 2
A
Expenses
Expenses
in 1686
in 1688
(Guilders).
(Guilders)
. 23,580
13,166
9,791
6,828
14,097
4,993
10,986
7,589
. 107,086
100,789
8,092
7,318
19,530
19,530
212 JAVA
profits, continued practically unchallenged right down to the
nineteenth century.
The following is a copy of the document by virtue of
which the trade was prosecuted : —
'* Gosju In [that is letters patent under the red imperial seal]
granted by the Emperor Gonggingsama [who was in his lifetime
called Ongoschio Sama] to Jacob Spex in behalf of the United
Company of Dutch merchants trading to the East Indies, and
their factory at Firando.
" ALL Dutch ships that come into my Empire of Japan,
whatever place or port they put into, we do hereby expressly
command all and every one of our subjects not to molest the
same in any ways nor to be a hindrance to them, but on the
contrary, to show them all manner of help, favour and assistance.
Every one shall beware to maintain the friendship, in assurance
/ of which we have been pleased to give our Imperial word to these
people, and every one shall take care, that my commands and
promises be inviolably kept.
" Dated (stylo -Japonise) on the 25th day of the 7th Mane,
being the 30th of August, 161L"
/
\
The Japanese never in any way disguised their dislike for
the Portuguese even after they had departed, as may be
seen from the following official document they handed to
the Dutch governor at Firando, containing *' strict Imperial
commands."
"GODSOMOKU.
Strict Imperial Commands.
" (1) Our Imperial predecessors have ordered concerning you
Dutchmen, that you shall have leave to come to Nagasaki on
account of the Japan trade, every year. Therefore, as we have
commanded you heretofore, you shall have no communication
with the Portuguese. If you should have any,., and we should
come to know it from foreign countries, you shall be prohibited
the navigation to Japan. You shall import no Portuguese
commodities on board your ships.
" (2) If you intend not to be molested in your navigation and
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 213
trade to Japan, you shall notify to us by your ships whatever
comes to your knowledge of any endeavours or attempts of the
Portuguese against us ; we likewise expect to hear from you,
if the Portuguese should conquer any new places or countries,
or convert them to the Christian sect. Whatever comes to your
knowledge in all countries you trade to, we expect that you
should notify the same to our Governor at Nagasaki. \
" (3) You shall take no Chinese junks bound for Japan.
*' (4) In all countries you frequent with your ships, if there
be any Portuguese there you shall have no communication with
them. If there be any countries frequented by the nations, you
shall take down in writing the names of such countries or places,
and by the captains of the ships you send to Japan yearly deUver
the same to our Governors of Nagasaki.
" (5) The Liquejans being subjects of Japan, you shall take
none of their ships or boats.
" So be it . . . ."
The following document may also be quoted : —
" Japanese Regulations concerning the Dutch Settlement.
/" " (1) Whores only but no other women shall be suffered to
enter.
" (2) Ecclesiastics only of the mountain of Koja shall be
admitted. All other priests shall stand excluded.
" (3) All persons and all beggars that Hve upon charity, shall
be denied entrance.
" (4) Nobody shall presume with any ship or boat to come
within the palisades.
" (5) No Hollander shall be permitted to come out, but for
weighty reasons.
" (6) All the above-mentioned orders shall be punctually
obeyed."
Settlement of Ceylon (1638 — 1796). — It was not until
numerous sea-fights had taken place that the Dutch in
1639 were able to drive the Portuguese entirely out of the
island of Ceylon.
The Dutch had carried on these aggressions against the
Portuguese everywhere, and with such tremendous energy
214 JAVA
that the latter's power in the East was at last crippled for
good and all.
In 1636 they attacked Goa, the Portuguese capital and
centre in the East, with a large fleet. This was the beginning.
In 1638 a still more severe action was fought, in which the
Dutch lost two of their largest ships. From Goa, however,
they turned to Ceylon, and attacked the Portuguese at
Batticalao on the 10th May with four ships. They arrived
just after the Portuguese had suffered reverses at the hands
of the Sinhalese. The Dutch landed three hundred soldiers
and some hundred sailors, and sent word to the King of
Kandy, with whom they had a treaty of some years' stand-
ing. In response to this message Eajah Sinha arrived with
an army of fifteen thousand men. The Portuguese fort was
then besieged, and after a few hours' fighting the garrison
of seven hundred men surrendered. On receipt of the news
of this success at Batavia a fleet of eleven vessels with a
complement of twelve hundred and fifteen men was
despatched at once to Point de Galle, which was taken in
1639. Here the Dutch immediately built a very strong fort
and a large church, and opened schools under their mis-
sionaries in the country around. There is no doubt that
their government as compared with that of the Portuguese
was a mse and careful one, and the Sinhalese were at once
much benefited by it.
After Point de Galle had been taken the Dutch turned
their attention to the important port of Negombo, which
they captured after a short but sharp fight. The Dutch
were now masters ; for although they had later on to settle
several more accounts with the remaining Portuguese
garrisons, and also to fight some stiff engagements with the
Sinhalese, their actual power was never affected, nor was
there any doubt as to the eventual result. The last fight
of any importance between the Dutch and Portuguese in
Ceylon was at Colombo (1656), when the latter were besieged
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 215
for several months before they gave in. The accounts
given in the Dutch histories show that the sufferings of the
garrison must have been intense. Dead bodies were dis-
covered lying about the streets in hundreds, and we are told
that the " stench was unbearable."
Jaffnapatam was the last Portuguese stronghold in the
island, and this was not long afterwards reduced by the
Dutch with the customary cruelty and butchery of the
time, most or all of the men being slain, the old women got
rid of, and all the young Portuguese maidens taken by the
common soldiery as part of the loot.
On learning of the capture of Colombo Rajah Sinha lost
no time in urging the Dutch to dehver it into his hands, in
accordance with the treaty entered into between them.
But the Dutch saw no necessity for doing so, for when
dealing with an Eastern monarch all is practically artifice
and stratagem. The treaty with the rajah was therefore
not ratified, and instead of complying with its conditions
they retained all the fortified possessions they had seized,
under the plea that they were awaiting the consent of the
king in Europe.
Enraged and mortified at such a breach of faith, the like
of which he had never known, as the Portuguese — to suit
their own convenience, of course — had always kept their
word with him. Rajah Sinha commanded his coast subjects
to lay waste all the districts in which they dwelt in order
to deprive the Dutch of any hope of commercial gains, which
he knew was the real reason for their coming there. The
Dutch, however, anticipated the order, and before it could
be carried out, or even attempted, had taken possession of
the districts about their strongholds.
The Sinhalese who lived near the forts do not appear to
have objected in the slightest to this measure — in fact,
were the truth known, they probably welcomed it.
In 1664, through the machinations of the Dutch, while
216 JAVA
the rajah was hving at Milambe, in the Matale district, the
Sinhalese rose in rebeUion against him and proclaimed his
infant son as emperor. Their intentions were frustrated,
however, first by a refusal of the young prince to accept
the throne, then by the sudden appearance of Rajah Sinha
himself at the head of an overwhelming force. The end
was the annihilation of the rebel forces, the barbarous and
cruel murder by torture of several of the nobility, and even
of his own son.
Matters became generally quiet again, and the Dutch,
in their desire to gain greater commercial intercourse with
the island, laid themselves out to do all they could to keep
on friendly terms with the natives.
As to Rajah Sinha, they set about working upon what
they thought, as with other Eastern kings, was his weakness,
a love of flattery, and they despatched numerous embassies
to Kandy with rich and magnificent presents. The sus-
picions, however, of Rajah Sinha had already been awakened
by their past conduct, and were not to be entirely lulled by
their present apparently submissive demeanour. He
received, it is true, their ambassadors with similar assur-
ances, but it was all with the object of gaining time.
In 1672 a new European power attempted to settle in
Ceylon. This was France, which had been induced to turn
its attention to Ceylon owing to the wealth the Dutch were
securing from this island. Major Caron, formerly an officer
in the Dutch army, made proposals to the French to lead an
attack on Point de Galle, and M. de la Haye, the Governor
of Madagascar, sailed with a fleet of fourteen ships and
attacked the settlement. Here he was beaten off and
proceeded to Trincomalee, where he landed, built a fort,
and despatched three ambassadors with presents to Rajah
Sinha. One of the ambassadors, De Lanerolle, refusing to
submit to the court etiquette, was imprisoned, and the
result of the embassy was nil. Governor Haye then sailed
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 217
for Pondicherry, a French possession, but was met at sea
by a Dutch squadron, and four of his vessels were destroyed,
while the rest were dispersed in all directions. Shortly after
this the French fort and garrison, with all the artillery, were
captured by the Dutch, and this ended for good and all
France's hope of seizing the island for herself, besides the
fact that her prestige was temporarily lowered in the East
by her complete failure.
Eajah Sinha, after the disaster of the French endeavours
to gain a foothold in the island owing to the strength of the
Dutch, began to feel alarmed lest this incubus would
eventually oust him too, as he felt that their power, by
careful and calculated diplomacy, was increasing day by
day. This uneasiness of the rajah was not without grounds,
as the territories over which the Dutch ruled were increasing
so much in all directions that action was at last necessary
to prevent his being entirely hemmed in. In 1680, there-
fore, at the head of an army of thirty thousand men, he
attacked the fortress of Malvana, knowing well that if this
fell it would encourage his men and enable him to win
others. Owing, however, to the treachery of one of his
principal generals (who had been privately bribed) who went
over to the Dutch with more than half his army, he was
badly beaten. This broke the old rajah's heart, and,
although he lived for still another seven years, he was never
the same man again.^ Treachery from without he could
stand, but, coming from within, it was more than could be
borne.
After the rajah's death the Dutch endeavoured with
flattering proposals to secure still greater commercial gain,
and there is no doubt that by one way and another they
did so.
Most of the governors whom the Dutch East India Com-
1 He was 87 years when he died, having been born in 1600. He reigned
fifty years.
218 JAVA
pany sent to administer in Ceylon were, for their times, able
men. It is, of course, true that one or two, more than the
others, were cruel and harsh towards the natives and ruled
with a rod of iron ; but in most cases, however harsh they
were, it could not have been worse than the rajah's rule, who
kept trained elephants to crush the life out of those who
oilFended or tear the limbs off the hapless victim, or who tied
them by their heels to gallows and then split them in two.
Van Goens, Peil, and Becker seem all to have been
merciful governors, whilst the rule of Eumph seems specially
to have been distinguished as much by ability as by
humanity. His follower, however, Arnold Moll, was a
ruffian, and his exactions caused a serious insurrection at
Colombo, and ended in the murder of some of the Hollanders.
Then came Petrus Vuyst, who, like so many men in other
places, endeavoured with all in his power to make himself
an independent sovereign, and with this object had recourse
to a curious system of barbarity. All persons who had any
influence in Ceylon or possessed wealth were subjected to
terrible tortures as a means of preventing their thwarting
his schemes. Vuyst was eventually made a prisoner and
sent to headquarters at Batavia to the viceroy, where he
met with a condign punishment. He was broken alive on
the wheel, his body quartered and burnt, and the ashes
thrown into the sea.
His successor was Stephanus Versluys, who, not profiting
by the example of Vuyst and denring to make as much gain
as he could in the shortest space of time, raised the price of
rice to such an extent that a severe famine was the result
and hundreds died. On hearing this the viceroy at Batavia
decided again to make another change, and sent a Company's
ship with a new governor called Domburg on board to replace
him. Versluys, knowing what was in store for him, refused
to resign, and when the Company's ship hove in sight
ordered the forts to fire on her and drive her off. They
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 219
easily succeeded in doing this, of course, but he was even-
tually compelled to submit to a superior force, and was sent
a prisoner to Batavia for punishment, which he duly
received.
With the arrival of Gustaff, Baron van Imhoff, in 1736,
the settlements of the Dutch in Ceylon made a great advance.
Hitherto the only article of commerce had been cinnamon,
but he introduced coffee, pepper, and cardamoms with very
successful results, and enormous sums of money were raised
out of these articles. Van Imhoff was succeeded by
governors who followed his policy, and Ceylon prospered
accordingly.
It was during the time of Golnesse, in 1747, that Kirta Sri
Eajah Sinha took up arms against the Dutch. The pro-
vinces of the Kandy chief were growing smaller and smaller,
and the inroads made on his former absolute sway were
almost too much for an independent chief to take uncon-
cernedly. He therefore determined to try once more to
expel the Dutch. That he was not successful was a fore-
gone conclusion.
In 1763 the Dutch themselves, however, took up the
cudgels, and, encouraged by dissensions among the Kandy
chiefs, marched with an army of eight thousand men, seized
the capital, Kandy, and occupied it for nine months. Baron
van Eck was then the governor, a man of character and
determination. The Dutch forces at Kandy were con-
tinually harassed by the natives, and as their numbers were
being daily thinned by fevers, dysentery, ague, and all those
diseases which follow an army all the world over, but in the
tropics in particular, it was finally decided to abandon
Kandy and retreat into their own country again. The
retreat was a disaster, and Governor van Eck, to uphold
his prestige, was then obliged to attack the Sinhalese, who
numbered probably nearly forty thousand men, in the
Kandy an mountains and forests. He defeated them with
220 JAVA
heavy loss. He then forced the rajah to make a treaty,
and secured the forts of Putlalam and Batticaloa as in-
demnity.
The Dutch now settled down to a long period of peace and
the Rajah of Kandy was left to his own devices. Agricul-
ture now made rapid progress, and good and wise govern-
ment was the order of the day.
The Dutch held Ceylon without interruption until the
15th February, 1796, when the English, who have remained
there ever since, estabhshed themselves there in order to
prevent the island falling into the hands of the French, when
Napoleon was overrunning Europe and the w^orld. Had
Holland not given way to the solicitations of France to
make common cause with her against Great Britain at the
close of the American war, there would have been perhaps
no reasonable excuse for the English Government of Madras
sending the expedition which put an end to the Dutch rule.
The Dutch made no show of resistance — they had really
settled in Ceylon as shopkeepers, not as soldiers. Their
paid mercenaries were soon tired, although the Malaj^s
fought well at Trincomalee. Three days after the British
landing at Negombo, the gates of Colombo were opened by
the Dutch governor to the British invaders. The British
now speedily spread their control over the island, and in
1815 the Sinhalese king was captured and deported. The
line of Sinhalese rajahs thus came to an ending. The
English therefore succeeded in doing what two European
powers had been trying to do for three centuries, namely,
conquer the kingdom of Kandy. From this time on there
has been no one to dispute the supreme power of the British
raj. The King-Emperor's writs run in the farthest corners
of the island, and, with the exception of a trivial outbreak
in 1834, there has never occurred anything to disturb the
tranquillity of the island and its perfect contentment.
The prosperity of Ceylon since it became a British colony
-WAN LA]>V FK(iM miKK AKA 1; F >, .
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 221
has been quite phenomenal. The population has quadrupled
itself, for whereas it stood at less than one miUion when
Dutch domination came to an end, to-day it stands at over
four millions.
The following is a copy of a despatch from William V.,
Prince of Orange, to the Dutch governor of Ceylon, in which
he agrees to the capitulation of the island : —
Letter from William V., Prince of Orange, to Governor
van Angelbeck, 7th February, 1795 (translated from the
original preserved in the English Government Archives,
Colombo) : —
" Noble and Most Honoured Confidante, Our Trusty and Well-
beloved.
" We have deemed it necessary to address you this communica-
tion, and to require you to admit into Trincomalee and elsewhere
in the Colony under your rule, the troops of His Majesty, the
King of Great Britain, which will proceed there, and also to
admit into the harbours, and such other places where ships
might safely anchor, the warships, frigates, and armed vessels
which will be despatched there on behalf of His Majesty of
Britain ; and you are also to consider these as troops and ships
belonging to a Power that is in friendship and alUance with their
High Mightinesses, and who come to prevent the Colony from
being invaded by the French. Wherefore, Noble and Most
Honoured Confidante, Our Trusty and Well -beloved, we commit
you to God's holy protection, and remain
** Your well-wishing friend,
William, PRmcE of Orange.
" Kew, 7th February, 1795."
The following is the list of Dutch governors of Ceylon,
with the dates of their appointments, from the full occupa-
tion in March, 1640, until February, 1796 :—
At Galle.
Wilham Jacobson Coster .
. 1640
Jan Thysz ....
. 1640
Joan Matsuyker
. 1646
Jacob van Kittenstein
. 1650
Adrian van der Meyden .
. 1653
222
JAVA
At Colombo.
Adrian van der Meyden
Ryklof van Goens .
Jacob Hustaar
. 1656
1660
1663
Ryklof van Goens .
Lourens van Peil
1664
1680
Thomas van Rhee .
1693
Paulus de Rhoo
1695
Gerrit de Heer
1697
CorniKs Johannes Simonsj
1703
Hendrick Becker
1707
Ssaak Augustin Rumph .
Arnold Moll .
1716
1723
Johannes Hertenberg
Jan Paulus Schagen
1724
1725
Petrus Vuyst .
Stephanus Versluys .
Gualterus Nontersz
1726
1729
1732
Jacob C. Pielaat
1732
Diedrich van Domburg
1734
Jan Maccara .
1736
Gustaff W. Baron van Imhofi
1736
William Mauritz Bruinink
1740
Daniel Overkeek
1742
J. V. Stein van Golnesse .
1743
Gerard van Vreeland
1751
Jacob de Jong
1751
Ivan Gideon Loten .
1752
Jan Schrender
1757
Subhert Jan Baron van Eck
. 1762
Anthony Moyaart .
Imann Willem Falck
. 1765
1765
Willem Jacob van der Graff
. 1785
Joan Gerrard van Angelbeck
. 1796
(under whom Colombo, and with it the entire
coast, was surrender
ed to
the ]
Britisl
I).
Dutch Settlement at Cape of Good Hope (1600 — 1795). —
From 1600 onward the Dutch had more or less looked upon
the Cape of Good Hope as belonging to them, and all their
ships called " out and home " at Table Bay to water and
refresh.
In 1620 Captains Humphrey Fitzherbert and Andrew
Shilling arrived there, and, landing, planted the Enghsh
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 223
flag and took possession in the name of King James. No
effective steps were, however, taken to follow this up. In
1652 the Dutch sent a large expedition to the Cape, and
took formal possession. A protest was lodged by the
English East India Company but disregarded, and the
colony remained Dutch until 1796, when the English
again took possession of it and have ever since remained
there.
Dutch Settlement of Malacca (1541— 1796).— When all
their strongholds in Ceylon had fallen to the Dutch, the
Portuguese at last began to realise that they were no match
for their enemy, who had supplanted them everywhere
except at Goa and Malacca with a cunning and ingenuity
beyond words. It is true that, as far as the former citadel
was concerned, the power of the Portuguese had in no way
waned, but then the governor-general of the Portuguese
East Indies took very good care to keep himself surrounded
by a large force of soldiers and a " goodly number of ships."
The outward magnificent style this personage kept up was
such as to entirely overawe the natives, who gained an
exaggerated opinion of his real importance. He was served
with gold plate, and each meal was a banquet. He was
waited on by Knights of the Cross, and no Indian was
allowed to approach him. Fanfares were sounded and
cavalry paraded when he took an airing, and a salute of
twenty-one guns was fired from the fort each time he left
and returned to his palace. Proud and pompous display of
wealth attained by illicit means now took the place of that
generous virtue and laudable ambition which enabled the
ancestors of the Portuguese to lay the foundation of their
empire in the East. The clergy, too, following the example
of the laity, to whom the lead had been given by the
governors, with its consequent ill-effects on all subordinate
officers, also began to degenerate, and instead of promoting,
as in the beginning, the conversion of the natives, traded
224 JAVA
freely and did a large business with their proselytes in
diamonds.
It was this degeneration of their officers that lost the
Portuguese their colonies in the East.
When the Dutch governor at Batavia decided in 1541 to
attack Malacca and make an end to Portuguese rule there,
he sent a fleet of twenty ships to capture the place. As
soon as the fleet arrived at Malacca the Dutch admiral sent
a message to his Excellency the governor informing him
politely it was his intention to begin the attack the following
day at twelve o'clock, to which letter the Portuguese governor
replied that the Dutch admiral could open the attack when
he pleased, as they were quite ready. After fighting for
two months the Dutch were obliged to give up, returning to
Bantam to refresh and feeling rather ashamed of themselves.
A letter was now sent by the Dutch governor-general to
the Kajah of Johore, couched in terms of great friendship
and conveying the suggestion that they should attack
Malacca together. The Kajah of Johore was pleased with
this idea, as he had gained the impression that the Dutch
were of not so much account as the Portuguese, and there-
fore, if he could get rid of the latter, the former could easily
be disposed of later.
An agreement was therefore entered into between the
Kajah of Johore and the Dutch that, as far as Malacca was
concerned, they were one. Under this arrangement it was
agreed that the Dutch were to attack by sea and the Malays
of Johore by land, and in the event of the country sur-
rendering the Dutch were to retain Malacca and all the
cannon, while everything else that was found in the town
was to be equally divided between the people of Johore and
the Dutch — a very fair and equitable arrangement for the
Dutch. When the Dutch fleet arrived at Malacca for the
second time they found a Portuguese fleet awaiting them,
and a very severe struggle began, the Malays attacking on
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 225
the land side ; but after fifteen days of more or less incessant
attacks and counter-attacks nothing had been achieved,
and beyond a large number of slain on both sides the Dutch
were not any nearer capturing the forts than they were at
the beginning.
The Malays now held a consultation, and began to think
that if they fought against the white man according to his
own fashion Malacca would not fall for ten years. They
therefore decided that fifty men should gain entrance to
the fort and run " amok." On the day fixed at five o'clock
in the evening fifty Malays entered the fort and ran " amok,"
and every Portuguese was either put to death or forced to
fly into the interior. The Dutch now" destroyed the Portu-
guese fleet, and Malacca was theirs.
This new acquisition by the Dutch ended their ideas of
expansion, and they now began to colonise their settlements
as only the Dutch know how to do ; each of them became
the home for life of those who came there, no thought of
return to Europe ever occurring to these colonisers.
The Dutch remained the undisputed masters of Malacca
until 1795, when the English took their place, but returned
it to them in 1819. Li 1824, however, the Dutch exchanged
Malacca with England for the residency of Bencoolen, in
Sumatra.
Malacca, the oldest and largest of the Straits Settlements,
is a triangular piece of territory on the west coast of the
Malay peninsula. It covers 659 square miles, has a coast
line of fifty miles, and is adjacent to the States of Johore
and Negri Sembilan.
List of the Dutch governors of Malacca^ : —
Johan van Twist (governor and extra-
ordinary councillor of India) . . 1641 — 1642
Johan van Whet (ditto) . . . 1642—1646
Arnold de Vlaming van Outshoom (ditto) 1646 — 1662
^ As far as has been discovered by the author.
J. — VOL. I- Q
226
JAVA
Johan van Rebeek (commander-resident) ^
Balthasar Bort (ditto) .
Jacob Jorrissoon Pits (governor)
Cornelis van Quaalberg (ditto)
Nicolaas Schagen (governor and extra
ordinary councillor of India)
Dm-k Komans (commander) .
Thomas Slicher (governor and extra
ordinary councillor)
Gelmer Vosburg (governor)
Govert van Hoor (ditto)
Bernard Phoonsen (ditto)
Johan Groolenhuys (commander)
Karel Bolner (governor)
Pieter Rooselaar (ditto)
Wilham Six (ditto)
William Moerman (governor) .
Herman van Suchtelen .
1662—1665
1665—1679
1679—1680
1680—1684
1684—1686
1686—1686
1686—1691
1692—1697
1697—1700
1700—1704
1704—1707
1707—1709
1709—1711
1711—1717
1717
Superintendents of Peirah^ (established in 1655) : —
Isaak Ryken 1655—1656
Pieter Buytzen 1656—1656
ComeKs van Gunst ....
(factory abandoned 1656, re-established 1659).
JuHan Massis 1659 — 1660
Abraham Schats 1660—1660
Adrian Lucassoon ..... 1660 — 1661
Superintendents of Ligor :-
Balthasar Bort
Johannes Zacharias
Michiel Curre
Juhan Massis
Nicolaas Muller
1656—1656
1656—1657
1657—1660
1661
1667—1669
Superintendents of Oedjong Salang :-
Cornelis van Gunst
Jacob Jorrison Pits
(abandoned in 1660).
1656—1658
1658—1660
' The senior Engliahman at this time was WilUam Turner.
'■* Called Perah, or Perak. All these factories were under Malacca, and
the superintendents were styled " onder koopmen," or junior merchants.
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 227
Superintendents of Quedah : —
Pieter Buytzen 1654 — 1656
Arend Classon Dray .... 1656 — 1656
(abandoned in 1657, reoccupied 1660).
Ja<;ob Kerklioven 1660 — 1662
Hendrick Pelgrom . . . . 1710
Pieter du Quesne . . . . . 1711
St. Helena. — St. Helena, so named by the Portuguese,
who discovered it on St. Helen's Day in 1502, was taken as
the Enghsh Company's property in 1651, all their ships to
and from the East calling there. In 1661 a certain Captain
Stringer divided up the island into one hundred and fifty
small farms, and let them to settlers at a trifling rate.
Slaves were immediately imported and made to work under
fear of the lash and torture.
A Dutch Possession 1673. — In 1673 a Dutch fleet arrived
and took possession of the island. For years the Dutch had
cast eyes on it, finding it a most convenient place for their
ships to call to and from Java.
The English, however, were not prepared to allow this, and
sent Sir WiUiam Munden to retake the island the same year.
This new governor, who was angry with the inhabitants
for their treatment of the Dutch, a nation he was apparently
very jealous of, proved a tyrant of the worst description.
He branded whites and blacks alike with hot irons on the
very shghtest provocation, and lashings were of daily
occurrence. One unfortunate woman, a planter's wife,
was ordered twenty-one lashes, and then to be ducked three
times, for merely remarking that to incur the Government's
displeasure was tantamount to being murdered.
This bloodthirsty governor seemed in perpetual dread
that the Dutch would return and that the islanders would
assist them, and any one whom he had a suspicion of was
promptly punished.
In 1815 the Crown took over the island from the Company
and ransomed 614 slaves for £28,062.
Q 2
RISE OF DUTCH POWER IN THE EAST 229
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER V
Dutch Possessions
In the great wars between 1781 and 1811 Holland, of course,
lost all her colonies to England, but in 1814, Holland was
returned to the House of Orange, when Java in 1816 and
Malacca in 1819 were handed back. The latter, however, was
given once more back to England in 1824 in exchange for Ben-
coolen, or one might say Sumatra.
The Dutch have possessed at one time or another the following
settlements or agencies in the East (from an old list compiled by
the Dutch Company for the States -General on the 22nd October,
1664) :—
Nominally, the entire East Indian Archipelago ; Malacca
(without factories) ; Siam, Aracan (an agency for rice and slaves
only), Tonquin Ava, Sirian. In Coromandel : Pulicat, Negapatam,
MasuHpatam. Bengal : Hughly, Cossimbazaar, Dacca, Patna,
Orixa. The island of Ceylon ; the island of Formosa. In
Malabar : Cochin, Cranganore, Quilon, Cananore ; Calicut.
In Ouzerat : Surat, Amedabad, Agra. In Persia : Gombroon,
Ispahan, Bussorah. In Arabia : Mocha. The island of Mauritius ;
the island of St. Helena. The Cape of Good Hope. In Japan :
Eirando. In China : Amoy, Ningpo (?).
CHAPTEE VI
The Dutch in Java, 1623 to 1811
The Growth of the Dutch Poiver in the East. — A certain lust
of conquest on the part of her rulers, but mainly the desire
for the commercial gain to be won from directly tapping
the sources of the fabulous riches of India, were the reasons
why Portugal sought a passage by sea to the East.
The English, in following this example, although no
doubt actuated by their independent spirit and desirous
of a direct trade with India in preference to having to
import their goods through the medium of a foreign power,
not always friendly, were unquestionably more influenced
by the opportunity that offered for making profits than by
the likelihood or desire of establishing colonies.
The objects of the Dutch, however, were openly shown,
and it is quite clear that their one wish was to engross and
monopoHse the trade of the Spice Islands.
Therefore, however much their political spirit in the East
Indies at the present day may be admired, and themselves
counted as the only great colonising nation besides ourselves
in the world, it has always to be remembered that, as in the
case of the EngHsh East India Company, the Dutch East
India Company was created wholly and solely with the
object of commercial profit, though from this arose after-
wards, as a natural sequence, the desire for, or, indeed, the
necessity of, territorial aggrandisement. The result was
therefore that both Companies found themselves, sometimes,
perhaps, almost against their wills, getting possession of an
ever-increaisng Eastern empire, and that from being merely
traders they gradually came to be practically ruling powers.
At this day the Dutch, except for a strip on the north coast
THE TORMENTS INFLICTED BY THE DUTCH OX THE ENGLISH IN AMBOYNA.
THE CONDITION- OF THE ENGLISH IX THE DLXGEOX AND THEIR EXECUTION
(amboyxa).
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 231
of Borneo, are the masters of the whole East Indian Archi-
pelago, and it is possible that, with a less narrow spirit and
a more magnanimous, far-seeing, and hberal pohcy in India,
this country also might have been theirs — in any case
temporarily. It therefore seems fortunate for the English
that, after the troubles at Bantam and Amboyna, when
they saw that they had no chance in the East Indies against
the Dutch, the East India Company decided to transfer its
seat of government from Bantam and the Moluccas to
India, where its servants put their shoulders to the wheel
to push on the trade and, profiting by previous experience,
kept a larger staff at their factories than the Dutch did at
theirs. Their previous lessons were therefore perhaps
beneficial, and yielded their profit in due season in India.
From this day Dutch power waned in India before that
of the English, just as Portuguese power had previously
given way on the coming of the Dutch.
On the other hand, the Dutch power in the East Indies,
by the removal of the English seat of government, was
henceforth assured, and no cloud of any further interference
from a European Power rose on the horizon until Napoleon
began to turn Europe into a playfield for his armies.
Having in the previous chapter shown how the Dutch
conquered their principal possessions in the East, the thread
of their successes in Java may be taken up again.
Troubles in the Moluccas. — It seems that after the English
had been turned out of Amboyna the Dutch endeavoured
to prevent the natives from growing, or in any case from
plucking, so many cloves and nutmegs. The natives, who
viewed this interference with their only means of livelihood
as highly prejudicial to their welfare, revolted, but the rising
was temporarily crushed with a heavy hand. This, however,
was merely the beginning of a long series of troubles in these
islands, which were very naturally to be expected, as the
natives for centuries had cultivated nothing else but nutmegs
232 JAVA
and cloves, and the wealth of then- rajahs was derived solely
from this source.
When the Dutch found it was impossible to restrict either
the plucking or the clandestine export, they destroyed the
spice trees, and in those islands which they did not consider
it worth while to protect, or which were possibly too far
away from their centres of commerce for control, the trees
were cut down wholesale. Under such conditions affairs
went from bad to worse, and on two occasions when the
position of the Dutch became serious, and even alarming,
the governor-general at Batavia proceeded to Amboyna to
look into matters for himself. Beyond, however, the
settlement of a few minor points and the punishment of the
natives, it does not appear that he greatly altered the poHcy
or disapproved of the actions of his lieutenants.
The Dutch secure the Monopoly of the Spice Trade to the
Exclusion of the Portuguese and English. — Fights and troubles
therefore continued and lasted, in fact, in the Moluccas for
the best part of a century. In the end, however, the Dutch
appear to have had their own way entirely, and the Portu-
guese and Enghsh were excluded by treaty from trading
with the native princes at any port whatsoever. The
Dutch, with this monopoly, controlled the supply of spices
for the European market, and prices were therefore also
regulated by them.
'^ All this does not appear to have been attained, however,
without considerable sacrifice of human life.
The Dutch were no sooner firmly established at Batavia
than the Susuhunan of Matarem with a tremendous army
of Javans attacked them. The siege lasted for several
months, assaults on the town and fort with elephants and
cavalry being followed by the sallies of the besieged. _h\
the end the Dutch imported a number of Japanese soldiers,
and with their assistance made a final grand effort and
drove their assailants off, who withdrew and reinforced
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 233
themselves at Kaliewoengoe. This war, it is said, cost the
Javan forces from famine, disease, and death in the field,
about 120,000 lives. The losses of the Dutch were also not
slight, and the troops must have suffered intensely, especially
when obhged to take the field.
However, the progress of the Dutch in Java, notwith-
standing great difficulties, was steady, and one cannot help
admiring the first brave little body of men who were
endeavouring, by all the means at their disposal, to colonise
these Eastern lands and thus enrich their country by the
trade to be secured therefrom.
Treaties with all the Sovereigns of Java. — By 1646 they had
successfully concluded written treaties with all the sovereigns
in Java, and on the 24th September, 1646, signed one at
Batavia with the susuhunan, one of its clauses being that
the Dutch should send him a yearly ambassador to inform
him of the nature of all the curiosities that had arrived from
Europe, and further that all priests or other persons whom
the susuhunan might be desirous of sending to foreign
countries should be conveyed thither in the Company's ships.
It was also agreed at the same time that all persons who
should desert to either country for the purpose of avoiding
their debts should be given up, and that the Company and
the susuhunan should assist each other against their common
enemies ; also that the vessels of the susuhunan 's subjects
should be allow^ed to trade to all places under the Company's
authority except Amboyna, Banda, and Ternate, and that
those bound to Malacca or places northward of that settle-
ment should be obliged to touch at Batavia and to apply to
the Dutch for passes.
Trouble with the Sultan of Bantam. — During 1652 the
Sultan of Bantam, who for many years had been carrying
on a desultory war with the Dutch, attacked Batavia with
sixty thousand men. On the road he laid waste, burned,
and pillaged all the villages that were friendly to his enemy.
234 JAVA
Beyond this, however, nothing much appears to have been
effected.
Treaty with the Sultan of Bantam. — On the 10th July,
1659, the Dutch managed to conclude a treaty with the
Sultan of Bantam, through the mediation of the ambassadors
of the Pangeran of Janibi, in which it was stipulated that
all prisoners of war and deserters should be restored by
either side, and that the Dutch should as heretofore have a
permanent residence at Bantam, for which purpose the same
building was to be given which they had occupied before
the war began, and free of rent, and that this building was
to be secured by the sultan against any hostile attempt.
Closing of English Factory at Batavia. — On the 19th
October, 1677, a new treaty was also made with the susii-
hiinan, by which the Dutch secured the monopoly of all the
trade in the Matdrem provinces,^ to the chagrin of the English,
who were now obliged oflScially to close their factory at
Batavia. As, however, it had for a good many years
already been merely a nominal affair, not very much can
have been lost to the English Company through this.
Trouble again at Bantam. — In the same year (1677)
trouble again arose at Bantam. The old sultan, feeling
the advance of years, invited his son to share his regal power
and help him rule his kingdom. This measure was attended
by the inevitable results. Jealousy arose between father
and son, which very soon became an open hostility. The
policy of the Dutch led them to take an active part in favour
of the young sultan, who had inclined most towards their
interests and now solicited their aid. In return for this he
was willing to give them special advantages. The English,
on the other hand, discouraged what they considered open
rebellion on the part of the young sultan, but declined to
interfere in any other character than as mediators, or to
afford military assistance to either party. This neutrality
' Batavia was of course among them.
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 235
was probably sincere, owing to their extreme weakness,
for since 1668, when their factory had been taken by
the Dutch and afterwards virtually ceded back to them,
the Enghsh had been residing at Bantam partly on suffer-
ance and consequently did not dare meddle much in
pohtics.
Murder of English Agent at Bantam. — They nevertheless
suffered, for on the 21st May, 1677, the rabble of the young
sultan, incensed at the want of sympathy shown by the
Enghsh, barbarously murdered the agent, Arnold "White,
with many of his staff. The English Company in Janibi
immediately reinforced the Bantam factory with every man
they could spare, so that the ^\ish of the new sultan and of
the Dutch to rid themselves of the Enghsh was for the time
frustrated.
On the 28th March, 1682, the trouble between the two
sultans, which had been smouldering, broke out afresh, and
the Dutch decided on landing a considerable force from
Batavia, which soon put an end to the war. This done,
they placed the young sultan on the throne, delivering his
aged father into his custody, and thereby obtained from
him the exclusive privilege for all the trade in his terri-
tories.^ This, it is quite apparent, was the main object they
had in view.
Closing of English Factory at Bantam in 1682. — This treaty
naturally carried ^dth it the extinction of the English
factory at Bantam. The factory was taken formal possession
of on the 1st April, 1682, by a party of Dutch and native
soldiers, and eleven days later the agent, Kobert Parker,
and his council were forced to embark ^dth their property
on vessels provided for the purpose, and were taken to
Batavia, whence they were sent to Sui'at on the 22nd August.
The Bantam treaty was a very important one for the
1 The treaty was not actually signed until the 17th April, 1684. By this
treaty the Portuguese, French, and Danes were also driven out.
286 JAVA
Dutch, and is one more proof of their slow but sure per-
severing methods. They have always been earnest in
making treaties with the native rulers, each time gaining a
little more than they had had before. The loss of Bantam
was the final blow to the English East India Company in
Java.^ The Dutchmen had stood up boldly against them
and had shown themselves hard to beat down. The Enghsh
Company, despite, however, all its manifold troubles and
vicissitudes, had lasted no less than eighty years in the
Island. Bloodshed, death, perpetual disappointment, and
continual rows with the Dutch marked the conduct of the
past at Bantam and Jacatra. When one reads the records
of the time, it seems that the Company's agents and admirals
in Java, although men of grit, were no match in commercial
dealings with the Dutch, who trusted in themselves and
themselves alone. The English, on the other hand, were
too much inclined to place reliance in the local native chiefs,
who invariably proved very weak reeds, and generally ended
in supporting the party which showed the greatest strength
and gave the most trouble.
Then, again, the Enghsh Company's agents were con-
tinually changing, owing to frequent deaths and other
reasons. The Dutch agents seem, however, to have been
better fitted constitutionally to stand the effects of the rough
life, the unwholesome tropical climate, and the infected
water of old Bantam.^ Still, however, the English did not
give in to the Dutch, although they at last fell victims to
them in a political struggle.'
There is rather a good insight into what life was like at
Bantam at this period to be gained from Edmund Scott's
' The factory at Japara lasted until 1677. The remaining English in
other parts of Java were finally expelled in 1684.
^ There -were 100,000 inhabitants in Bantam at this time, at least
according to J. Hageman.
^ For Hst of Company's agents and staff at Bantam and Batavia, see
Chapter XII.
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 237
journal from 1602 to 1605, and Captain John Saris 's account
from 1605 to 1609, given in Chapter XII.
The loss of Bantam was a somewhat severe blow, and the
English Company experienced the accumulated loss of
principal and interest expended on their dead stock at
Bantam and its dependencies, the amount of which can
only be roughly calculated. When the Bantam agent,
Robert Parker, and his council arrived at Surat, they
handed over goods and money to the value of 39,000 pieces
of eight, which was charged to the Surat account, as were
the debts of the factories formerly subordinate to Bantam,
namely, Siani, Tonquin, Taiyuanfoo (in Formosa), and
Jamhi, amounting to 176,000 pieces of eight. The trade,
however, of all these subordinate factories might be termed
a failure, the cause of which was the usual one, namely, that
Dutch competition proved too strong.
The Macassars in Java. — Several years before the depar-
ture of the English from Bantam a Celebes chief, with all
the desperadoes he could gather, landed at Besuki and soon
collected a following of similar rascals, with whom he com-
mitted great depredations.
The Independence of Madura proclaimed hy Truna Jaya. —
At the same time Truna Jaya, who was a nephew of the
Adipdte of Madura, declared the independence of Madura,
freeing that country from the hated rule of Matdrem.
An army sent against the Macassars from Matdrem was
repulsed, and the provinces of Pasuruan, Proholingo, Wira-
saba and Japara ^ submitted to the new rule.
The Susuhunan solicits the aid of the Dutch. — In this pre-
dicament the susuhunan, finding himself unequal to dis-
lodging the Macassar establishment, or to reducing the
Madurese to submission, solicited the aid of the Dutch.
A second Javan army was at once prepared and directed
to assemble at Japara and to procure the assistance of all
' Modjokerto.
238 JAVA
the white people who had factories there, Dutch, French,
Enghsh, and Portuguese. The Dutch commandant at
Japara, when asked for aid, rephed that " this apphcation
on the part of the susiihunan was just what the Dutch had
been long anxious for, and that he was ready to obey his
orders and sacrifice his life in his service."
Madura attacked by the Dutch. — The Dutch sent four ships
and some smaller vessels with soldiers, which were reinforced
at Japara by the susuhunan's troops and vessels. They
arrived off the north of Madura at night-time and at once
landed the troops in the forest. In the morning they
requested the enemy to allow them to take in water which
their ships were in need of, promising to depart immediately.
This request being granted, the guns were landed in water
casks and batteries quickly thrown up. An attack was then
made on the enemy's works, and in a few days they were
demolished, the enemy dispersed, and numerous prisoners
taken.
Trii^ia J ay a escapes. — Those that escaped joined Truna
Jaya ; and the latter, feehng himself now strong enough,
crossed over to the mainland and took possession of
Surabaya.
Dutch again asked for their Aid. — The Dutch were again
asked for their assistance, and Admiral Speelman was
despatched from Batavia with a strong land and sea force.
Admiral Speelman reduces all Ports from Cheribon to
Japara. — On the way to Japara he stopped at Cheribon and
reduced to submission this and all the other ports between
there and Japara. After a severe fight Truna Jaya was
defeated with the loss of a hundred cannon. He now fled
with his army to Kediri, and there he was attacked by the
combined forces of Admiral Speelman and the susuhiinan.
Truna Jaya defeated at Kediri. — The siege lasted nearly
two months, and the town was at last taken by assault.
Truna Jaya escaped, but the enormous accumulations of
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 239
riches that fell to the Dutch thoroughly repaid them for
their assistance. Chests and chests of Spanish dollars were
discovered in the old palace, besides ingots of gold and jewels
in profusion. The old crown of Majapahit together with
the regalia, already spoken of in a previous chapter, was also
found. The Dutch could now demand what they wished.
New Treaty with the Susuhunan. — A new treaty was con-
cluded and the district actually under Dutch jurisdiction
was extended to the Krawang river, whilst all their goods
were to be free everywhere in Java from export and import
duty ; further, they might build factories or forts anywhere
they pleased. The susuhunan had also to find 250,000
dollars and three thousand lasts of rice to be delivered at
Batavia, for the expenses of the Dutch in the late war. For
their assistance Admiral Speelman gave the French and
English at Japara 20,000 dollars apiece as a gift from the
susuhunan. He then put them on board two Dutch vessels
and told them never to return. They were never again
heard of, from which it must be concluded they were
captured by pirates.
First War of Succession. — In 1700 the first war of succes-
sion began, and the assistance of the Dutch was again asked
for by one of the heirs. This was another opportunity for
pohtical advantage which the Dutch did not lose sight of,
and therefore before granting any aid they explicitly stated
their requirements. These were : —
Great Advantages gained by the Dutch. — That all the sea-
ports from Krawang to the eastern extremity of the island,
and the whole of the revenues of these places, including all
the rice, be delivered to the State in diminution of the
susuhunan' s debt.
That the whole of the kingdom of Jacatra be likewise
permanently ceded to them.
That the sugar trade of Japara^ be placed entirely in the
^ It is said sugar was being made at Kling (Klaliug ?), an old Hindu town.
240 JAVA
hands of the Dutch, together with the sole management of
the town of Semarang and the village of Kaligaivi, with the
proviso, however, that the revenues collected were for
account of the susuhunan. As, however, his Highness was
always in debt to the Dutch, the revenues were kept in
diminution thereof.
The claimant PangSran Puger (as related in Chapter II.)
was publicly installed at Semarang on the 19th June, 1704,
and he was shortly afterwards required to sign fresh deeds
and treaties by which the Dutch were more or less confirmed
as the overlords of the island. Oenarang and Salatiga were
unfortified, and the troops of the would-be susuhunan were
disbanded.
Another Treaty ivith the Susiihunan. — The district of
Gehdng and all the territory between the river Dondn and
Pasuran w^as ceded to the Dutch by a treaty of the 5th
October, 1705.
They now held at last all the ports of the island in their
possession, collecting their revenues and regulating their
trade.^
The English Factory at Pulo Condore. — In 1706 news was
brought to the Dutch Company at Batavia that the English
garrison at Pulo Condore, which had been established by
Catchpoole, had been massacred by the Malays. It appears
that an insurrection among the native soldiery had occurred
as far back as the 2nd March, 1705, the mutineers having
first set fire to the Company's warehouse and murdered
Governor Catchpoole and most of the Enghsh in the island.
It was generally beheved that this treachery was instigated
by the Cochin Chinese, in order to get possession of the Com-
pany's treasure.
1 The dates of the great treaties of the East India Company in Java are
as follows : —
W^ith the Susuhiman of Solo, 19th October, 1677 ; with the Sultan of
Cheribon, 7th January, 1681 ; With the Sultan of Bantam, 5th October,
1705 ; with the susuhunan (in regard to Preangev), 1706.
THE DUTCH IN JAV^A, 1623 TO 1811 241
The English Colony at Banjermassin, — The only factor who
survived was one Baldwm, who, after many adventures,
managed to escape to Banjermassin. Here the Enghsh
Company, much to the chagrin of the Dutch, had secured
a firm footing and had fortified the place as early as 1698.
The factory staff consisted of a governor and four members
of coimcil, one factor, three writers, one ofi&cer, twenty-five
EngHsh, three Dutch, and ten Macassar soldiers, thirty
Japanese carpenters, five Chinese carpenters, two Chinese
bricklayers, seventy labourers, thirty slaves, and nine
European seamen.
More European artisans were asked for, an indent for a
large supply of mihtary stores made, and everything seemed
liighly promising, when in the following year a catastrophe
happened in the shape of a native attack which drove the
English out of the place.
Cunningham, one of the Company's servants, stated that
the attack was due to the Chinese stirring up the " Ban-
jareens " on account of their jealousy at the Enghsh
monopolising the pepper trade.
English Factory opened at Anjer. — In 1708 the English
established a factory at Anjeram, or Anjer, in the Straits
of Sunda.^
The War continues. — The fighting between the Javan
claimants and their adherents meantime still continued, and
every now and again broke out into flames. Fanjiran
Fuger, whom the Dutch had installed at Semarang, not
being the rightful heir, the real Susuhiinan or Emperor of
Matdrem held out resolutely for his rights.
The effects of this civil war being at last severely felt by
the Dutch themselves, the country being laid waste, and
the crops of rice being short, it was decided to put a large
1 Here is tlie tomb of Colonel Cathcart, who died on Ms voyage out to
China as British Ambassador to the Court of Peking, and was buried here
in 1788.
J. — VOL. I. R
242 JAVA
force into the field and re-establish tranquillity. On the
arrival of this force at Madura it was discovered that the
king of that island had made two unsuccessful attacks on
the Dutch garrisons of Pamakasan and Sumanep and been
forced at last to leave his capital with his family.
When the king, Pangeran Chdkra Deningrat, saw there
was nothing else to be done, and that his enemies were too
strong for him, he decided to throw himself upon the help
of the Dutch.
When a Dutch ship arrived at Madura he sent a letter on
board, which was forwarded by the captain to the admiral
at Surabaya ; the captain received in reply a message to
take the prince and his family on board and bring them to
Surabaya. The captain now informed Pangeran Chdkra of
the admiral's instructions and invited him to come on
board. Pangeran Chdkra, who was unconscious of treachery,
accepted the invitation and proceeded immediately with his
wife and children on board. When his boat arrived along-
side, his ministers with the emblems of State preceded him ;
after them came the pangiran, then his wife, Baden Ayu
Chakra Biningrat, and lastly his children.
When the pangeran reached the top of the ladder. Captain
Curtis came forward, took his hand, and delivered him over
to the officer on watch, who led him to his cabin. The
captain remained until the Bdden Ayu had come up, and as
soon as she stepped on deck took her also by the hand and
kissed her. Not understanding this custom and believing
Captain Curtis wished to insult her, she called for her
husband, saying *' the captain had evil intentions." The
pangeran, hearing the cries of his wife, became wild with
excitement, rushed on deck, kris in hand, and without
further to-do stabbed Curtis. The ministers and attendants
who had come on board, following the example of their
master, raised the cry of artiok and instantly fell on the
crew.
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 243
These, however, were too strong for them, and in a
few minutes all the Malays, including the chief, were
killed.
The rebels both in Eastern Java and Madura were now
joined by contingents from the island of Bah. Those,
however, in Madura were soon accounted for by the Dutch
and obhged to fly ; but those on the mainland secured a
temporary success, and, movmg from Surabaya towards
Kertasura, they carried the provinces of Japan (Modjokerto),
Wirasaha, Kediri, and Mddion Sukaicati with them, and a
headquarters station, with a sort of government, was
established at the latter place
The susuhmian's position now became more precarious
than before, for, added to the worries arising from a long
war with a troublesome enemy, his oa\ti family began to
cause him much annoyance, his two brothers plotting
against him. Battles were fought successively at Kediri,
Blitar, and Malang. The operations proved once more the
superiority of the susuhunan's warriors, for they carried
the day everywhere. His Highness, however, notwith-
standing the joy at his successes, succumbed at last to the
worries and fatigues of a campaign carried on under such
particularly difficult and trying circumstances.
End of the War. — His death had the effect, however, of
ending a long and tedious war.
The Elberfeld Conspiracy. — It was during the year 1722
that the famous conspiracy always known as the " Elberfeld
plot " was conceived. For some time there had been a
desire among some of the native princes once more to try
and get rid of the hated Dutch, and plans were continually
made, but ended in notliing. This one, however, was very
near being successful,, although, of course, it is plain that
the success could only have been temporary. The con-
spirator who stands out most prominently is a man named
Pieter Elberfeld, whose skull, thickly plastered over, is to
R 2
244 JAVA
be seen to this day in the top of a wall in the old city of
Jacatra.
The skull has a spear run through it, by which it is per-
manently transfixed. Below it there is a small tablet on
which is written in the Dutch language : —
" Wik eene verfoeyelyke gedachtenise tegen den gestraften,
landverrader Pieter Elberfeld zal niemand vermogen ter dezer
plaats te bouwen, timmeren, metselem, planten, im of teneourrige
dage."
the translation of which is : —
" In consequence of the detested memory of Pieter Elberfeld,
who was punished for treason, no one shall be permitted to build
in wood, or stone, or to plant anything whatsoever, in these
grounds, from this time forth for evermore."
The story is worth relating. The father of Pieter Elber-
feld was a native of Westphalia, the " Land of Hams," who
had come to Java for the purpose of making his fortune, and
who, on arriving in the island, had set up in business as a
merchant. After some time he formed a connection with a
native woman by whom he had six children, all sons, the
five elder of whom followed the manners and the European
habits of their father ; but Pieter, the youngest, born in
the year 1663, with strange pertinacity from childhood
clung to native ideas and customs, and this subsequently
led him to become an enthusiastic and daring patriot.
Hating the Dutch and all connected with them, looking upon
everything done by them as an injury to those whom he
regarded as his own people, he resolved on the extermination
of every foreigner from the soil of Java, and bent all his
thoughts to the consideration of the time when, and the
means by which, he might best accomplish this great object.
Hearing of the disaffection of some of the princes in the
interior, he privately communicated his designs to them,
endeavouring to gain their support to his bold and dangerous
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 245
plans ; for, courageous though he was, Elberfeld could not
have dreamt of success in carrying out the scheme he had
formed without the promise of assistance and co-operation
from men of more power and influence than himself. He
ultimately succeeded in gaining over to his side the two
sons of Paku Buvana and several minor princes. The
Susiihiinan Paku Buvana, whose empire of Matarem still
comprised about a third of the island, died in the year 1719
and was succeeded by his son, who, but for a fortunate
circumstance (to be related below), might only have occupied
the throne of his fathers for a very short time. Two of
his brothers, the princes alluded to above, growing jealous
of his ascendency and aiming at imperial power, allied them-
selves with Elberfeld for the express purpose of dethroning
him, making this condition, that if their designs succeeded
one of them should assume the title of Emperor, and the
other that of Sultan of some small independent State.
Elberfeld was to be raised to the dignity of Bin Hamid bin
Abdul Sheik al Islam, or High Priest of all Java. The plan
they adopted was a very bold and daring one, measures
being taken by which the different leaders might carry
it out simultaneously. Elberfeld, with thirty thousand
followers, was to attack and blow up the town and slaughter
all the European inhabitants throughout the residency of
Batavia ; while the two princes with their adherents were
to dethrone their brother, the emperor, take possession of
Matarem, and proclaim themselves simultaneously emperor
and sultan. Elberfeld's house was situated a short distance
from the gate in Jacatra which opened on the road, and here
it was determined to hold the nightly meetings of the dis-
affected chiefs and people, amongst whom were several
women. Here adherents were sworn and enrolled and ail
the proceedings connected with this terrible plot discussed,
such caution being used to avoid detection that the con-
spirators never raised their voices above a whisper, and were
246 JAVA
it not for the fortunate circumstance before alluded to,
there is not the shghtesfc doubt that some, if not all, of the
Dutch inhabitants and the adherents of the reigning native
emperor would have fallen at the hands of their midnight
foes.
Elberfeld had living with him a young niece, a brother's
child, whom at her father's death he had adopted as his own,
separating her from her brothers and sisters and educating
her as a native. Meeda (this was her name), whose mind
and tastes, despite the love she felt for her uncle, inclined
her to the European side, was very beautiful, inheriting the
fair skin of her grandfather, with the dark e5^es and locks of
her grandmother, and could not help expressing the disgust
she felt for every suitor for her hand whom her uncle
approved of. In her walks and drives she had frequently
observed a young Dutch officer attentively regarding her,
and this circumstance inspiring her with the desire of
marrying a European, she ardently hoped the young
soldier would pay his addresses to her, little doubting that
she would be able to gain her uncle's consent to such a union.
The Dutch officer had, indeed, frequently attempted to
speak to Meeda, but so closely was she watched by her
anxious relative that he saw that his only chance of obtain-
ing her hand lay in openly demanding it of the wealthy
uncle. Accordingly he did so, and his surprise exceeded all
bounds when he was informed that no child or relative of
Elberfeld's should marry a white man, and that, fondly as
he loved his niece, he would rather see her dead than the
wife of a Dutchman.
At once disappointed and exasperated, the officer left the
house, determined on defeating the views of the uncle by
some plan, for though the lovers had never interchanged
words, their eyes had faithfully interpreted those feelings
of the heart by which both were inspired.
Affairs connected with the conspiracy in which he was
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 247
engaged demanding Elberfeld's utmost attention, and the
vigilance with which he watched Meeda being in consequence
relaxed, it was not long before the officer found oppor-
tunities to meet his inamorata, and soon he obtained her
consent to a private marriage.
Meeda, however, could not thus set herself in opposition
to her uncle without some conflicting feelings. The remem-
brance of his uniform kindness to her, the thought of the
sorrow her desertion would cause him, often banished sleep
from her eyes till long after the other inmates of the house,
as she thought, had retired to their beds and mats. Still
love conquered every other feeling, and one night when she
met her lover she was induced to give him her faithful
promise in three days to become his bride. The thought of
her disobedience to her uncle rendered her that night even
more restless than usual, and she was unable to sleep. It
was a warm, sultry evening, and the air of the room seemed
to stifle her. Opening her window, therefore, she stepped
lightly into the small verandah which was attached to her
apartment, and here she remained for some time gazing
into darkness, for the air was thick and the moon obscured.
By-and-by she was startled from her reverie by a gleam of
light apparently proceeding from a lower window, which
threw its rays across the path, a circumstance which in
itself would have seemed trifling had it not been followed
by others of a more suspicious nature. Meeda had only
just recovered from her momentary alarm, and had settled
in her mind that her uncle had business which obliged him
to sit up late, when on looking down again she was surprised
to see the hght on the path frequently obscured, as if by
some dark body passing over it, and, this occurring again
and again, she discovered to her inexpressible surprise that
it arose from the entrance of several men through the window.
Meeda, who was a girl of no ordinary courage and strength
of mind, at once determined on the course to pursue. Gain-
248 JAVA
ing her own room, she proceeded noiselessly across the
passage which separated it from Elberfeld's, determined to
acquaint him at once with, as she imagined, their danger.
To her smprise, however, she found her uncle's room
empty ; and by the light of the oil-lamp she perceived that
the pillow on the mat which her uncle, true to his native
taste, made his sleeping-couch, had never been pressed that
night.
Quite perplexed as to what step to take next, the be-
wildered girl regained her own apartment, and probably
would have remained there until daybreak but for a foot-
step which she heard cautiously moving along the passage,
which caused her again to venture forth to watch unseen
the movements of the man whom she had dimly perceived
entering the room of Elberfeld.
In a few minutes her vigilance was repaid : the door re-
opened, and her uncle appeared within a few paces of where
she stood, shaded by a projecting wall, with a paper in his
hand and a dark, sinister expression on his face. Meeda's
first impulse had been to rush up to him and acquaint him
with what she had seen, but second thoughts determined
her to wait and see what he was about to do, for the expres-
sion of his face filled her with an undefined dread. Cautiously
he stole along the passage and down the stairs, followed at
some distance by his niece, who carefully selected the most
shadowy side for her dangerous midnight adventure,
fearful lest a false step, or even a loud breath, might betray
her. Having followed Elberfeld to that part of the house
near which the dining-room was situated, she fomid all in
complete darkness, all the lamps having been purposely
extinguished, a circumstance which by no means tended to
lessen her apprehension that something was seriously wrong.
Her uncle meanwhile had disappeared, and she stood
irresolute what next to do, when, her attention being drawn
by the sound of a door being opened gently, she perceived
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 181] 249
to her astonishment their large dining-room dimly hghted
and full of people. Perplexed and alarmed by this un-
expected circumstance, she was deliberating whether she
should proceed or retire, when the door was again closed
and she was left in total darkness. Eesolved not to be
baffled in the desire to penetrate this mystery, she groped
her way to the door, and, determined to ascertain what was
the secret object of this numerous assembly at such an hour,
she placed her ear to the keyhole. It was some minutes
before she could catch any distinct word, but as her ear
became accustomed to the whispers in which they spoke it
was not long before she became acquainted with the nature
of the plot in which they were engaged. It was with in-
expressible horror that she heard her uncle himself addressing
the assembly and naming the day and hour when every man,
woman, and child of purely Dutch parentage was to fall by
the sword or by fire. Putting her eye to the keyhole, she
then distinctly saw every man m the room place his hand on
his kris, and, after kissing the hand that had touched the
weapon, again perform the same ceremony with the Koran.
Horrified at what she had heard and seen, Meeda turned
from the door, and in a very few minutes succeeded in
finding her way back to the hghted part of the house and
thence to her room, where, carefully fastening her door, she
sat down to consider what step she ought to take on the
morrow. Next morning she contrived to write a letter
secretly to her lover informing him of the whole affair, only
begging of him if possible to avoid mentioning her uncle's
name as one of the conspirators. The young officer on
reading this communication of his mistress was equally
perplexed and horrified ; for he saw no reasons by which
he could avoid naming the principal in a plot so daring,
more especially as it was at his house that the secret meet-
ings were held. He therefore divulged the whole matter to
the authorities, who lost no time in warning the emperor
250 JAVA
and their own agents in different towns of the impending
danger, at the same time advising them on no account to
allow any indications of the fact that the plot had been
discovered to become known to the conspirators.
All, therefore, went on as usual till the night preceding
the one fixed for the massacre. On that night nearly all
the conspirators had met for the last time to concert their
final measures. " Be ready an hour before daybreak " were
Elberf eld's parting words as he stood by his door ready ta
close it when the last of his accomplices had gone forth.
But already the troops sent out to secure the conspirators
had surrounded the house. Before the last man had left,
their place of meeting a clashing of swords and the loud
report of firearms were heard. " We are betrayed,'* cried
Elberfeld. " Escape who can."
This, however, was now too late, for even while Elberfeld
and his fellow- conspirators were debating in fancied security^
every place of exit had been carefully guarded by soldiers^
and a strong body now entered the house, calling on all ta
lay down their weapons, and mercilessly cutting down every
one who showed the slightest sign of resistance. It after-
wards appeared there were several females amongst the
conspirators, most of whom were presently smothered with
pillows, a few only of both sexes being pardoned, one of
whom was a woman of high rank from the emperor's court,,
called Karta Drya. The dreadful sentences passed on the
perpetrators read as follows :
" Sentence against Pieter Elberfeld and his accomplices pro-
nounced at Batavia, April 8th, 1722.
" Forasmuch as Pieter Elberfeld, burgess, born at Batavia
of a white father and a black mother, of the age of 58 or 59, and
his accomplices Catadia, otherwise called Rahding, Javanese of
Kartasura, etc., etc.
" We the Judges having heard and examined the inform ation^
etc., etc.
" We hereby order and decree that the criminals shall be
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 251
delivered into the hands of the hangman in order to receive the
following punishments in the following manner. The two
criminals Elberfeld and Catadia shall be extended and bound
each of them on a cross where they shall each of them have their
right hands cut off, and their arms, legs, and breasts pinched
with red-hot pincers, till pieces of the flesh are torn away. They
shall then have their bodies ripped up from bottom to top, and
their hearts thrown in their faces ; after which their heads shall
be cut off and fixed upon a post, and their bodies being torn in
pieces shall be exposed to the fowls of the air without the city of
Jacatra.
"The other [four principal] criminals are each of them to be
bound upon a cross, and have their respective right hands cut
off, their arms, thighs and breasts pinched, their bodies ripped
open, and their hearts thrown in their faces, and their limbs
exposed upon a wheel, there to become the prey of birds.
"The [last] three are condemned each of them to be tied to
a stake, and there strangled till they are dead. Their bodies
shall be then carried like the rest to the common place of execu-
tion, and there exposed on wheels, for the nourishment of the
birds, etc., etc.
" Done and decreed in the Assembly of the Lords the Coun-
sellors of Justice this Wednesday, the 8th of April, all the Judges,
except iVIr. Craivanger, being present."
The sentence was pronounced and executed on Wednes-
day, the 22nd April, 1722.
Such were the punishments of the eighteenth century.
Not content even with this dire revenge, the governor-
general gave orders to raze this Eastern Eye House to the
ground, the gate was walled up, and the inscription already
given was placed there.
The fixing of the ghastly head by a spear to the top of
the wall at the spot where the gate had formerly stood, and
where Elberfeld had frequently meditated on his dangerous
plot, was the last act of vengeance by which their European
masters hoped to remind future generations of natives of
the fearful punishment with which they had visited treason
against their authority.
252 JAVA
To this day the natives say that on certain nights ominous
sounds are heard at this spot, and even apparitions are said
to have been seen. The Emperor of Maidrem, in his
gratitude to the Dutch for the service they had done him,
extended their territories.
Commodore Boggewein at Batavia. — Shortly after this
occurrence Commodore Roggewein arrived at Batavia with
his fleet of three ships, the Eagle, with thirty-six cannon and
one hundred and eleven men, commanded by Captain Job
Coster, on board of which was Roggewein himself ; the
Tienhoven, of twenty-eight cannon and one hundred men,
Captain James Bouman ; and the African Galley, of
fourteen cannon and sixty men. Captain Rosenthal.
This fleet sailed from Amsterdam on the 16th July, 1721,
under the charter of the West Indian Company, and after
battling round the Straits of Magellan arrived at Batavia,
only to be confiscated by the East Indian Company, the
crews being sent home by their ships. The East Indian
Company maintained that only they, and not the West
Indian Company, held the charter for trading in the
East Indies, and that therefore Roggewein had been
guilty of an infringement for which he must pay the
penalty.
The Great Chinese Rising. —The city of Batavia was now
in the highest state of prosperity, and trade was being
carried on by the Dutch with Europe and nearly every port
of anj'" importance in the East. The production of the
country had reached a magnitude never dreamed of, and
luxury and wealth went hand in hand and pervaded all
social life. The Dutch officials lived in a style beyond any-
thing ever contemplated in Europe. Slaves they had in
abundance to attend to their every want, and their money
flowed into numberless channels. The proverb says, " Like
master, like man " ; and this is often found true, for here
the slaves now became arrogant in the extreme, and began
THE DUTCH IN JAV^A, 1623 TO 1811 253
at first bullying, later on outraging, the Chinese, who were
the real merchants of Batavia, in fact of Java. At first
they caught the luckless Chinese one by one and flogged
them ; then they tried to kill them. In fact they went
from one step to another, until the Chinese could stand it
no longer and apphed to the Dutch authorities to put an
end to these outrages and punish the offenders. They
obtained, however, little or no redress, the slaves swearing
with one accord that the Chinese were the aggressors, and
in the end, seeing they could secure no justice from the
Dutch, the Chinese assembled at some sugar mills at
Ganddria to the number of a couple of thousand and held a
meeting to protest against their treatment. They then
chose a chief, with the determination to oppose the Dutch
and thrash the slaves. When this came to the Dutchmen's
ears they imported natives from the outside islands to try
and secure the Chinese, and managed to catch two hundred
of them. These were put on board a ship and ostensibly
banished to another country, but when some distance from
the land it is said they w^ere all thrown overboard, and most
were drowned. One or tw^o, however, managed to reach
the shore and sought out their companions at Gandaria, to
whom they related all that had occurred. The Chinese
concluded therefrom that the Dutch quite intended to
extirpate their race, and notified all their countrj'-men at
Batavia and Jacatra accordingly, suggesting a grand
assembly at Ganddria with all the arms they could collect.
The Chinese at Batavia and elsewliere, who had been equally
harassed by the slaves, against whom no appeal was gi-anted,
as soon as they heard about the Dutch having thrown their
countrymen overboard proceeded at once to Ganddria to
the number of more than five thousand. Here they placed
themselves under the orders of the chief, Sipan Jang.
Another account is that the governor-general, Adriaan
Valkenier, was very liberal in his favours to the Chinese,
254 JAVA
which enabled them, a race of born traders and shopkeepers,^
to grow very wealthy. This caused general discontent
among the native races, who, from their indolent and lazy
nature, remained poor. These latter now sought on every
occasion to bring charges in the law courts against the
Chinese, against whom the cases were always decided, the
evidence of the slaves proving too weighty. The Chinese
now congregated together and began pillaging the villages.
Just as this began a certain Baron Gustaff Willem van
Imhoff, who became later on governor-general, arrived at
Jacatra from Ceylon, and when he was told of the Chinese
depredations he suggested that as many as possible be
deported to Ceylon. A council was held of the " Eaad van
Indie " (viceroy's council) and the suggestion brought for-
ward, and accepted unanimously, it being agreed that the
Government should advance the cost of transporting the
Chinese, reimbursing themselves in due course by the
collection of the money from the Chinese themselves as
soon as they had settled down and were earning money
in their new place of abode.
The Chinese captain was now sent for, and told to go and
beat his gong and read out the governor-general's proclama-
tion, but naturally no single Chinaman came forward to be
deported.
The captain Chinaman was now ordered to arrest his
countrymen, all those that were poor to be captured first.
This he declined to do. Van Imhoff then inquired how a
rich Chinaman might be known from a poor one, and he was
told by his clothing, that of the latter being blue-black.
The authorities now themselves arrested all those that could
be found in blue-black clothes, and many others, among
whom were some belonging to highly respectable and
wealthy families. Those taken were placed on board ships
^ John Deans, a merchant of Java, 1810 — 1826, gives an excellent report
on the Chinese as traders.
i
^iSSlfli.SIIA
"•r-
THK OLD TUWN HALL. BATAVIA. (iT IS NOT MUCH CHANGED SINCE ITS ERECTION
IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.)
RIVER AND STORKHOUSES AT PKKALONGAN.
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 25.5
and deported. A short way from the shore they were
amoked and thrown into the sea, at least so the Chinese say.
One or two reaching the land told their countrymen all that
had happened. The Chinese now became roused, and
decided to rebel against the Dutch and if possible seize the
fort,^ and assembled at Ganddria for that purpose. One
Chinaman, however, determined to remain on the side of
the Dutch, and for a sum of eighty ducats, sundry valuable
presents, and the promise of future patronage agreed to spy
on his countrymen and report all their movements to the
Dutch. He first went to the Chinese camp and sought out
the chief, whom he asked if he would submit to the Dutch
on the promise of a free pardon ; but Sipan Jang refused,
flaying they would sooner or later revenge themselves on
the Chinese, and that therefore the free pardon was worth-
less. The Dutch then ordered that those who wished to
join their countrymen should do so, but that those who
desired to follow the Dutch should shave off their moustaches
as a sign and deliver up all their arms, even to the last pen-
knife, and neither burn a lamp nor make a fire at night.
All the Chmese within the city of Jacatra who still
remained decided to follow their instructions. The Dutch
troops now shut the gates of the city, hearing that the
Chinese from Ganddria were arriving. These came on in
three columns, burning and laying waste on their way, and
numbered on arrival at the fort more than ten thousand
men. They made a furious assault on the fort, but were
unable to make any impression, being repulsed with loss of
seventeen hundred and eighty-nine lives. In confusion they
retreated to Gending Melati.
Next day the Dutch landed all the sailors from the
shipping lying in Batavia roads, and, having confined the
Chinese to their houses, gave orders to the Malays to slay
all the male Chinese, old and young, who were within the
1 Oude CaeteU (Old Castle).
256 JAVA
city. There were nine thousand of these, and only one
hundred and fifty escaped, who joined their countrymen at
Kampong Melati. The property of those that were killed
was appropriated by their slaughterers, not one of whom
was killed, all the weapons of the Chinese having been
handed over beforehand to the Dutch. After this massacre
the Dutch troops, numbering eight hundred Dutchmen,
together with two thousand Malays, marched to Kamipong
Melati'^ and attacked the Chinese, who had entrenched
themselves, and drove them with heavy loss out of their
position. They retreated now to Paning Gar an, where they
were also defeated with a loss of eight hundred, the Dutch
losing fom' hundred and fifty.
Whilst this was going on reports reached the Dutch that
the Chinese in Mid-Java had revolted and selected a chief
called Sing Seii. This news v/as soon confirmed by the
Bopatis of Demdk and Grohogan, who advised the susuhunan
thereof. The emperor advised the hopdtis not to interfere
with the Chinese and let them fight it out with the Dutch,
but if they did take action, rather to assist the Chinese than
the Dutch, as he would be glad to be rid of the latter, for
they interfered with the land and laid intolerable burdens
on the populace. One of the princes now wrote to the
Dutch commander at Samarang, telling him that he had
orders to attack the Chinese at Grohdgan and requesting a
large supply of ammunition. The Dutch were completely
deceived, and sent twenty muskets, eight carbines, and
eight pistols, together with eight barrels of powder and
thirty Dutch soldiers. A sham fight had meantime been
arranged and fought, and to give the semblance of truth the
Chinese were sent away to assemble elsewhere, and three
horses were shot, which the prince informed the Dutch
soldiers had been wounded under him when he was leading
the troops into battle.
^ Bidaxa Tjina, quite near Batavia.
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 257
The captain and lieutenant, Chinamen of Samdrang,
having been imprisoned by the Dutch governor, the Chinese
here rose and joined their countrymen, who now moved to
Karang Anger (Karang Anjer), where they were attacked.
Semarang was now laid siege to by the Chinese under Sing
Sell, in concert with the Javanese, under the Prince M6rta
Pura, and the Chinese of Ambarawa started to attack the
Dutch fort of Kerta Sura and marched as far as Salatiga,
when for some inexplicable reason a certain Javan, Aria
Pringaldya, caused ten Chinese to be put to death, and sent
their heads to Kerta Sura — in baskets. At this time the
susuhunan discovered that one of his sons was intriguing
with the Dutch commander of the fort at Kerta Sura and
caused him to be instantly bow-stringed.
The Chinese, besides laying siege to Semarang, had also
taken and destroyed Bemhang ; the Dutch had soon also to
abandon Jawdna (Joana) and Demdk.
The emperor now decided to destroy the Dutch fort at
Kerta Sura, which was quite near his palace. Nearly the
whole garrison was brutally murdered, those soldiers not
killed being distributed with their wives amongst the
Javanese, who circumcised the men and forced them ta
adopt the religion of Mahomet.
The Dutch state that the emperor was impelled to this by
acts of oppression and injustice exercised against his subjects
and by total disregard of all his representations for redress,
also by the harsh and uncivil conduct of the Dutch resident
towards the court, which was the more obnoxious on account
of his having a Javan mother, and for that reason and the
illegitimacy of his birth being much despised by the natives.
When news of the disaster at the fort reached the Dutch
they began to open their eyes to the seriousness of the affair,
and decided on immediate action.
Their first step was to absolve the Pangeran of Madura of
his allegiance to his emperor, making him independent.
J. — VOL. I. s
258 JAVA
The deed was formally signed at Semdrang, and the pangeran
returned his wife, a sister of the emperor, to her brother.
On his return to Madiira he immediately ordered the death
of all the Chinese in Madiera, and with a force took possession
of Siddyu, Tuban, Jipang (Blora), and Lamungan. At
Gresik alone four hundred were put to death.
The Chinese, now reinforced by the Javans, spread over
the whole country without opposition, and laid siege to all
the Company's settlements from Tegdl to Pasuruan, but
after many attacks on the fort of Semdrang and the loss of a
number of lives, the united forces of the Chinese and the
Javans had to give up. The emperor now perceived the
mistake he had made in assisting the Chinese and desired
to renew his alliance with the Dutch.
The Dutch, on their part, considering the circumstances,
found it advisable to enter into friendly relations, and con-
cluded a peace by which were ceded to them the island of
Madura, Surabaya, the sea coast, with all the districts to
the eastward as far as Balamhangan and Bemhang, Japara
and Semdrang, with all their subordinate ports. ^
It was also secretly arranged that the Chinese were to
be kept in ignorance of the treaty concluded, and that the
emperor was to assist the Dutch in slaughtering them all.
The Chinese hearing, however, of this, moved off to the
eastward and vowed vengeance on the emperor for his
duplicity.
They marched to Kerta Sura and surprised the emperor,
who fled, leaving his court and treasures and family to the
Chinese. The empress, his sister, and children on horse-
back, together with his mother, carried by two Europeans,
under the conduct of two Dutch officers, escaped through a
back-way, but were pursued and overtaken. The Chinese,
now beyond all discipline, outraged the princesses of the
royal family.
^ Without the previous restrictions as to revenues.
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 259
The emperor collected his troops together as soon as
possible and attacked the Chinese, who were not ready. A
pitched battle was fought, and the emperor drove them
away to Brambanan, taking up his abode again in his
desecrated and partially -destroyed and now filthy palace,
which had been the scene while the Chinese resided there of
dreadful orgies.
At Brambanan after two months the Dutch troops
defeated the Chinese once again, and compelled them to
retire over the southern hills in disorder.
A general amnesty was now proclaimed, and, the Chinese
availing themselves of it, the war was terminated.
The Dutch, according to the old " Dagh Kegister " of the
" Oude Kasteel " (the day-book of the old Batavia castle),
as soon as the Chinese were conquered, sent a long address
to the Emperor of China explaining to him their side of the
rising and massacre, and proving to him that the Chinese
had really brought all their trouble upon themselves by their
own foolish behaviour. It seems they were not particularly
easy about the matter, and feared a Chinese invasion.
The reply of the emperor was reassuring, however, as he
stated that any countrymen oi his who left the fatherland
were worthless and unpatriotic renegades, who deserved any
punishment that might fall upon them. Such was the gist
of the laconic reply.
New Capital of Susuhunan at Sura Kerta. — A new capital
was now estabhshed called Sura Kerta, which is the present
residence of the emperors of Java.
On the subsequent succession of Baron van Imhoff to the
post of governor-general he was of opinion that, notwith-
standing the favourable terms granted by the susuhunan,
due atonement had not yet been made to the Dutch nation
for the outrage committed against the Christian religion and
the barbarous treatment of the garrison of the fort at
Kerta Sura.
s 2
260 JAVA
The two ringleaders were therefore demanded, and, to
enforce comphance, measures were taken to seize the emperor
and his son. But the susiihunan compHed at last and
delivered over two priests to the Dutch.
Further Troubles at Madura (1742).— The Pangeran of
Madura now gave trouble, and, being of a haughty character,
declined to make his v early submission at court. The
emperor therefore applied to the Dutch, who did their best
to settle matters, but found it difficult to undo what they
had themselves done.
As before stated, the Prince of Madura had taken posses-
sion of Sidayu, Tuhan, Jipang, and Lamungdu, and he now
refused to restore them either to the emperor or to the
Dutch, to whom they had been ceded, and was determined
to keep them, if necessary by force. He therefore hired a
number of men from Bali, and fortified the island of Mendri
so as to command the harbour of Surabaya. He then
opened hostihties himself by attacking a Dutch vessel and
putting to death several European seamen.
Two thousand Madurese now entered Surabaya and burnt
a number of kampongs (villages), laying the country waste,
and five thousand Balians awaited his orders near Pame-
kasan.
The prince, after being thrice defeated, attacked the
Dutch forts at Sumenap and Pamekasan, gaining a complete
victory and killing six thousand Javans under Dutch
commanders.
It was not long, however, before the Dutch regained
these forts, but they could not dislodge the prince from his
stronghold ; and he now besieged Eembang with six
thousand men. Lasem, Pajang Kungung, and all the villages
as far as Paradesa were in his possession. At last the fort
at Rembang was taken, together with the building yard
estabhshed there. The Dutch now attacked him vigorously,
but the prince, though he left Madura and fled to Banjer-
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 261
massin, would not give in. Here he took passage in an
English ship bound for Bencoolen. Before, however, the
ship sailed the Sultan of Banjermassin seized him and one
of his sons, and sent them at the request of the Dutch to
Batavia, who sent the former to the Cape of Good Hope and
the latter to Ceylon.
Prince Mangkuhumi now rebels. — It was not long, how-
ever, before another rebellion broke out, this time the prime
mover being Pangermi Mangkuhumi, a younger brother of
the emperor. During the Chinese war he obtained con-
siderable experience, was distinguished for great boldness
of character, and became very friendly with the Dutch.
Next to Mangkuhumi the most prominent character was
Paku Negdra. The former lay with his forces at Bundran
(Banaran).^ Continual fights took place, which were at
last interrupted by the death of the emperor himself.
Mangkuhumi had evinced a desire to come to terms, and
given assurances of his attachment to the Dutch to the
governor at Yogija Kerta, but demanded that his son
should be proclaimed Pangeran Adipati Matarem (heir-
apparent), a condition the Dutch would not listen to.
More Political Advantages gained hy the Dutch. — The
reduced state of the emperor's authority before he died
gave the Dutch an opportunity for procuring further
political advantages for themselves. A weak prince on
his death-bed was under existing circumstances easily
brought to any terms, in the hope of continuing even the
nominal succession in his family. He was compelled by a
formal official deed to abdicate for himself and his heirs the
sovereignty of the country, conferring it on the Dutch East
India Company, and leaving it to them to dispose of it in
future to any person they might think competent to govern
it for the benefit of the Company and of Java.
1 Donald Maclean in 1845, and later Baron C. W. van Heeckeren in
1900 owned a coffee estate of this name here.
262 JAVA
After recommending his children, and especially the
heir-apparent, to the protection of the governor, the un-
fortmiate monarch died.
This very singular, but none the less important, deed was
dated the 11th December, 1749.
Manghiihumi now caused himself to be proclaimed
emperor, but a son of the deceased emperor was preferred, a
boj'' nine years old.
Maiigkubumi inflicts a Crushing Defeat on the Dutch. —
This led to more conflicts, and Mangkuhumi in the Baglen
and Kedu provinces inflicted a tremendous defeat on the
Dutch, and of those that escaped the sword many were
drowned in an adjoining marsh and the rest were murdered
in great numbers by the country-people. Mangkuhumi now
marched to Pekalongan, which he plundered.
He then carried all before him, and encamped on the
alun-alun at Solo. The Dutch now listened to his proposals,
and decided to divide up the kingdom of Matdrem.
Ma7igkuhumi Sultan of Yogyakarta (1755). — A meeting
was arranged at Gingdnti, a village near Solo, and Mangku-
humi was recognised as Sultan of Yogyakarta, on condition
he used his utmost exertions to subdue Paku Negara, the
other claimant.
After a considerable amount of further fighting in which
the new Sultan of Yogyakarta and the susuhunan at Sura-
karta joined forces, Paku Negara was defeated and sur-
rendered. He, however, received an assignment of land to
the extent of four thousand chachas.
Thus ended a war which had lasted for twelve years in
the finest provinces in the island, these being laid waste,
thousands slain on both sides, and the independence of the
empire being finally extinguished.
The expenses incurred by the Dutch for this war are said
to have amounted to 4,286,000 guilders ; but as a result
they obtained, if not the acknowledged sovereignty of the
\IKW lit THK >ALAK.
T.II1^\NA> UAKUEI.
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 263
whole island, at least an effective control over its adminis-
tration, which after all was what they wanted.
Peace in Java once more. — By this final settlement of the
comitry the Dutch reserved to themselves the direct adminis-
tration of all the provinces lying on the northern sea coast
from Cheribon to the eastern extremity of the island of
Madura, but the inland and southern provinces stretching
from the highlands of Cheribon to Malang were restored to
the native princes, between whom the lands were divided in
nearly equal portions — according to the population and
chachas^ (that peculiar usage of the country).
Straits of Sunda. — The Dutch claimed now an absolute
sovereignty over the Straits of Sunda, and saw to its being
acknowledged by all the other Powers whose ships passed
through the straits. Of these they required a salute, and
held the right of shutting the passage to all nations, though,
rather prudently, they never enforced it. This right they
explained and maintained to proceed from the circumstance
that the land on both sides of the straits was tributary to
the country they now owned. From what has preceded the
importance of the island of Java to the East India Company
will have become evident. The comitry had been always
fertile in productions, which now became articles of great
value. With peace wealth increased by leaps and bounds,
and the prosperity of the land, at last pacified and governed
with a strong hand, exceeded all bounds. The princes of
the country, although sovereigns over their own subjects,
were nevertheless vassals of the Dutch, and this so far that
their heirs were chosen for them.
The dismemberment of the empire of the susuhunan and
the possession of the entire sea coast rendered the East
India Company secure from that power once so formidable,
and from the consequences of such prejudicial engagements
and alliances as might be entered into by the native princes
1 Families.
264 JAVA
with European Powers ; for although these princes now
bowed with reluctance under the yoke which was imposed
upon them, they were clever enough to know that, if they
were ever fortunate enough to disengage themselves from
their present bondage, their power had been so broken that
they would still be obliged to yield to the first foreign nation
which should have the inclination or power to establish
itself upon the island, and perhaps therefore be reduced to
a still worse state of servitude than they at this moment
experienced under their mild Dutch taskmasters.
The Dutch East India Comiiany (1790). — If the Dutch,
however, had gained the supremacy of the island, and had
secured the monopoly of a great trade, it had cost them
large sums of money. This naturally had its result on their
exchequer, although this might have been borne had its
disbursers been honester.
The East India Company, which had been going on now
for nearly two centuries and had been the means of raising
very high the prestige of the Dutch nation, to say nothing
of its years of great commercial prosperity, was at last
unfortunately overwhelmed in the deep waters of financial
difficulties. Some seek the cause in the strain on the
exchequer caused by the expensive wars the Company was
obliged to undertake to maintain its political ascendency,
but the main reason, of which there does not seem to be
much doubt, was the monstrous and iniquitous peculations
of the Company's servants. One hears of governor-generals
during a five years' term of office " accumulating out of
perquisites " eight or nine lakhs of guilders (£80,000 sterling);
of governors of Semarang retiring after three years' service
with two million guilders (not far from £200,000) " without
having defrauded any one " (the Company was presumably
not included) ; of subordinates with £20,000 and £10,000 ;
and so on right down the scale to the lowest.
The weakness showed itself first as early as 1781, when
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 265
the Company was uuable to pay the interest due and had
to ask for time. Its credit was gone., and more loans could
only be raised under State guarantee. The States -General
decided, therefore, to send a " commission " to look into the
affairs ot the Company and appointed six commissioners.
By 1793 the Company was in still deeper difficulties, not
having sufficient cash to carry on with, and having a debit
of 112,000,000 guilders, which by the 1st March, 1796, had
become 120,000,000. The Government therefore appointed
a committee to take over the affairs and management of
" Netherlands India." The old Company was then wound
up, and a new body called the " Coimcil for Asiatic Posses-
sions and Establishments " was appointed on behalf of the
State, who took over all the property of the bankrupt
Company, together with its debts, in 1798. The new body
began its formal functions in 1800.
The dividends of the Dutch East India Company from
1605, as will be shown below, were erratic, and in the last
years they were paid out of capital.
Years.
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
Per cent.
15
75
40
20
25
75
50
* In this
year three
dividends.
1612
1615
1616
1620
1623
1625
1627
1629
1631
1633
1635
57i
42|
62|
37i
25
20
m
25
17i
20
20
In what manner
paid.
Money
Mace
Pepper
Money
Cloves
Money
Cloves
Yeara.
Per cent.
1635 .
.12
1836 .
.25
»>
. m ..
1637 .
.15
>» •
.25
1638 .
.19
>> •
.25 ..
1640 .
.15
f» •
.25
1641 .
.15
99 •
.25
1642 .
.50
1643 .
. 15
1644 .
.25
»>
.20
1646 .
. 22J . .
>>
.25
1648 .
.25
1649 .
.30
1650 .
.20
1651 .
.15
1652 .
.25
1653 .
. 12i ..
In what manner
paid.
Cloves
Spices
>»
Cloves
Money
Cloves
>>
Money
>»
Cloves
Money
266
JAVA
Years.
1654
1655
1656
1658
1659
1660
1661
1663
1665
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1676
1679
1680
1681
1682
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
Per cent.
15
12^
27^
40
40
25
30
27i
m
40
45
15
15
331
25
m
25
22J
33^
40
20
33J
40
20
25
20
20
25
15
15
15
15
15
20
16
25
20
20
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
In what manner
paid.
Money
5*
In bonds pay-
able by the
province of
Holland.
Bonds at 4
per cent.
Bonds on
Holland at
4 per cent.
Company's
bonds.
Money
Bonds of the
Company
at 3 1 per
cent., pay-
able in
1740.
Money
Tears.
Per cent.
1711 .
.25
1712 .
.15
1713 .
.30
1714 .
. 33i ..
1715 .
. 40" . .
1716 .
.40
1717 .
.40
1718 .
.40
1719 .
.40
1720 .
.40
1721 .
. 33i . .
1722 .
.30
1723 .
. 12i ..
1724 .
.15
1725 .
.20
1 1726 .
.25
1727 .
.20
1 1728 .
. 15
1729 .
.12^..
1730 .
. 12i ..
1731 .
. 12i ..
1732 .
. 12* ..
1733 .
. 12| ..
1734 .
. 12^ ..
1 1735 .
. m . .
1 1736 .
. 12J ..
j 1737 .
. 12J ..
i 1738 .
.12^..
1739 .
. m ••
1740 .
.12^..
1741 .
. 12i . .
1742 .
.12^..
1743 .
. 12i ..
1744 .
. 12.^ ..
1745 .
. 12i ..
i 1746 .
. 12i ..
1747 .
.12^..
1748 .
.12^..
1749 .
. 12h ..
1750 .
. 12| ..
1751 .
. m ■'
1752 .
. 12i ..
1753 .
. 12^ ..
1754 .
. m ■■
1755 .
. m ..
1756 .
. J2i ..
1757 .
. i2i . .
1758 .
. m ••
1759 .
. 12i . .
1760 .
. 12A ..
1761 .
. 12| ..
1762 .
. 12^ ..
1763 .
. 121 ..
1764 .
. 12^ . .
1765 .
. 12* ..
1766 .
. 12| ..
In -what manner
paid.
Money
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 267
In what manner
In what manner
Years.
Per cent.
paid.
Years.
Per cent.
paid.
1767 .
. 12J .
Money-
1775 .
. m .
Money
1768 .
. m .
1776 .
. 12i .
1769 .
. \2h .
1777 .
. 12| .
1770 .
. 12| .
1778 .
. m .
1771 .
. Uh .
1779 .
. 12^ .
1772 .
. 12| .
1780 .
. 12^ .
1773 .
. 12i ..
1781 .
. 12J .
1774 .
. 12i ..
1782 .
. 12.i .
The Old Dutch East India Company. — Thus ended the
good old Dutch East India Company, which had served its
day, but grown antiquated and unscrupulously dishonest,
in so far that its agents had been more intent on making
money for themselves than for their employers. The old
Company was, in fact, rotten to the core, and had become a
monstrous creature of iniquity, bribery, and corruption.
The organisation and framework of the administration,
however, seem to have been good. They compare, moreover,
in no way unfavourably with those of the English East India
Company ; and had it nat been for the permission for private
trade on the part of its servants the Company might have
survived long after it did.
Organisation of the Company. — The Company's administra-
tion was divided into subordinate governments, who all
looked to Batavia for assistance and instructions. The pay
of the officials was, however, always poor, notwithstanding
the large dividends the shareholders were making in the
years of the " golden age." This poor pay was no doubt
originally based on the cheapness of the cost of living at
Bantam when the Company was first installed there, and no
allowance was ever made for the greater expense of living
which became more or less necessary for its servants when
Batavia was opened, and much splendour kept up, to uphold
their status in the eyes of the native races, but also for their
o"WTi personal comfort. The times no doubt demanded it,
and the Company, with more foresight, should have in-
creased their scale of salaries. This, however, was not done,
268 JAVA
and, as a result, bribery and corruption to meet daily-
expenses was the order of the day, and the pockets of the
officials were filled at the expense of the Company, their
servants having everything to gain and nothing to lose by it.
The divisions for government in 1728 were as follows : —
(1) Batavia, with its large castle, capital of the Dutch
East Indian empire : a governor-general. All other gover-
nors, factors or agents subordinate. Accounts-general kept
here. The governor-general had under him at Batavia a
governor and council ; at Japan, an agent ; at Tonquin, an
agent ; at Macassar, a commandant ; at Bantam, a factory
with a factor ; at Siam, an agent ; at Japara, a factory with
a factor ; at Jambi, an agent ; at Palembang, an agent ; at
Arrakan, an agent.
(2) Amboyna : a governor and council, responsible, as
usual, to Batavia. A number of islands, with agents, under
this station. A yearly pension was paid to the inhabitants
that they should not grow cloves or other spices.
(3) Banda : a governor and council. A number of
islands subordinate. Pension paid to the inhabitants for
them to destroj^ a portion of their spice-crops.
(4) Ternate : a governor and council.
(5) Malacca : a governor and council.
(6) Ceylon (or Zelon) : a governor and council. A num-
ber of factories, with agents and factors on the island. All
accounts sent to Colombo, which was the capital.
(7) Cochin : a governor and council. All stations and
factories on the Malabar coast subordinate to them.
(8) Policat (Calicut) : a governor and council, under whom
all stations and factories on the Coromandel and Pegu coasts
were subordinate.
(9) Bengal: a governor (with special high powers) and
council, but still subordinate to Batavia, whither all accounts
were sent. All factories in the Bay of Bengal subordinate
to them. Hughh^ (or Hooghly) was the capital.
KANDJENG PAXGARAN ARIO JOEDO
NEGOEO. (adopted SON OF THE
SDLTAN.)
kandjeng pangaran ario adi ^kgoeo.
(son of the sultan by a secon-
dary WIFE.)
goesti pangaran ario boemi noto.
(brother to the sultan.)
GOESTI PANGARAN ADIPATI MANGHOE
BOEMI. (brother TO THE SULTAN.
COLONEL-ADJUTANT TO THE GOVER-
NOR-GENERAL.)
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 269
(10) Surat : a governor and council, under whom were
numerous factories.
(11) Persia : a governor and council. The chief residence
was at Gombroon, but estabUshments at Ispaha7i and
Bussorah.
(12) Cape of Good Hope : a governor and council, and
under them the island of Mauritius (or Prince Maurice).
The lowest step in the ladder of the Company was that of
" under-assistant," or " scrive " (writer) ; this position was
filled chiefly by soldiers, generally from the Guards, which
latter were supposed to be better educated ; their pay was
£14 per annum.
Next came the " assistant," who received £20 per
annum, and an allowance for subsistence (about £6 per
annum).
After the " assistants " came the " upper assistants,"
" book-keepers," or '* secretaries " as they usually were
called. They were paid £28 to £36 per annum, and about
£6 for subsistence.
Next came the ** under-copeman " (or " koopman "), that
is, *' salesman " ; he received £36 to £45 per annum, and
about £12 for subsistence.
Then the " copeman," with from £50 to £65 per annum,
and about £12 for subsistence.
Next was the " upper copeman " (or " head salesman "),
with £80 to £120 per annum, and £18 for subsistence.
At Batavia and in Ceylon, where provisions were ex-
ceptionally dear, the " upper copeman " stationed there
received a little more per annum for subsistence than in the
other places, but as this only amounted to about £1 per
annum it was of no importance.
After " upper copeman " came " commandore," with a
pay of £150 per annum, and about £40 per annum for sub-
sistence.
Then came '* commandant," who was of sHghtly less
270 JAVA
importance than a " commandore." It was a new title for
a junior man.
The next title was ** director," with £200 salary, and £50
for subsistence.
A " governor," or a member of the governor-general's
*' council-extraordinary for India," received the same pay.
A " member ordinary " of the council at Batavia received
£350 salary, and £150 for subsistence.
These were the men who did all the work.
The " governor-general " of Batavia received £1,200, and
about £300 for subsistence. Besides this, every time he
called upon the fleet he had £100 as a gratuity. This
was supposed to be done when a squadron sailed for
Europe.
All persons in the service of the Company, whether
merchants, clerics, civil magistrates, soldiers or seamen,
were ranked in degrees.
The " governor-general " was allowed wine and all other
liquors and provisions from the Company's warehouse to
what extent he desired. All the other officials down to the
assistants, according to their rank, were allowed a certain
quantity of liquor, spices, oil, wood, rice, vinegar, and
candles.
The " upper copeman " received monthly a special allow-
ance of Spanish wine and white wine, 24 lbs. of wax for
candles, corn for his poultry, and rice for his slaves. This
special treatment was due to the fact that the selling of
the Company's goods was entirely left to him, and he
could accept what price he chose from the Chinese mer-
chants.
A common soldier, or private sentinel, received £9 to £14
per annum.
A sergeant received the same pay and subsistence allow-
ance as an " assistant," an ensign the same as a " copeman,"
and a captain the same as an " upper copeman."
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 271
A major ranked with a " commandore," and received the
same pay and conditions.
There seem to have been only three majors in the East,
one at Batavia and the others in Ceylon aAd Amboyna.
The seamen were also ranked in a very similar way to
the soldiers.
The clergymen were also ranked ; first came the
" preacher " (he received the same pay as an " upper
copeman ") ; then the " dominees," or " visitors to the
sick," who received the same pay as an " assistant."
A surgeon's pay was £40 to £50 per annum.
The " assistants " were under contract to remain in their
positions five years, which through ill-health could be
reduced to three ; they might then leave the service or
receive promotion (if they had a mark of merit), as they
might wish.
The Company found accommodation for all their servants.
Everything seems to have been well and methodically
arranged.
At every castle or factory a day register was kept, in
which everything of importance was noted, a copy of it
being sent with the accounts to Batavia and Amsterdam.
There was a chamber for protecting the interests of
the orphans. There was, too, a body to look after the
poor.
Money in the " Court of Chancery " was given 9 per cent,
interest, and lent by the court, at their own risk, to civilians
or others at 12 per cent.
The old papers and documents show that the administra-
tion of the country, the welfare of the inhabitants, and the
general conduct of all the of&cials was, speaking broadly,
fairly good. Theirs was a great task, and it was, for the
times, well performed.
As already stated, the foundations of this organisation
were undoubtedly good, but the material for the administra-
272 JAVA
tion was generally poor, the riff-raff of Holland often being
sent to Java. The Dutch have proved, however, the
wisdom of their early measures in the days of the old Com-
pany, for many of them are in force to this day.
There may, of course, have been times when the Dutch
laid themselves open to severe criticism, like all the nations,
but the age was rough and the methods uncouth ; great
allowances must be made, and actions must not be measured
by twentieth century standards.
Marshal Herman Willem Daendels as Governor-General. —
Between 1794 and 1797, when the army of the French
Republic carried all before it and the conquest of Holland
was completed, one Herman Willem Daendels, a Dutchman,
who had been obhged to leave Holland for some political
offence, waited upon Napoleon and suggested his forming a
large French colony in the East and making Java his
base for seizing British India. The idea was favourably
received, but Napoleon had then no time to carry out large
plans for expansion in the East, as his hands were full and
the English were beginning to make preparations for
worrying him in Europe. He was, however, willing to
consider it, and here, for the time, the idea ended.
In 1808, however, Daendels was sent to Java as governor-
general by special appointment from Napoleon. He had
also " special instructions," for various abuses had again
crept into the administration of the East Indies, and the
Government wished to remove them. In some ways it
could not have chosen a better man than Daendels, for,
although his temper was fiery and his character erratic, he
had a will of iron, and he saw that his orders were carried
out to the very letter, which was what the Government at
home needed. On the other hand, like many great men,
he went too far, and mistakes were made which led to the
recall of Daendels ; but whether he or the home Government
were to blame is as yet not clear. Probably there were
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 273
faults on both sides. He arrived at a difficult time, and was
severely handicapped.
A year or so before Daendels' arrival the British Admiral,
Pellew, arrived in Java (1806), sought out the Dutch
squadrons, and destroyed the main units at Batavia,
Sourabaya, and Gressie.
Daendels' first task was to place the defences in order,
for instead of the Dutch attacking the English in British
India it was the English who might at any moment sweep
down on Java and attack him. The French flag was now
hoisted by him for the first time at Batavia.
Daendels now became most active and unremitting in his
exertions ; after the fall of Mauritius he did not doubt
Java's turn would be next, and amongst the Dutch colonists
in Java there was a kind of reign of terror, for they felt
that now Holland was a French department their fate lay
between the English and the French, and they did not know
which they preferred.
Daendels marshalled the army, which seems to have
consisted of about thirty thousand men.
Cavalry (one regiment of five squadrons)
1,200
Infantry (seven regiments of three battalions of
five companies each) ....
21,000
Artillery .......
3,000
Chasseurs .......
3,000
Horse artillery ......
1,000
Total
29,200
Besides which there were about two thousand natives,
armed with pikes, from Timor and Bali. These troops
Daendels concentrated for the most part at Weltevreden,
outside Batavia.
The fortifications of old Batavia were dismantled, stores,
ammunition, and archives being removed ; while an
endeavour was made to force the inhabitants to desert it
J.— VOL. I. T
274 JAVA
likewise. The seat of the Government was moved to
Buitenzorg, a hill station forty miles outside Batavia,
situated in what in those days were called the Blue Moun-
tains.
Weltevreden was made a military post of first importance
— a fortified camp, so to say — and at Meester Cornehs, on
the main road to Buitenzorg, a strong fort was erected, with
batteries which commanded the country around.
A fortress was also built at Marah Bay, in the west of
Bantam, being a likely place for the enemy to land ; this,
however, was destroyed by the British fleet before it was
even completed. It was intended to hold three thousand
soldiers, but the spot was such an unhealthy one that it is
very doubtful whether any could have lived there. The
first thousand Javan workmen from Bantam died off here
in a very short time from fever. A demand was therefore
sent to the Sultan of Bantam for a second party of a thousand
men, but exemption was requested on account of the un-
healthiness of the bay. Daendels, however, would not hear
of it and threatened to remove the Sultan, whereupon the
Bantamese rose, seized the European guard at the Sultan's
palace, and stabbed the Dutch resident, Du Pay, to death
as he was leaving the Sultan's palace after an extremely
violent altercation. Daendels now marched to Bantam
with a force and surrounded the palace, planting his artillery
so as to command it. He now rode inside alone and ordered
the Sultan to come out to receive him, which he did. Daen-
dels' next step was to enter the throne-room with his suite
and sit on the Sultan's throne. The palace was now plun-
dered by the Dutch troops, and Bantam was annexed by the
Government. It w^as several years, however, before this
residency was pacified.
Fort Ludowyck w^as next erected to command the Straits
of Grissee, and mihtary roads of great length were con-
structed at a prodigious loss of life.
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 275
Daendels next had trouble with the Sultan of Djockja-
karta,^ whither he proceeded in person, and by his energy
and personal pluck soon settled the matter. His ways were
high-handed, but the results always satisfactory.
Before his term of governor-generalship was over Java
was being harassed by British cruisers, who controlled all
the main routes and the bulk of the stations on the outside
islands. Consequently the trade of the island was restricted
and the coasting trade had completely died. Under this
paralysing influence the internal trade of Java suffered also,
and Daendels has been severely blamed for not having done
more to rectify this state of affairs than he did.
Arrival of Governor-General Janssens. — Towards the end
of 1810 very adverse reports must have reached Napoleon
regarding Daendels, for Jan Willem Janssens was sent out
to Java early in 1811, with special orders peremptorily
calling on Daendels to resign the Government at twenty-
four hours' notice, and instructing him to embark for France
immediately, no reasons being given.
Departure of Daendels. — It was scarcely with any feelings
of regret that the European inhabitants, civihans and
ofi&cials alike, saw Daendels depart, for he was hated by all
with an intensity difficult to describe, being looked upon, in
fact, by some as a monster in disguise. Lord Minto's
strictures upon Daendels are plain and unvarnished : —
" Daendels was a wretch in every imaginable way, one of the
monsters which the worst times of the French Revolution
engendered, or rather hfted from the mud at the bottom to
flounce and figure away their hour upon the surface. He was
greedy, corrupt, and rascally in amassing money for himself,
and equaUy unjust and oppressive in procuring pubHc supphes.
He was cruel, and regardless of men's hves beyond most of the
revolutionary tyrants in the reign of terror. He ordered two
Javanese princes, confined by him as state prisoners, to be
privately murdered, and became savage from the delay which
^ Old Jayan spelling, Joggakerta.
T 2
276 JAVA
arose from the scruples of the officer in whose custody they were,
a Providential delay, for Janssens arrived in the interval, and
passing through the place on his way to Batavia, saved the
victims. Daendels was as great a brute as tyrant in his pleasures,
and no man's family was safe. In short, none of the worst of
the Roman pro-consuls ever vexed and scourged their provinces,
too distant for control, with more extortion and cruelty than this
villain."
On the other hand, it must not be forgotten that Daendels
arrived at a time when everything was abnormal, and that
he had many disadvantages continually to struggle against.
On his arrival in Java he apparently foresaw trouble and
criticisms, and in a despatch to the home Government he
described the situation very vividly as follows : —
" A powerful enemy threatened us by sea, and the Javan
princes, acquiring audacity in proportion as they saw proofs of
our weakness, thought the moment had arrived for prescribing
the law to their former superiors. The very existence of our
dominions in Java was thus in the greatest danger. Our internal
resources of finance were exhausted, while a stagnation of trade
caused by the blockade of our shores cut ofi all hopes of procuring
assistance from without. In the midst of such disastrous circum-
stances and the failure of so many attempts to introduce reform,
and to maintain the dignity of government, / found it necessary
to place myself above the usual formalities, and to disregard every
law hut that which enjoined the 'preservation of the colony entrusted
to my management. The verbal order which I received at my
departure from Holland had this for its object, and the approba-
tion bestowed upon my ear by attempts to carry it into execution
encouraged me in the course of proceedings which I had begun."
Moluccas once more under the Control of the English. — In
1810 the Moluccas came once more under the control of the
Enghsh, who sent an expedition to Amboyna, which was the
capital and seat of government of all the Spice Islands.
The fort here, held by a garrison of six hundred Dutch
soldiers, mounted sixty cannon.
The capture of this place by the small squadron under
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 277
Captain Edward Tucker, of H.M.S. Dover, was a meritorious
deed.
The troops employed in this service landed at 2 p.m. on
the 16th February, 1810. They consisted of : —
Detachment Madras Artillery, under Lieu-
tenant Stewart ..... 46 men.
Madras European Regiment . . . 130 „
Seamen, Royal Marines of H.M.S. Dover . 85 ,,
,, „ oi^M.S. Cornwallis. 105 ,,
Seamen of H.M. sloop Samarang . . 38 „
Total . . 404
Captain Court, attended by Captains Philhps and Forbes,
had previously reconnoitred the enemy's position, and there-
fore knew where was the best place to land ; and under cover
of a tremendous fire from the squadron, which bombarded
the fort in line of battle up the harbour, the landing party
endeavoured to rush the fort. Next morning a summons
was sent to Governor Lavinius Hankurlugt to surrender, and
a reply was returned by Colonel Fitz, the military com-
mander-in-chief of the Moluccas,^ and the fort was surren-
dered on the 19th February.
Afterwards an interesting scene took place, when the
British landing party was drawn up outside the fort to wait
for the Dutch force of Europeans and Malay soldiers, with
the crews of several vessels, to come out ; the latter marched
in order four deep from the fort and outflanked the British
by double the length of their hne. When this was discovered
their vexation and mortification was great, for they had, so
to say, been beaten by a handful of men. Execrations were
vented, and several of the officers broke their swords in
anger, whilst the rank and file wanted to receive their arms
back to begin fighting again.
1 As soon as Colonel Fitz arrived at Batavia he was shot for surrendering
this post by Governor- General Daendels.
278 JAVA
Ternate taken by the English. — Ternate was taken by
Captain Tucker on the 28th August of the same year, with
the following force under Captain David Forbes : —
Madras European Regiment of Artillery . 74 men.
Amboynese Corps . . . . . 32 ,,
Royal Marines . . . . . * . 36 ,,
Seamen . . . . . . . 32 ,,
Total . .174
The fort Kays Meirah, commanded by the governor,
Colonel Mittman, received a summons from H.M.S. Dover
to surrender, but returned a spirited answer. Next day
Captain Forbes, accompanied by Lieutenants Jefferies,
Royal Navy, Higginson, Royal Marines, and Forbes and
Curshaw, of the Madras Service, placed ladders against the
fort, after having crossed the ditch under a heavy grape fire,
escaladed the walls, and carried it, killing a number of the
garrison, and taking the governor and sixty-eight men
prisoners.
The British loss was the sergeant-major and two privates
killed, and one lieutenant, one sergeant, one seaman, one
guide, and twelve privates wounded.
The other forts in the neighbourhood, Kota Baroo and
Fort Orange, were then silenced by H.M.S. Dover and
hoisted a flag of truce.
On the 31st August all the forts and batteries of Ternate
surrendered. These works were defended by ninety- two
guns of heavy calibre, five hundred regular troops, of which
many were Europeans, besides a number of civihans, and a
large body of soldiers suppHed by the rajahs there.
All the stations dependent on Amboyna naturally
followed the same course, and were taken possession of by
H.M.S. Cornwallis. This ship (on the evening of the
1st March) saw a strange sail under an island called Amblaw,
and sent Lieutenant Peachey, Mr. Garland (master), and
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 279
Mr. Sanderson (master's mate) to proceed in the yawl and
find out to what nation she belonged. On drawing near
they found she was the Margaretta Louisa, a Dutch man-of-
war under Captain G. Ruyter, with eight guns and forty
men. Lieutenant Peachey under fire boarded the ship with
his men and captured her with a loss of five men wounded,
whilst the Dutch lost one officer killed and twenty men
wounded.
Ceram taken hy the English. — Ceram was also taken, and it
was here that Captain Blanckenhagen, of the Bengal Service,
lost his life in an unsuccessful attack on a refractory Rajah.
Banda taken. — H.M.S. Cornwallis, under the command of
Captain Christopher Cole, seized Banda, in spite of con-
siderable difficulties, in August of the same year, and named
the fort " Fort Drury " after the British admiral.
These were the few preliminaries to the arrival of the
British expedition which Governor-General Janssens and
the Dutch inhabitants were daily expecting.
NOTES TO CHAPTER VI
Note I. — List of the Early English Expeditions to Java
AND the East Indies during the First Years of the
East India Company's Existence.
Date of
Departure
from
England.
Voyage of
Company's
Ships.
Commander.
Xame of
Ships.
1677,
Nov. 5
1586,
July 10
1691
Francia Drake i ^
Thoina8 Caven-
George Raymond
Hind
Elizabeth
Marigold
Swan
Christopher
Desire
Content
Hiigh Gal-
lant
Penelope
100
80
30
50
15
140
60
40
Arrived Moluccas, Nov. 8,
1578
Arrived Bantam, Feb. 8,
1579
Arrived Bantam, March
1, 1587
Left Bantam, March 16,
1587
Lost off the Cape with all
hves
^ Afterwards knighted.
* See account of voyage in Chapters IV. and X.
280
JAVA
Note I
, — (continued) .
Date of
Voyage of
Company's
Ships.
Departure
from
England.
Commander.
Name of
Ships.
Tons.
Rpinarks.
1591
—
James Lancaster
Edward
Bonadven-
—
1
1 Arrived Acheen, 1592
hire
—
)■ Sent back from Cape with
Merchant
1 sick
Royal .
—
J
Arrived Acheen, Nov.
1601
First .
James Lancaster *
Red Dragon
600
1602 (arrived Bantam,
Hector
300
Dec. 16, 1602)
Sussanah
200
{ Sent back from Acheen
Ascension
200
with pepper and de-
Guest
130
spatches
1 Sent to the Moluccas
^ Arrived Bantam, Dec. 20,
1603
Second
Henry Middle-
ton i 2 3
Red Dragon
Hector
600
300
1604
Left Bantam, Oct. 4,
< 1605
Henry Middleton ex-
tended the Company's
Sussanah
Ascension
?200
?200
trade to Banda
1604,
—
Edward Michel-
Tiger
246
Arrived Bantam, Oct. 28
Dec. 5
borne 8 *
Tiger's
1605
Whelp .
50
Left Bantam, Nov. 1,
1605, for Bata\aa
Another
ship
—
Third .
William Keeling ^
Red Dragon
600
Arrived Bantam, Oct. 4,
1607,
1608
April 1 1
William Hawkins
Hector
300
Arrived Bantam via
Surat
Arrived Bantam, Nov.
March 12
—
David Middleton »
Consent .
115
14, 1607
Left Bantam, Dec. 6,
1607, for the Moluccas
All three ships loaded
pepper and returned to
England
1608?
Fourth .
Sharpey or Shar-
peigh 5
Ascension
Visited Diu, and ship was
wrecked here ; came in
another ship to Ban-
tam
1 Afterwards knighted.
2 There had been no ships for the English factory for two years.
® See account of voyage in Chapter X.
* Michelborne, when he arrived in the East, instead of trying to find new
ports for trade, appears to have followed the pernicious example of the
Portuguese in plundering the native traders among the islands of the
archipelago. By this means he secured great booty, but brought great
disgrace on the British name, and thus hindered the Company's business at
Bantam.
^ Some give WiUiam Keeling as in command of the Ascension ; even
Sir G. Birdwood, on p. 208 of " Report on the Old Records of the India
Office," does so. I believe this is incorrect.
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1623 TO 1811 281
Note I, — {continued).
Date of
Departure
from
England
1609,
April 24
1610
1610,
Jan. 3
1611,
April 18
Voyage of
Company
Ships.
1612
1612
1614
1615
Fifth .
Sixth .
Seventh
Eighth .
Ninth .
Tenth .
Eleventh
Twelfth.
Commander.
Richard Rowles
David Middleton i
Sir Henry Middle
ton 2
Nicholas Daunton
or Down ton
Name of
Ships.
Tons.
Anthony
Hippon
John Saris '
Edmund Mar-
lowe *
Thomas Best
John Milward .
Christopher New-
port
Union
Expedition
Trades
Increase .
Peppercorn
Darling .
Globe
Clove
Hector
Thomas . —
James
Hoseander ^
Hector I
James j
Solomon J
Solomon .
James
Expedition
Remarks.
Loaded with pepper at
Priaman, on coast of
Sumatra, and was lost
on her way home off
coast
Took in a cargo at
Puloway. Left Nov.
16, 1610, for England
Arrived Bantam, Oct. 9,
1610
Sir Henry Middleton
loaded the two ships
with pepper and spice
and sent them home
Arrived Bantam, April
26, 1612, having visited
Siam and Malay
Peninsula
Arrived Bantam, Oct. 24,
1612
Left Bantam, Jan. 14,
1613, leaving ten men
behind
Returned to Bantam,
Jan. 3, 1614; found
only five of his men
alive
Arrived Bantam, Dec. 20,
1612
Left Bantam, Feb. 4,
1613
Visited India
Arrived Bantam, Feb. 14,
1615
Left Bantam, March 14,
1615
Globe arrived Jan. 3,
1615; left Feb. 22,
1615
Visited India
This was the last separate
voyage of the Com-
pany. After this came
" joint stock " voyages
' See account of voyage in Chapter X.
2 Died at Matsjan, in the Moluccas, in 1615, from broken heart, caused
by sorrow at the ill-luck of factories in the Moluccas.
^ Died Bantam, the 5th August, 1615.
282
JAVA
Note I. — {continued).
Date of
Departure
from
England.
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
Voyage of
Company's
Ships.
Commander,
Eichard Hunt .
Martin Pring
Thomas Dale
Name of
Ships.
Tons.
Remarks.
Five ships
Six ships
Three ships
Six ships .
Attacked Hollanders at
Bantam, but was
wounded in three
places and died July
24, 1617
Arrived Bantam, July 19,
1618
Arrived Jacatra, Sept. 2,
1618
Left Jacatra, Oct. 31,
1618
Arrived Bantam, Nov.
22, 1618
Arrived Jacatra, Dec. 17,
1618
Admiral Dale died
Masuhpatam, Aug. 19,
1619
Admiral Pring remained
at Bantam till July,
1620, and then sailed
with two ships to
Japan
Arrived Bantam
Arrived Bantam
At end of 1618, begin
1619, Dale attacked
Hollanders at Batavia
with eight ships, whilst
Pring, with six ships,
watched the Straits of
Sunda to prevent any
new Dutch ships pass-
ing to their friends'
assistance. Pring had
no success, however
Note II. — ^A List showing wheee the English have possessed
Factories at Different Times in the East Indies before
1811.
Malay Peninsula. — Siam, Cochin China, Pegu, Quedah, Johore,
Camodia, Patany, and Ligore.
Island of Sumatra. — Acheen, Jambee, Passaman, Priaman,
Sillebar, Ticcoo, Fort York, Bencoolen or Fort Marlborough,
Idapur, Tyamong, and Padang.
Island of Java. — Bantam, Japara, Jacatra (later called
Batavia), Balambangan, and Aujer.
THE DUTCH IN JAVA, 1628 TO 1811 283
Island of Borneo. — ^Banjarmassin, Succadana, and Sambas.
Island of Celebes. — ^Macassar and Menado.
Molvxxas. — ^Lantore, or Great Banda, islands of Rosengyn, and
Puloway, Island of Amboyna and Pulo Boon (the East India
Company's own Property).
Note III. — 1811. — ^Members of the Dutch Government just
BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH.
Herman Willem Daendels, Governor-General.
Nicolaus Engelhard, Governor of the Eastern Districts in Java.
J. A. van Braam, President of the Supreme Comicil.
W. H. van Ysseldyk, Director -General and Member of Council.
P. T. Chasse, Director -General and Member of Council.
W. van Hoesen,
H. A. Parve,
W. Wardenaar,
J. C. Romswinckel,
W. A. Senn van Basel,
F. J. Rothenbuhler,
H. W. Muntinghe,
W. V. H. van Riemsdyk,
M. Q. A. Canter Visscher,
J. M. Baljee,
J. J. Vogelaar,
1
j. Members of Council.
THE BRITISH PERIOD
CHAPTER VII
LIFE OF SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES
It would be inappropriate to proceed further in this
history before giving an account of the Hfe of that great
statesman, empire maker, administrator, and naturahst,
founder of the colony and city of Singapore, and maintainor
of British supremacy and honour in the East Indian Archi-
pelago at the beginning of the nineteenth century, Sir
Thomas Stamford Raffles.
Thomas Stamford Raffles was born at sea on board the
ship Ann in the harbour of Port Morant, Jamaica, on the
5th July, 1781. He was the only son of Benjamin Raffles,
one of the oldest captains in the East India trade, from the
port of London, a man of good birth and education ; and
his mother was a Dutch lady born in Amsterdam, Miss
Lindemann. Raffles' grandfather held a high Government
position with an unblemished reputation.
The family came from Beverley, Yorkshire, where the
name Raffles frequently occurs in the old registers for up-
wards of three centuries.
After education at a school at Hammersmith, he secured
a position in the year 1795 as an extra clerk in the East
India House. He was at the time only fourteen years of
age, consequently his education could not have been com-
pleted. However, the deficiency was made up by his own
exertions in the few leisure hours a close attendance at office
permitted.
Stamford Raffles was early remarked for his assiduity and
great application to business. He displayed the thoughtful-
ness and vigour of mind, fertility in resource, punctuality and
288 JAVA
devotion to his duties, and several other attributes which
distinguished him in after years, and which placed him above
all his colleagues.
His mind was a high and noble one, but few understood
him or his intense earnestness and desire to achieve a great
name and position ; and he regarded appreciation and
recognition of his services, like all high-minded men, above
anything else obtainable.
In 1805 the Court of Directors of the East India Office
decided on sending out an establishment to Penang, or, as it
was then known. Prince of Wales Island, and one of the
departmental chiefs, being aware of the peculiar fitness and
talents of Raffles for office, mentioned his name to Sir Hugh
Inglis, who from this strong recommendation gave him the
appointment of assistant secretary of the new establishment,
Mr. Philip Dundas being appointed Governor, Mr. John
Oliphant first member of Council, and Mr. Pearson secretary.
A number of civilians who desired to open up trade there also
went, many of whom succeeded in making fortunes.
Raffles arrived at Penang in September, 1805, in the Com-
pany's ship Ganges, which was commanded by Captain
Harrington, a brother of the late member of Council at
Bengal. Before he arrived he was master of the Malay
language.
Ten years' practice and experience in the India House
gave the assistant secretary many advantages over his
fellows in the new Government, and he appears to have
immediately made his value felt in the new colony. He
was very fond of the Malays, and devoted his spare hours
to the study of their manners, customs and character, and
among them, for his courteous and amiable demeanour, he
soon became esteemed. His house was always open to
them, and the natives delighted to visit a man who would
condescend to be polite and take an interest in their affairs.
Through the advantages derived from this intercourse and
SIK THOMAS sT.\MhOKl> KAI••|•LK^
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 289
his evening labours, Baffles was enabled to distinguish
himself when the opportunity, which was not long delayed,
presented itself.
The chief secretary, Mr. Pearson, falling ill, Raffles took
his place, and his abihty became more and more marked,
and when the former had to proceed to Europe, Raffles
received a seat in the Council.
In the year 1806 Dr. Ley den visited Penang for the
benefit of his health and resided with Raffles for some
months. Dr. Leyden was delighted with the industry and
evident talent of his host, and when he returned to Bengal
they continued to correspond.
Raffles gave to his letters the style of essays, and the
amiable doctor took every opportunity of bringing them and
their author to the notice of his patron, the Earl of Minto,
at that time Governor-General of India. After reading the
paper on the Malay race^ his lordship told Dr. Leyden to
inform Raffles that he was much pleased, and begged that
any further information relating to the Eastern settlements
might be forwarded direct to himself.
In 1808 Raffles completely broke down from overwork ;
he being never very robust, the fatigue, responsibility, and
worry attaching to the office of secretary in the organisation
of a new Government, and in a climate which had already
proved fatal to many, was too much for him. His seniors,
always solicitous for his health and welfare, suggested a long
voyage, but Raffles would not hear of it, and his only desire
was quickly to recover in order to do his duties ; he, how-
ever, proceeded to Malacca for a change of air.
It was here he had the opportunity of mixing with an
Oriental population, people from all parts of Asia, Java,
Amboyna, Celebes, Borneo, New Guinea, China, and Bengal.
With them he enjoyed conversing, and gaining all the
1 See Lady Raffles' "Life, etc.," p. 15.
J. — VOL. I. U
290 JAVA
information they could impart to him about the surrounding
countries.
Whilst he was away at Malacca the Governor wrote to
him as follows : —
" My dear Sir, — A thousand thanks for your kind letters, which
I had the pleasure to receive from you. . . .
It is distressing to me, my dear Sir, to be under the necessity
of stating in this pointed manner the unavoidable exigence of
the case, but such is the case, that we cannot make up any
despatches for the Court (in London) without your assistance.
This is truly hard on you, under your present delicate state of
health, but I trust you will believe that nothing else would induce
me to press so hard on you at this time. . . .
" To Mr. Raffles."
Within a few years after his arrival KafEes had made a
name for himself in the East Indies as second to none in his
knowledge of all the surrounding islands and their in-
habitants, and his name was repeatedly brought before the
Viceroy of India, who placed himself in private corre-
spondence with him, and when the Moluccas were seized by
the EngHsh in 1810 wished to send him there to govern,
such a high opinion had he of his talents. Penang, however,
still had need of his services, and it was clear that he was
merely being kept by the Government for still greater
things.
When Napoleon was carrying out at this period his great
schemes for conquering the world, the annexation of Holland
to France placed all the valuable and extensive possessions
of the Dutch at his mercy. The Enghsh, however, not
desirous of seeing the French nation become as powerful in
the East as it already was in the West, immediately decided
upon the occupation of the French islands of Mauritius and
Bourbon. It now became known that General Daendels
was on his way out to make Java the base of operations for
obtaining the French political ascendency by the occupation
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 291
and annexation of British India. His opportunity had been
given to Raffles when he began his direct correspondence
with Lord Minto, and he was prepared to improve it.
Towards the end of 1810 he proceeded to Calcutta, where he
was received with great kindness, and on his return was
appointed to be Governor-General's Agent for the Eastern
Seas, and directed to reside at Malacca. The Indian
authorities were now occupied in the attempt to drive the
French out of these seas, their privateers having done so
much damage to English shipping that no exertions were
spared to deprive them of any place for refitting their ships.
The Dutch had been forced into a European war, and their
colonies were in consequence liable to capture. Raffles now
furnished the Court of Directors with the fullest information
respecting the East generally, and more particularly Java,
against which place Lord Minto decided, after a study of
Raffles' very full information, to send a force.
After all the preliminary arrangements had been made
and Raffles had got into communication with all the chiefs
in the Archipelago, the expedition left India in 1811, with
Lord Minto in command. The rendezvous was Malacca,
where his lordship arrived on the 9th May, having previously
landed at Penang on the 18th April. Every possible
information had been provided beforehand by Raffles for
the purposes of the expedition, even to the deciding on the
best route for the ships to sail from Malacca to Batavia.
Lord Minto was astounded at Raffles' forethought and
intelligence, for the latter had made use of every one who
could give the slightest piece of information regarding Java,
which the Dutch had for centuries been jealously guarding,
that other nations should never learn its real value. Captain
Burn, an Englishman trading at Pontianak, Robert Scott, ^
who had a private dwelling-house at Penang, called " Kelso "
(which Lord Minto visited), Captain John Greig, and
' See Robert Scott, merchant, in the material to be published later.
u 2
292 JAVA
Mr. Stewart were all requisitioned in turn by Raffles and
closely interrogated by him, being given lists of questions to
which to furnish replies.
The route marked out by Raffles Lord Minto decided,
against the advice of all the naval officers, to adopt, and
the fleet proceeded by the direct way instead of by that
way hitherto used along the coast of Borneo.
The fleet was in one long line of ninety sail, with H.M.S.
Modeste, on board of which were Lord Minto and Raffles,
closing up the rear.
What Raffles' feelings must have been when standing
beside Lord Minto as the ships one by one dropped anchor
in the Bay of Chillinching on the 30th July, without a
single mishap, may be better imagined than described.
No doubt he felt that at last his great and well-formed
ideas for the aggrandisement of his nation in the East were
about to be realised.
The troops disembarked on the 4th August in splendid
order, and after a brilliant feat of arms captured Batavia,
Governor-General Janssens capitulating the island on the
18th September, 1811.
Raffles was appointed to be Lieutenant-Governor of Java
and its dependencies, not only as a mark of his peculiar
fitness for this office but as a special acknowledgment of the
valuable services he had rendered ; and thus six years after
his arrival in India, without interest or friends, and solely
dependent on his own exertions, he was elevated to one of
the highest offices in the Empire.
It is not necessary here to enter into an extended exami-
nation of Raffles' policy in Java, but, as it turned out, all
Englishmen and well-read Dutchmen will agree that no
better choice could have been made, and the vigorous energy
he displayed during the five years the English ruled Java
is a marvel to all those who have had the advantage of
closely studying his administration.
FOKT TAGGAL (tEGAl), 1811. (BRITISH FLAG IS FLYING
FORT CHKRIBON, IHll.
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 293
He was everywhere and did everything, travelHng, when
time permitted, from one end of the island to the other to
inquire personally whether his orders were being carried
out in the spirit he desired, in one tireless effort conscien-
tiously to do his duty to God and man. The Dutch before
the arrival of the English had possession only of Sunda and
the western part of the island, but under Raffles' govern-
ment Soerakarta and Djockjockarta were reduced, and, as
Raffles in one of his famous despatches stated, " the Euro-
pean power is for the first time paramomit in Java."
Except in the neighbourhood of Batavia, the native regents
had been permitted to govern the country as they pleased,
provided they were civil to the European officials and
supplied their proper share of grain and labour when called
on. The revenues had been derived from a monopoly of
the retail sale of opium, spirits, toddy, etc., from gambling
and cock-fighting farms, from transit and customs duties,
and from the forced dehvery of produce at prices below the
market value.
Raffles introduced a new system. Availing himself of
the acknowledged Asiatic right of sovereignty over the soil,
he fixed on an equable and moderate land rent, and abolished
the forced deliveries of produce, the right to exact labour,
and all tolls and imposts, which had hitherto been a bar to
improvement and had impoverished the island, neither the
Dutch nor the Javans reaping much benefit therefrom, the
only people winning any advantage from these ancient and
out-of-date methods being the Chinese, who had already
grown inordinately rich all over the island.
Raffles was also very fond of conomittees, establishing a
*' Revenue Committee,"^ a " Commercial Committee,"^ a
*' Committee for the Improvement of the Town Suburbs,"
> The Revenue Committee was established on the 13th August, 1813.
^ The Commercial Committee was established between the 9th and 17th
June, 1813 (see " Engelschen op Java," door J. Hageman).
294 JAVA
a chief paymaster with a committee/ and so forth. All
these bodies had definite duties to perform, and were ex-
pected to furnish full particulars on certain prescribed
subjects when called upon by the central Government.
Before, however, sufficient time had been allowed to test
the value of the new system, which was obviously a great
improvement on the earlier one, Java was restored to the
Dutch. No question in connection with Eastern Asia has
ever been canvassed more than the restoration of this island
to its former masters, and EafHes at the time, in a bitter
letter of reproach to a friend, says " the island has been
transferred by the English Government in total ignorance
of its value to the Dutch."
It has also been asserted that the national interests were
unjustifiably sacrificed ; that the real value of the island
was unknown ; that the Lord Castlereagh was imposed
upon by the flattering attention of the allied sovereigns,
who were loud in their praise ot the generous magnanimity
of the great Enghsh nation which had fought the battle of
Europe on the most disinterested principles ; and that he
consented to the restoration without having sufficiently
considered the matter. It must, however, be recollected
that in consequence of the large military force necessary to
maintain possession the expenses far exceeded the revenue.
The arrangements of Raffles not having had time to produce
the expected results in improving the financial condition of
the settlement, he was obhged to draw on Bengal at a time
when the treasury in that residency was exhausted by the
Pindarrie and Ghoorka wars. It was argued, in ignorance
of the new financial arrangements and the prosperity
expected therefrom, that the island was not worth keeping,
and therefore neither the Crown nor the Company exerted
themselves to retain it. In the general political view it
must also be recollected that it was the object of the Treaty
' Called " Account General Office."
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 295
of Vienna to re-establish the balance of power, and however
much the Enghsh Minister was ignorant of the great value
of Java, it is not to be supposed that the Dutch neglected
any means to obtain restitution of what was their most
valuable possession. The nations of Europe have always
been jealous of the extraordinary power of the English in
India, and the opportunity was not lost for depriving them
of the preponderance which the possession of eJava would
have given them in the East, to the exclusion of another
weaker, and, therefore, in the event of future differences,
more easily influenced nation.
This decision was also doubtless not uninfluenced by the
fact that the English had already deprived the Dutch of
all their other valuable colonial possessions — Ceylon, the
Cape of Good Hope, etc.
The Court of Directors disapproved of Baffles' arrange-
ments in Java, and took the opportunity to supersede him
when charges of maladministration were made by General
Gillespie, the commander-in-chief of the troops. It is
scarcely necessary to allude to these charges further than
to state that Raffles found no difficulty in answering them,
and that they were most probably brought forward through
misunderstandings as to the relations between the Crown's
and the Company's officers at a time when it was still
expected the island would be retained by the Crown. The
Crown officers were accustomed to see in the Indian civihan
the clerk rather than the administrator of empires. One of
the charges, that arising out of the question of " the sale of
lands in perpetuity," which has ever since caused trouble
to the Dutch Government, was the main ground for attack-
ing Raffles, and out of which his enemies — and he had, like
all great men, many of them — made the most. That
Raffles himself decided upon the sale of these lands there
can be no doubt of, but there was no fault to be found in
this ; there were precedents, Marshall Daendels having also
296 JAVA
sold large tracts of country. During his tenure of office, for
instance, the whole of the residencies of Bezoekie and
Panaroekan had been sold on the 30th June, 1810, to the
Captain Chinaman of Sourabaya, Han Tjan Pit, for 400,000
Spanish matten ; and the residency of Probolingo on the
3rd December, 1810, to the Captain Chinaman of Pasoeroean,
Han Tik Ho, for 1,000,000 ryks dollars ; as also later on
lands in Oedjoeng, Krawang, Tjikarang Tjawang Boengien,
Tjibarassa, Sumadangan, and Tegal Waroe. Where, how-
ever, the mistake lay was in the methods employed by
Baffles' lieutenants, Thomas Macquoid and Nicolaas Engel-
hard, in carrying out the sales, which resulted, after several
postponements, in large slices of territory being sold for
nominal prices. Even this, however, might have survived
criticism had Baffles not unfortunately been a member of a
syndicate (consisting of Macquoid, Engelhard, and A. de
Wilde) which bought the estate of Soekaboemi, reaching
from Bandoeng to nearly Buitenzorg, for a ridiculous trifle.
It must, however, be taken into account that in those days
it was quite a common thing for the Company's servants to
buy land as a speculation, so that it was merely a question
of the methods employed for securing the estates for privi-
leged persons which raised the storm of indignation among
the army officers, who viewed the affair with sanctimonious
horror and disgust ; and the Com't of Directors when they
heard of it gave it as their candid opinion that it was a
'* questionable proceeding." The broad-minded Governor-
General of India, Lord Minto, registered, however, as his
opinion that the sale of lands was a " wise proceeding during
a period of great necessity." Be this as it may, there can
be no doubt that Baffles never wholly disproved the
charge which lay on his administration that he had been
mixed up, directly or indirectly, with his lieutenants in
a questionable transaction, although there also can be no
doubt that he was in no way implicated in these " doubt-
laiTSCH BESTUUR.
iSu - j8iff.
JAYAN COINS UNDKR THK KKITISH OCCL-PATIOX (1811-1816).
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 297
ful " proceedings, his own share in them being open and
honourable.
Mr. Fendall, a member of the Supreme Council, was ordered
to relieve Eaffles, and took over the administration from
him on the 12th March, 1816 ; but shortly after this the
island was restored to the Dutch. The Marquis of Hastings,
who succeeded Lord Minto as Governor-General, was one of
those who reported unfavourably on the acquisition, and
the constant requisitions on the Bengal treasury did not
leave room for any hesitation on the Company's part in the
desire to be reheved from a useless acquisition. Lord
Minto's early death after his return from India precluded
Raffles from having the advantage of his support in laying
before Parliament and the country the great advantage,
from a political point of view, of the possession of Java, and
at the same time in explaining the vast agricultural and
trading resources of the island, which would soon have had a
large surplus revenue and have afforded an extensive market
for British manufactures.
It appeared doubtful after the capture of Java whether
it would be held by the Royal Government or be made over
to the Company, and Lord Minto's thoughtful consideration
had secured a retreat for Raffles in the residency of Ben-
coolen, in Sumatra, in case his services should no longer be
required in Java. On his supersession, however. Raffles
proceeded home in the ship Ganges, broken in health from
overwork and worry, broken in spirits, and a disappointed
man.^ His object was to recruit his health and at the same
time to set himself right with the Court of Directors and the
public, for his public and his private character had been
violently and wantonly attacked.
The charges were easily disposed of, and his services in
Java were acknowledged by the Prince Regent, who con-
1 On the way home the Ganges called at St. Helena, and Kafiies had a
long interview with Napoleon.
298 JAVA
f erred on him the honour of knighthood, while the Court of
Directors, on Raffles addressing them and stating that for
ten years he had laboured with unwearied zeal to promote
their best interests and so claimed a consideration of his
services, was reluctantly forced to notify him in October,
1817, of their appreciation of his services and of their having
appointed him the Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen, with
greater powers than had been held before by the chief of
that factory. Their dispatch contained the following
words : —
" The Court of Directors, in consideration of the zeal and
talents displayed during the period he filled the office of Lieu-
tenant-Governor of Java, confer upon him the title of Lieutenant-
Governor of Bencoolen as a peculiar mark of the favourable
sentiments which the Court entertain of his merits and service."
He was also empowered to attend to the general interests of
the English in the archipelago, more particularly in relation
to the Dutch.
This is the beginning of the second portion of Sir Stamford
Raffles' career in these seas. At an early period of his
service at Penang he had made himself acquainted with the
conditions and with the earher history and commercial
relations of nearly every native State in the archipelago ;
he had traced the connection of the several foreign nations
with each State, and had arrived at the conclusion that it
was necessary for the welfare of the native population that
the Enghsh should be the paramount power in the Malay
countries, and that the Dutch influence should be weakened.
With Java the Dutch had lost their last hold on the archi-
pelago, their other positions having been previously captured,
and Sir Stamford, for the time, saw his fondest hopes
reahsed ; his disappointment on the restoration of these
possessions at the peace of 1815 was consequently very
great, and he now set himself to work to counteract the
Dutch influence in every possible way. This became the
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 299
master passion of his life, and is the key to all his after
proceedings. He had succeeded in instilling some of his
pohcy into the minds of the Eoyal and of the Company's
Government at home, and he was now entrusted with
extensive powers to watch over British interests in the
archipelago under the name of Lieutenant-Governor of
Bencoolen, an office in itself without these extra powers.
On arriving at Bencoolen on the 22nd March, 1818, Sir
Stamford found everything in a state of the most extreme
disorder, morally and physically. The roads were impass-
able, the highways over-run with rank grass, and Govern-
ment House, which was built of bamboos, was a den of
ravenous dogs and pole-cats. It was the most wretched
place he had ever beheld ; but his buoyant spirits did not,
however, give way, and he prayed and hoped God would
grant him health to carry out his task. The day before his
arrival an earthquake had destroyed the town : while the
state of morals among all classes was described as disgraceful
to civihsation. In writing to Sir E. H. Inglis under date
12th June, 1819, he says : —
" The state of society, even among the Europeans, was very
bad on my arrival. I trust it is improving : an instance has just
occurred which will, I hope, impress on the higher authorities
the necessity of attending more closely to the religious and moral
character of their establishment."
Bencoolen, although it had been seized by the English as
early as 1682 and a factory was erected a few years later,
had never prospered. For some unaccountable reason it
did not in these days attract the Malays, who called it tanah
mate, or " the dead land of their ancestors," and the Chinese,
although offered all sorts of alluring prospects and induce-
ments, steadfastly refused to go there. The reason the
Enghsh had made an estabhshment here was that there
were pepper gardens in the neighbourhood, but the expenses
300 JAVA
of the Government being about £100,000 per annum, no
profitable return could be expected from the few tons of
pepper exported.
Li 1801 the Court of Directors sent orders to reduce the
estabhshment to a resident, four assistants, and four writers,
and to withdraw the sub-residencies, which extended from
Padany to the south of the island.
Sir Stamford Eaffles set himself vigorously to work to
improve the place. He found a number of young men in
the establishment who had no adequate duties to occupy
their attention : these he formed into committees, presided
over by members of his own staff, who had accompanied
him from Java ; and the promotion of agriculture, educa-
tion, religion, and general amelioration formed subjects of
occupation and amusement where hitherto dissipation had
been the only relief from a dull and monotonous existence.
The revenues of Bencoolen had been derived from gambling,
opium, cock-fighting farms, the almost forced delivery of
produce at rates below its marketable value, and from the
labour of the Company's African slaves, of whom there were
two hundred, all born in the settlement, the children of
slaves purchased in the earlier days of the English East
India Company. They loaded and unloaded the Company's
ships, and a more depraved, dissolute lot it would not be
possible to imagine,^ given over as they were to profligacy
and vices of the worst description.
Sir Stamford abolished the gambling and cock-fighting
farms and emancipated the slaves. These acts would
require no explanation or apology in the present day, but
in the year 1819 the policy was too far in advance, and, as
no adequate provision was made to supply the deficiency of
revenue, the moral considerations were not allowed to weigh
against the pecuniary loss. The result of these and other
^ There were also a few Bengaleae slaves sent to Bencoolen in 1797 for
life as a punishment for crimes they had committed.
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 301
operations about this period was very nearly fatal to their
projector's prospects and position in the Indian service.
On the 19th May, 1818, Raffles made one of his celebrated
trips to the interior of Sumatra ; he was accompanied by
Lady Raffles, Dr. Arnold, and Mr. Presgrave, the British
Resident of Manna (a station near Bencoolen), six native
chiefs, and fifty coolies, carrying the baggage and food. It
was on this journey that the gigantic flower now called
** Rafflesia Arnoldi " was discovered. Raffles writes of his
journey : —
" There is nothing more striking in the Malayan forests than
the grandeur of the vegetation, and the magnitude of the flowers,
creepers, and trees, contrasts strikingly with the stunted, pigmy
vegetation of England. Here we have creepers and vines
entwining larger trees, and hanging suspended for more than
one hundred feet, in girth not less than a man's body, and many
much thicker, the trees seldom under one hundred feet, and
generally approaching one hundred and sixty to two hundred
feet in height."
One tree which Raffles measured was nine yards in
circumference.
The account of the journey is most interesting, but too
long to relate here. Everywhere Raffles was received by
the villagers with acclamation ; his name, which was now
revered in the archipelago, had preceded him. At Tanjung
Alem, a kampong (small village) where they stopped for the
night, the chiefs insisted on making a treaty by which they
placed themselves under the protection of the British
Government.^
In July of the same year Raffles proceeded to Padang,
where the chiefs were under some consternation, fearing
that he was coming to hand the settlement over to the Dutch.
Twenty-five years had elapsed since the Dutch left the place,
* This journey was performed for a second time later by Presgravo,
Osborn, Church, and CudUpp.
302 JAVA
so that a large proportion of the natives were born during
the period of the EngUsh occupation, and they feared, with
an unholy terror, that if the Dutch returned they would be
punished and degraded for their fealty towards the Enghsh —
a mistaken idea, of course.
The chiefs here explained to RafEes that the Dutch had
no right to Padang, and that any treaties that they had
made were purely of a commercial nature.
Raffles now began making inquiries about Meiidngkabu
(the power of which in ancient times extended over the whole
of Sumatra), which he was very anxious to visit.
Mendngkahu was famous at the time of the Egyptians, and
was known not only as the cradle of the Malayan race, but
as a place abounding in gold mines. It is said that it was
from Mendngkahu, and chiefly down the Siak, Sudragiri,
and Sunda rivers, that the gold which the traders of Solomon
loaded at Malacca was carried. It was to the gold of
Mendng/cafew that Malacca probably owed in part its designa-
tion as the " Golden Chersonesus," and navigators, only a
century ago, distinguished in their charts two mountains in
its neighbourhood, each called Mount Ophir, one on the
peninsula of Malacca and one in West Sumatra. Having
secured all the information he could. Raffles left on the
14th July for Mendngkahu, accompanied by his wife and
Dr. Horsfield, the great botanist, who presented to the
scientific institutions of the world such a vast collection of
information regarding Java.
When Raffles arrived on the borders of the Tigablas
country the chiefs were so delighted to see him that they
desired him to remain with them for three days, a request
he was unable to comply with. The country here was
highly cultivated ; on the slopes of the mountains coffee,
indigo, maize, oil-yielding plants, and even sugar-cane were
growing, whilst on the plains there were " sawahsj' or rice-
fields, cultivated on the same principle as in Java.
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 303
Eaffles also remarks on an abundant fine breed of small
cattle, which the inhabitants of the Mendngkabu country
preferred to the water-buffalo introduced into Java from
India^ at a later period. These animals stood about three
feet four inches high, and were very beautiful, being mostly
of a light fawn colour, with black eyes and lashes. They
were sold at about three dollars a head.
Baffles says, " They are without exception the most
beautiful little animals of the kind I ever beheld."
In this country the women wore their hair parted over
the forehead and combed smooth down the sides, and the
children and young girls were frequently seen with their
hair plaited down their back. The women had the lobe of
their ears distended to an enormous extent, in order to
receive an immense ear-ring about two inches in diameter
made of wood, silver, or copper. The people of Mendngkabu
were not good looking ; whilst in manners ruder and less
cultivated than their neighbours, they were superior in the
knowledge of agriculture, and generally speaking their
economic condition was better.
Their houses were large and well built — in length about
sixty feet, with an interior hall and several rooms. In front
of each house were the usual two lombongs or granaries, on
the same principle as in Java, but much longer. The wood-
work in the houses was carved.
When Eaffles arrived at last at Mendngkabu he found
only the remains of ancient grandeur ; everywhere there
was the wreck of a once large and populous city, waringin
trees in hnes marking the ways, fruit trees showing where
the orchards had been, and various signs showed where the
boundaries had been of this great town. The halls of the
palace were covered with grass. This was a large planked
house, situated in a beautiful position on the banks of the
Golden River, but fast falling into decay. In its day
^ Some think China.
304 JAVA
Mendngkabu was the centre of a mighty empire, that was
three times sacked by the Persians and Arabs. Here Eaffles
to his dehght found a stone with Kawi (Sanscrit) characters
on it, which proved to him the Hindu origin of its early
inhabitants. He also found the throne of stone, where the
sultan used to sit in state. The royal and ancient burial
ground was also discovered in the forest.
While engaged in matters of domestic policy Sir Stamford
did not forget the political duties attached to his office.
The Dutch, on being reinstated in Java, had again taken
over the dependencies in Sumatra, among others the State
of Palembang, which, previously only a nominal possession,
had been reduced to complete subjection by a force under
General Gillespie. Their policy was always somewhat
aggressive, and now, having the State of Lampong under
their government, they at once came into collision with the
English over the boundaries of that State, which marched
with Bencoolen. The encroachments of the Dutch were
embarrassing, and Sir Stamford conceived the idea of
forming a settlement to offer a check to their further advance.
He had already declared Bencoolen to be a free port, but its
position was unfavourable for trade, being outside the great
routes through the Sunda and Malacca Straits. He de-
manded an anchorage at Simangka Bay, in the Straits of
Sunda, in order, as he stated in a letter to Mr. Marsden,
dated the 7th April, 1818, " to be able to set up our shop
next door to the Dutch." The settlement was a failure,
and he then began that policy by which his name and
reputation were ultimately established in the Straits. He
had already in prospect the idea of a mercantile competition
with the Dutch, as the following passage in the letter above
referred to will show : "It would not, I think, be many
years before my station in the Straits of Sunda [Simangka
Bay] would rival Batavia as a commercial entrepot.'' His
position at Bencoolen gave him constant opportunities for
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 305
experiencing the aggressive, or so-called aggressive, policy
of the Dutch, who aimed, and naturally so, at an exclusive
authority in the Malay countries. In order to oppose this
design and put a check on their further .progress in the
Straits, Sir Stamford proposed the formation of one or more
trading settlements, which by the more liberal policy of the
English would become " depots " for the trade of the
Archipelago.
Penang was situated too far to the north, and traders on
going to it from the eastward would be obliged to pass
Malacca, soon to be restored to the Dutch. What was
Tv^anted in his settlement was that it should be a convenient
place for the Company's ships to call at for trade or refresh-
ment, for the collection, according to the old-estabhshed
course of trade, of the produce of the archipelago and the
subsequent distribution of English goods in return, and for
the exercise of a political influence over the Eastern Seas.
In order to carry out this policy it was necessary for Sir
Stamford to have the sanction and co-operation of the
Supreme Government, and he deteiTnined to proceed to
Bengal, for the purpose of urging his views on the Governor-
General. The Marquis of Hastings, then Governor-General,
on reUeving Lord Minto had taken an unfavourable view of
affairs to the eastward, and Sir Stamford had many mis-
givings as to the success of his undertaking. However, after
a few interviews, he succeeded in placing himself on a
friendly footing, and laid his information and views before
Hastings in such a masterly manner that all objections and
difficulties were overruled. He returned to the Straits
invested, for the second time, with the authority of Governor-
General's Agent in the Eastern Seas, and with powers
generally to oppose the Dutch and, if possible, to form an
estabhshment to the south of Malacca.
Previous to the capture of Malacca by the English in 1795
the trade of Penang had been confined to the northern
J. — VOL. I. X
306 JAVA
portions of the peninsula, Sumatra, and the continent of
India. The possession of Malacca, on the highway to the
entrance to the archipelago, enabled the Dutch to check any
attempt on the part of the Bugginese and other Eastern
traders to visit Penang. By the Treaty of Vienna the
settlement of Malacca was restored to the Dutch, and it was
not doubted but that the same policy which had marked
their previous occupation would be resumed, and that
Penang, which by this time had acquired a very considerable
portion of Bugginese, Chinese, and other Eastern trade,
would be again deprived of these advantages. Major
Farquhar, an officer of the Madras Engineers, who had been
a long time at Malacca in a semi-civil capacity, had, after
it became known that he was to restore Malacca, in the
year 1816 brought this subject to the notice of the Penang
Government, and pointed out the Carimon Islands as a fit
place for an English settlement.
In the year 1818 he was authorised by the Penang
Government to visit the prince of those islands, and he in
consequence proceeded to Ehio, then in the hands of the
Malays.'
Major Farquhar found the Rajah Mudah Jaffir to be the
only person with whom his negotiations could proceed, and
■svith that prince he concluded a treaty, dated the 19th
August, 1818, in the name of Sultan Abdulrahman of Johore.
The Penang Government attempted to form an establish-
ment on the island of Bentan ; but before their measures
were taken the Dutch had forestalled them at Rhio, and they
retired as usual from any future attempt, in the conviction
that it was impossible for them to effect their object in these
Malay countries.
It was under these circumstances that Sir Stamford came
* When Malacca was taken in 1795 the smaU station or dependency of
Rhio followed, but after a short time the EngUsh abandoned the place,
which in consequence fell into the hands of the Malays.
THE CANTONMENTS, TANCiSI.
PLASSEN PASSAR, OK MARKET, AT TJILATJAP.
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 307
down to the Straits, with, as before stated, the rank of
Governor-General's Agent in the Eastern Seas ; he was
bound for Acheen, where, in conjunction with Major Coombs,
agent of the Penang Government, he was appointed to
mediate concerning a disputed succession to that throne.
Colonel Farquhar, on the cession of Malacca, was proceed-
ing to England when it occurred to the supreme Government
that his local knowledge, the result of fifteen years' duty at
Malacca as Kesident and Commandant, might prove useful
in the formation of the new settlement in the immediate
neighbourhood of his former residency. Sir Stamford was
furnished with a letter to him, dated the 28th November,
1818, in which the thanks of the Government were conveyed
for his able report of his negotiations under the direction of
the Penang Government, and a desire was expressed on the
part of the Governor-General that the benefit of his further
services might be secured to improve the relations already
estabhshed with the native chiefs. His lordship now re-
quested him to accompany Sir Stamford RafEes in his
expedition, and to take charge of the infant settlement under
the directions of Sir Stamford, who would be obliged soon to
return to his own Government at Bencoolen.
The time had now arrived for the crowning act of Sir
Stamford's career, the act that was to make his name
famous for ever.
At this moment every man's hand was against him — his
success had been too great, and he was surrounded by
jealous enemies. The ears of the Court of Directors were
filled with the grossest and basest calumnies, and when they
found they could not attack him officially they descended
to the lowest depths of infamy by doing so personally. The
great man bore up well, however, and laid his plans in
secret. Every place in the archipelago had been in the
possession of the English, in nearly all cases by direct treaty
with the rajahs, but the Dutch, with persistent energy, had
X 2
308 JAVA
induced the Court of Directors to give them all up. Banca
and BilHton had been quixotically returned, Padang and
Palembang likewise ; Acheen was point-blank refused, and
Ehio had slipped through their fingers. On Sir Stamford's
arrival at Penang his mind was not yet made up as to where
he should plant the British flag, and even on leaving this
place he was apparently still cogitating. Sir Stamford was
seen during this time in Penang in deep thought on the sea-
shore, looking southwards. The Viceroy of India's last
words, " Sir Stamford, you may depend on me," were
apparently uppermost in his mind, for he was continually
heard muttering, " I think I can rely on the marquis." He
found later on, when discussions arose regarding the advisa-
bility of giving in to the Dutch and letting them have the
new settlement, that Hastings was a man of his word.
Sir Stamford left Penang and sailed down the Straits with
a small handful of troops under Colonel Farquhar, which
had been reluctantly lent by the Governor. Sir Stamford
gave instructions to the captain of the ship to sail on past
Malacca, as it was to the south of this place that the station
was to be fixed. He was himself on dock the whole time
scanning the horizon. Siak was quickly given up, where-
upon they proceeded to the Carimons, which place had
been pointed out by the colonel as a likely site ; but on
examination it proved to be inconvenient in its capacity as
a harbour, and they went on towards Johore, to which
locality Sir Stamford's views were then directed. On
passing through the Straits of Singapore Colonel Farquhar
suggested that they should land to visit the Tumonggong
of Johore, who had lately settled himself on that island,
and who was known to the colonel.
On arriving in the harbour the evident advantages of the
place struck them both. " This," said Sir Stamford, " is
where we shall form a settlement," and the British flag was
unfurled.
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 309
The date was the 29th January, 1819. Sir Stamford
Raffles sent Colonel Farquhar on at once to Rhio to request
that the permission which had formerly been given to him
by the Rajah Mudah to form a settlement on the Carimons
might now be extended to the site of the ancient city of
Singapura.
The Dutch, however, ere this had resumed their former
position of lords paramount in the Johore archipelago, and
had already extracted a treaty from the Rajah Mudah and
his creature. Sultan Abdulrahman, restraining these rulers
from granting a footing to any European Power in Johore.
After some management, however. Colonel Farquhar suc-
ceeded in obtaining an implied permission, with which he
returned to Singapore, where Sir Stamford concluded a
treaty with the Tumonggong, dated February, 1819.
This treaty was to be subject to the approval of Sultan
Houssain of Johore. The following day Sir Stamford
sailed on his mission to Acheen, leaving the colonel in charge
of the newly-formed settlement. After some communication
with the Tumonggong as to Sultan Houssain it appeared
that there was a difference among the Malays as to their
sultan, and that, in consequence of the last sultan's death
having taken place unexpectedly before suitable arrange-
ments could be made for the succession, the throne at
present was irregularly occupied. Tuanku Abdulrahman
was younger brother to Tuanku Houssain, who ought to
have been sultan, but was kept out of his rights by the Rajah
Mudah Jaffir, who was at enmity with the relatives of his
mother, and, finding the weak and complying disposition
of Tuanku Abdulrahman suited to his purposes, had
patronised the younger prince, in whose name he ruled the
country. On inquiring further Colonel Farquliar was
informed that the late Sultan Mahamed, before his death,
had arranged that Houssain, his eldest son, should succeed,
and that Abdulrahman, the yomiger, who showed a reserved
310 JAVA
and timid disposition, should perform the Haj with a view
to the priesthood. Houssain, as heir presumptive, was sent
to Pahang, in order to complete an alliance with the daughter
of the Bandahara ; his father, the Sultan, accompanied him
part of the way, and soon after, on his return to Lingga, died,
not without a suspicion of poison. On his death Jaffir, in
order to fulfil one of the requirements of a royal funeral,
induced Abdulrahman to allow himself to be installed as
sultan. The north monsoon, at that time in full strength,
prevented any communication witli Houssain at Pahang,
and it was not for some months after that he could come
down. When he arrived he found the Kajah Mudah too
strong for him, and in consequence he was obliged to give
way.
With this information, which Colonel Farquhar trans-
mitted to Sir Stamford, it became a question how far it was
advisable to inquire further into the matter of the better
title of Houssain. As the rights of the English at the new
settlement w^ould entirely depend on the question. Sir
Stamford, on his return from Acheen in June, determined
to recognise Houssain. On that prince being sent for by
the Tumonggong he was installed publicly as Sultan, and
with the Tumonggong executed a fresh treaty. The treaty
provided shortly as follows : —
Firstly. The occupation by the English of a tract of land
extending from Tandjong Malang on the west to Tandjong
Katong on the east, and inland as far as the range of a
cannon shot from the factory. (The jurisdiction within this
tract was to belong to the English, excepting the campongs
of the Sultan and Tumonggong.)
Secondly. Justice was to be administered jointly by the
Sultan and Tumonggong under the English Eesident.
Thirdly. Captains and heads of tribes were to attend and
report occurrences every Monday morning and to adjudicate
in minor matters.
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 311
Fourthly. An appeal was allowed from decisions of
captains and heads of tribes.
Fifthly. No customs or duties were to be levied, or other
important matter to be decided, without the consent of the
sultan, Tumonggong, and of the Resident.
Such was the primitive constitution under which Singapore
was settled, and under which it rapidly rose to importance.
The question to whom is due the credit of fixing on the
site of Singapore for the great emporium has been much
discussed, and as it is one of some interest a few remarks
may be here allowed.
Sir Stamford's first idea was to have a port in the Sunda
Straits, and writing in x\pril, 1818, he says : "To effect the
object contemplated some convenient station within the
archipelago is necessary ; both Bencoolen and Prince of
Wales Island are too far removed, and unless I can succeed
in obtaining a position in the Straits of Smida, we have no
alternative but to fix it in the most advantageous situation
we can find within the archipelago : this would be some-
where m the neighbourhood of Bintang." In the same
letter he goes on to say, " another station at Rhio, or its
vicinity."^
Writing from Calcutta on the 14th November, 1818, he
says : "I have to inform you that it is determined to keep
the command of the Straits of Malacca by forming establish-
ments at Acheen and Rhio." Again, writing to Marsden
from Sand Heads,^ under date the 12th December, 1818, he
says : " We are noAv on our way to the eastward, in the hope
of doing something, but I much fear the Dutch have hardly
left us an inch of ground to stand upon. My attention is
principally turned to Johore, and you must not be surprised
if my next letter to you is dated from the site of the ancient
^ Rhio is a small island separated by a narrow strait from the island of
Bintang, or properly " Bentan."
^ Mouth of Calcutta river.
312 JAVA
city of Singapura." John Crawfurd^ states that the
Carimons were the origmal objective of Sir Stamford. Lady
Raffles, however, says that the Carimons were only surveyed
out of deference to Colonel Farquhar, who had, while at
Malacca, fixed on these islands as a fit situation. Finally,
it would appear clear, both from native and European
authority, that he went into Singapore casually, at Colonel
Farquhar's suggestion, to obtain information from Farquhar's
friend, the Tumonggong, whom the latter had known while
employed at Malacca. There is, however, nothing in this
to prevent Sir Stamford, especially in view of his letter to
Marsden of the 12th December, 1818 (which was received
by him five or six months later), from fully intending to fix
on Singapore ; but knowing it was the last card the English
could play, he purposely kept his secret from every one, and
allowed Colonel Farquhar to think they were just calling in
at Singapore by chance on his suggestion, whereas be had
fully intended to do so all the time as a result of the idea
given him by Farquhar. He had seen how Rhio had slipped
through their fingers, and this time he was determined not
to allow the Dutch to have any inkling of his intentions.
Whatever doubt, however, may arise as to whether the
exact locality of Singapore was the fruit of an accident or
of a preconceived plan, there can be no hesitation in stating
that its advance was entirely due to the energy and influence
of Sir Stamford Raffles.
The Penang Government, after the failure of its own
endeavour to form a subordinate station to the south, was
not very well pleased that one of its servants should be
permitted to attempt what it had itself failed in doing and
declared to be impossible. It had always watched the
proceedings of Sir Stamford with suspicion, and when the
principles on which his new settlement was to be adminis-
tered became known it felt bound to offer every opposition
1 See Ms account of the mission to Siam.
OFFICERS QUARTKRS.
THK KIVKK OSSO.
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 313
in its power, as it quickly foresaw its own decline and ruin
from the prosperity of a neighbouring settlement conducted
on such opposite principles. Its protests to Bengal and to
the Home authorities had the effect of cooling the support
with which Sir Stamford's proceedings had been favoured
by both these high authorities ; but another and a more
formidable adversary had to be met, and in a field where
Indian influence had less weight.
The Dutch had seen with indignation and dismay the
efforts of the English to encroach on their territories at the
south of the peninsula. In former times they had had the
exclusive jurisdiction over the whole peninsula from Perak
downwards. On Malacca being restored to them in 1818
they considered that all their former rights and immunities
accompanied that restoration, and in consequence any
attempt by the English or any other European nation on
the Malay peninsula to be an infringement of their exclusive
rights.
The proceedings of Sir Stamford RafHes, who had already
distinguished himself by his opposition to their interests,
were looked on as past all bearing, and the strongest remon-
strances were made to the Indian Government as well as to
the Foreign Office in England.
Dutch Indian affairs had been for some time under the
Crown, and the complaint now brought before the British
Ministers of the improper conduct of the English Company
and its servants in the Indian Archipelago was urged forward
against the feeble efforts of the corporation with all the
weight and authority of the Dutch ambassador. It is
obvious that with the lukewarm and almost powerless
authorities at home and in India Sir Stamford RafHes and
his Settlement, if not otherwise protected, must have been
at once offered up as a peace-offering to the Dutch ; and it
is here that the credit is due to Sir Stamford in having
carried his project to a successful termination. He had
314 JAVA
early foreseen the battle which must be fought at home,
and had provided friends to support his settlement. The
long struggle from 1819 to 1824, when the question was
finally settled, was only kept up by the aid of powerful
influences which Sir Stamford had secured by his picture
of the incalculable benefits which his settlement, if properly
supported, would confer on British trade. To these
influences, supplying to the Foreign Secretary a sufficient
motive to resist the Dutch demands, must be attributed the
long resistance made to those demands in a question to
which the Company and the Home and Bengal Governments
were indifferent and the Penang Government decidedly
hostile.
After remaining a few weeks at Singapore, giving instruc-
tions as to laying out the town and forming provisional
arrangements for the government of the new Settlement,
Sir Stamford returned to Bencoolen, where he occupied
himself, as before, in endeavours to improve the condition
of the people, as well as to elevate the tone of society at
that residency, till the-^month of October, when the news
arrived of the death of Colonel Bannerman, Governor at
Penang. In his last visit to Bengal Sir Stamford had
proposed to consolidate the Eastern possessions under one
governor residing at Singapore, with residents at each of
the stations of Bencoolen, Penang, etc. The plan was
favourably received, under the influence of the almost
expiring interest in Eastern affairs which had guided Lord
Minto's policy in that direction. A difficulty, however,
existed in the disposal of the Governor of Penang, as, of
course. Sir Stamford would himself have been head under
the proposed arrangement. This difficulty now overcome.
Sir Stamford proceeded to Bengal again to urge his plan on
the notice of the supreme Government. By this time, how-
ever, other matters of more pressing interest were occupying
the Government, and in consequence impediments, one of
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 315
the cliief of which was the difficulty of breaking up the
Penang Government, were allowed to interfere to prevent
an arrangement which Avould most probably have placed
British interests in the archipelago and the surrounding
countries on a firm footing, and have obviated the dis-
advantages now felt in the practical suppression of British
commerce with three-fourths of the archipelago, which the
Dutch had been permitted virtually to monopolise.
Another scheme of Sir Stamford's may be here properly
mentioned. He conceived the design of reducing and
colonising the whole island of Sumatra. His plan was to
re-estabhsh a central authority (himself) ; to open up all
the navigable rivers flowing into the Straits of Malacca ; to
hold the west coast stations as military posts, commanding
the rivers and the interior of the country ; to open a great
central road through the whole length oi Sumatra ; to
assume the position of protector of the native States ;^ to
introduce 20,000 or 30,000 Enghsh colonists ; and in fact
to make a colony as valuable to English trade as all the
West India Islands. This magnificent result was to be
accomplished at a cost not exceeding the yearly expenditure
at Bencoolen.
Disappointed in his hopes arising from the vacancy at
Penang, Sir Stamford returned to Bencoolen, there to await
the result of the references made to the Dutch and English
Home authorities as to Singapore. While thus waiting, his
energetic mind found occupation in promoting agriculture
at that station.
He early saw that Singapore would draw off the little
trade his liberal port regulations were bringing together at
Bencoolen, and. as the settlement must then depend on its
internal resources, he endeavoured to increase agricultural
production. The land surrounding his own house, which he
* On a former occasion lie recommended to Lord Minto to assume the
title of " Bitara," in imitation of the former Hindu sovereigns of Majapalut.
316 JAVA
had built in the country, was planted with a variety of tropical
fruits, spices, coffee, etc. ; the Government officers were
encouraged to plant spice trees ; the convicts were employed
in agricultural labour ; every one was called on to grow
sufficient grain for his own consumption ; and finally the
system of the forced growing of pepper by the natives, under
the semblance of a contract, was abolished. This policy
had the effect of improving the condition of the people, and
added materially to the value of the settlement. The
Englishmen engaged in spice planting set the example of
enterprise, perseverance, and liberal expenditure of capital,
which has always been attended by the happiest results,
and the effect of which is the surest proof oi the vast benefits
which necessarily accompany the residence of the European
in these countries. It was an unfortunate circumstance that
the result of this official spice planting was not satisfactory
to those concerned ;• nearly all of them were ruined at the
subsequent transfer of the settlement to the Dutch, when
their properties were sold at almost nominal prices. The
English families of Bencoolen — the Anguses, Bogles,
Bradleys, Greens, Burnetts, Coles, Days, Gibsons, Grants,
Lewises, Leicesters, Mitfords, Palmers, Eogers, Hays, and
many others — still lingered on here, however, until well into
the sixties, gradually dying out under depressing circum-
stances, or leaving offspring who for a living had gradually
reverted to the campongs.
The nature of Sir Stamford's political duties had brought
him much in unfriendly contact with the Dutch. After the
foundation of Singapore his connection with that settlement
heightened the feeling, already sufficiently bad, and he could
see neither justice nor moderation in the actions of his
opponents. The recollection of the Cape of Good Hope,
North America, Ceylon, South America, the Spice Islands,
the West India Islands, Java, Sumatra, all the Dutch
colonial possessions successively wrested from this great
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 317
nation during a time of affliction and tribulation had no
effect to soften his exasperated feehngs ; and he would have
confined it to the narrowest bounds in these seas wherever
it w^as opposed to British supremacy. His ideas on the
subject found vent in a " protest " against Dutch aggi'ession,
which protest, with the remarks of the old enemy, the Dutch
Ambassador at St. James's, was brought forward in Parlia-
ment, when Lord Bathurst, worn out by constant complaints,
felt called on to declare that Sir Stamford Raffles had
exceeded his authority, that he was, in fact, a " mere
pepper-collecting agent of the East India Company," and
had no power to interfere in such matters. At the India
House Sir Stamford fared no better. His measures were
totally disapproved : the Directors censured him for
emancipating the Company's slaves, for opening the port
of Bencoolen, and for abolishing the gambling and cock-
fighting farms.
In a letter from Mr. Grant, one of the Directors, dated the
19th July, 1820, the following ominous passage occurs : —
" You are probably aware of the obstacles which you have
opposed to the adoption of your measures, and even threatened
your position in the service : your zeal considerably outstripped
your prudence, and the first operations of it became known at an
unfavourable juncture."
With all the authorities of his own country now against
him, with the embittered opposition of the Dutch, influen-
tially voiced as it was at the Foreign Office, Sir Stamford,
his new colony and his policy, would inevitably have been
overwhelmed had he not succeeded in enlisting a powerful
mercantile feeling in his favour. The Indian trade had just
been opened, and the pubhc feeling was still excited as to
the immense advantages to be derived to the nation from a
participation in that trade ; here was anIEnglish colony,
settled in the centre of the trade of at least thirty centuries.
318 JAVA
and that colony flourishing in a manner without parallel in
mercantile history. It is most probably to the mercantile
interest excited in favour of Singapore that we are indebted
for its preservation ; once established and ruled under the
statesmanlike liberality of Sir Stamford's regulations its
progress was rapid, and although he was thwarted by the
insubordination and narrow views of his subordinates in
the management of the infant colony, the foundations of his
measures were so solid that minor difficulties were overcome.
It is not necessary to enter into any examination of the
differences which occurred between Sir Stamford and the
first Resident of Singapore, Colonel Farquliar. It is doubt-
ful from the records of his rule whether the Resident ever
saw in that station more than a mere village, fitted for the
accumulation of a small supply of goods, and the temporary
residence of traders. Thus, while Sir Stamford was founding
a settlement which was to be second to none in Asia, his
subordinate confined his views to present requirements and
thought not for an instant of its brilliant future.
There can be no doubt that the presence of the Resident
and the influence arising among the natives from his long
service at Malacca induced many natives to come to Singa-
pore to settle and to supply provisions, stores, etc. ; but it
may well be doubted whether the irregularities permitted
in a weak administration, peculiarly subject to native
influence, and governed by native ideas, did not counter-
balance such benefits.
On his last visit to Singapore Sir Stamford had the proud
satisfaction to find his colony successful beyond his most
sanguine expectations.
When the flag was first hoisted it was merely a fishing
village with scarcely 300 inhabitants, men, women, and
children, all told ; in three months there were 3,000 ; and
now he found a population of 10,000 souls and a trade
aggregating £2,000,000. The shipping, too, had already
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 319
taken large proportions, every vessel to and from the East
calling here for water and supplies.
Sir Stamford now set about preparing a code of laws and
estabhshing more suitable courts of justice, to be worked
under the treaty which he concluded with the native chiefs.
He appointed committees to lay out and improve the
town, and effected various other arrangements. Li all his
work he was assisted by a fine body of mercantile men,
prominent among whom were A. L. Johnstone, J. A.
Maxwell, Hugh Syme, D. A. Fraser, Charles Scott, John
Purvis, John Morgan, C. R. Read, A. Guthrie, Alexander
Morgan, G. Finlayson, Alexander Hay, W. G. Mackenzie,
William Paton, and others.
Whatever may be said of the want of detailed knowledge
by Su- Stamford in the matter of law-making, there can be
no doubt that his ideas were far-seeing and liberal. He set
the example of entrusting the European residents with a
degree of power commensurate with their position in the
community, as appears in the following passage in a letter
to the Supreme Government, dated 29th March, 1823 : —
" I am satisfied that nothing has tended more to the discomfort
and constant j airings which have hitherto occurred in our remote
settlements than the poHcy which has dictated the exclusion
of the European merchants from aU share, much less credit, in
the domestic regulation of the settlement, of which they are
frequently its most important members."
During this visit Sir Stamford, fmding this course neces-
sary to the well-being of the station, suspended the Resident,
Colonel Farquhar, and took the management of the whole
settlement upon himself till the 4th June, 1823, when John
Crawfm^d,^ of the Bengal Medical Service, and late Resident
in Java, now on a mission as ambassador to Siam, arrived.
Crawfurd was appointed Resident by the supreme Govern-
1 Full particulars of Crawfurd will be given when tke further matter
referred to in tlie Preface is published,
320 JAVA
ment, under whose authority the settlement was m future
to be directly placed.
On the 6th June, 1823, Sir Stamford EafHes paid his final
farewell to Singapore, having now brought it to a state of
prosperity with which even he was satisfied. To John
Crawfurd, the new Resident, he gave his final instructions
as to the government of the colony, leaving it to him to
uphold the honour of the English in the archipelago.
On his departure he received a lengthy address from the
merchants of Singapore under Alexander Morgan thanking
him for his unwearied zeal and vigilance and for his com-
prehensive views, which had enabled the settlement to go
forward with such unparalleled success.
He now returned to Bencoolen, the ship on which he
travelled, the Hero of Maloiv7i, calling at Batavia to land
goods on the 28th June, 1823.
As soon as it was known that Raffles was in the roads the
greatest consternation arose amongst the Dutch officials,
and the Governor-General, Baron van der Capellen, came
down from his country seat at Buitenzorg. To such a
height had the animosity of the Dutch authorities at Java
agamst him gone that they would not allow him to land,
and only as a special mark of consideration to Lady Raffles,
who was suffering badly on a wretched ship, was she, owing
to her delicate state of health, permitted to come on shore
and remain with the Macquoid family. During the stay of
the Hero oj Maloivn in the Batavia roads the ship was
visited by thousands of natives and by the whole British
colony, among whom were John Deans, Captain J. Drury,
R.N., Thomas Macquoid, A. L. Forestier, John Davidson,
Captain C. W. Allen, John Greig, G. Haswell, John Hay,
P. Jessen, J. Milne, 0. M. Roberts, James Wilson, G.
Maclaine, E. Watson, J. Traill, W. Thompson, Thomas
Anderson, Robert Morris, etc. Another instance of the
feeling of the Dutch against Sir Stamford Raffles at this
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 321
moment was the fact that the usual official circular from
him communicating the change of government at Singapore,
sent to Batavia in common with the other neighbouring
countries, was returned unanswered.
Sir Stamford's mission was now complete ; his health had
suffered very much of late, he had lost three of his children,^
and there appeared to be no further work for him to do in
these seas. He therefore set about preparing for his final
return to England. He had his immense collection of
books, manuscripts, drawings, maps, preserved specimens
of natural history, etc., packed into boxes, of which there
were such numbers as to require a large proportion of the
ship's freight for their accommodation.
There was here collected the fruit of years of patient
labour and inquiry into the literature of the Malays, Javans,
etc., and the finest and most complete collection of books in
those languages ever made.
The materials from which to have drawn up an account of
the archipelago, more complete in its various details than
any yet given, and to have formed the nucleus of a valuable
museum, were lost in the burning of the ship Favie on the
3rd February, 1824,^ the day after her departure from Ben-
coolen. Sir Stamford, after seeing the labour of seventeen
years thus gone in an hour, set about, after his fortunate
escape and return to Bencoolen, bringing together duplicate
collections. Again, on the 8th April, Sir Stamford, with his
wife and family, embarked on the ship Mariner in company
with the ship Lady Flora (Captain McDonnell), and arrived
safely after a perilous and stormy passage at Plymouth on
the 22nd August, 1824.
Raffles' health now began to fail him, and when he found
» Two to Ms great grief he buried at Bencoolen.
2 Tlie ship was fifty miles from land, when, owing to the carelessness of
the steward going with a naked hght to draw some brandy from a cask and
letting this fall, in a few minutes the ship was in flames from end to end.
Fortimately no lives were lost.
J. — VOL. I. Y
822 JAVA
that the Company instead of recognising with thanks his
labours preferred complaints against him and heaped
reproaches upon his head, he got his death-blow. His joy
in life was as great as ever, but his ardour was cooled and
his hopes had gone. The Directors had done their worst,
and on the 5th of July this brave man, one of the finest
examples that old England has ever sent forth, noble, just,
honest, loyal, and true, answered the summons to the throne
of God in his 45fch year.
His last and often-expressed hope was that he had experi-
enced sufficient trials to purify his soul, and he humbly
trusted that the many and heavy afflictions with which he
had been visited were sanctified by the grace of the Almighty
God, the Euler of the Universe, and were made instrumental,
through faith in a Saviour, to prepare him for the world
where sorrow and sighing are no more.
Thus was Sir Stamford Eaffles cut off in his prime at a
moment when his friends still expected a long life of labour
in the cause of philanthropy.
Looking back after a century on his record in Java, so
learned and eminent a Dutch official as Dr. F. de Haan,^ who
has had the means of studying his governorship, is able to
state that Sir Stamford was an honest, upright, and straight-
forward Governor, who had the courage of his convictions,
and did his best, regardless of race or creed, for the people
placed under his care.
This is a testimony of the highest value, and still more so
coming from a Dutchman. This is, however, not the only
Dutchman who approved his administration of Java, as will
be observed from Chapter IX.
Of one thing all Englishmen can make quite certain, that
had it not been for this great and far-seeing statesman
England would have no place in the East Indian Archipelago
or in the Malay Peninsular to-day.
* The keeper of the records at Batavia.
LIFE OF SIR T. S. RAFFLES 323
Sir Stamford Raffles was buried in the church at Hendon,
but it is regrettable to learn from a very able letter Mr.
Arnold Wright sent to The Times in March, 1912, that " the
exact position of his grave is unknown, although tradition
points to a spot close to the third window in the south front
of the sacred building as being the site, but there is not a
vestige of real evidence." ^
May his soul rest in peace.
> Sir Stamford Raffles was twice married — ^firstly to the widow of
W. Fancourt, of Lanark, in 1805, who died at Buitenzorg, in Java, in 1815
(see Chapter XII.) ; secondly, in 1817, to Sophia Hull, a daughter of
I. W. Hull, Esq., of the county of Down, who survived him.
To compose and complete this chapter. Lady Raffles' "Memoirs" and a
pamphlet on his Hfe in the old journal of the archipelago have been freely
made use of.
A tablet exists in Hendon Church, which reads as follows : —
In memory of
SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES,
F.B.S., LL.D., etc.
Statesman, Administrator and Naturalist,
Founder of the Colony and City of Singapore,
January 29th, 1819.
Born July 5th, 1781. Died at Highwood, Middlesex,
July 5th, 1826,
and buried near this tablet.
Erected in 1887 by Members of the Family.
In Westminster Abbey there is a statue to him, in the choir, north aisle ;
it was executed by Chantry, and cost the country £2,000.
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CHAPTER VIII
The British Expedition to Java, 1811
After our digression on the life of Raffles we now return
to our history.
The expedition for Java being ready, the first division,
under the command of Colonel Robert Rollo Gillespie,
sailed for Malacca via Penang from Madras on the 18th April,
1811, under the convoy of Captain Cole, of H.M.S. Caroline.
The remainder sailed a week later under Major-General
Wetherall.
On the 18th May the expedition arrived at the first
rendezvous, Penang Harbour.
The Commander-in-Chief, Sir Samuel Auchmuty, in the
frigate Akhar, and Lord Minto, in the frigate Modeste, had
also arrived. On the 1st June it was at Malacca, where the
troops from Bengal, under convoy of Captain Edgell, of
H.M.S. Cornelia, had already arrived, as also the commodore,
Broughton.
The first thing Lord Minto did on his arrival was to make
a bonfire of the various instruments of torture, such as the
rack, the wheel, and so forth, which had been in use by the
Dutch.
On the 11th June, the army having been brigaded, the
different convoys got under weigh.
The Bengal division sailed first, followed by the first
division from Madras, and so on in succession. On the
15th June the Straits of Singapore were entered.
Sir Samuel Auchmuty was now deliberating with his two
engineers, Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie and Lieutenant
Blakiston, who had been entrusted with the occupation
plans, where he was to land. The choice was for Batavia,
326
JAVA
but it had come to these officers' knowledge that the Dutch
division from Sourabaya had been moved up there, which
made Sir Samuel think Cheribon would be more advisable
for the landing.
On the 30th July the fleet was off the Indramayoe river
and proceeded towards Batavia. Colonel Mackenzie had
gone ahead to reconnoitre, and returned with the advice
that it was better to land at the village of Chillingching,
which lay on the coast only about ten miles from Batavia.
Whilst reconnoitring Colonel Mackenzie landed with a
few men, but was surprised by the enemy. He himself
managed to escape, but an officer and several men of the
69th Eegiment were taken prisoners. It appeared, however,
afterwards that the enemy learnt nothing from them, as
they pretended they were marines.
On the 3rd August the fleet was off Cape Krawang, and
the next morning off the Marandi river. At 2 o'clock a
portion of the fleet arrived, and at 4 o'clock on Sunday, the
4th, the whole fleet being off Chillingching, the signal was
made for the troops to land.
The fleet employed in this expedition consisted of the
following ships : —
Line of Battleships.
Scipion, Rear- Admiral Stopford, joined at Batavia.
Illustrious, Commodore Broughton, Captain Festing.
MiTiden, Captain Hoare.
Lion, Captain Heathcote.
Frigates.
Akbar, Captain Drury.
Doris, Captain Lye.
Nisus, Captain Beaver.
President, Captain Warren.
Bucephalus, Captain Pelly.
Phoebe, Captain Hillyar.
Modeste, Captain George Elliot
(son of Lord Minto).
Hussar, Captain Crawford.
Drake, Captain Harris.
Phaeton, Captain Pellew.
Leda, Captain Sayer.
Caroline, Captain Cole.
Cornelia, Captain Edgell.
Pysche, Captain Edgecumbe.
BRIDGE OVER THE RIVEK TJILEWOXG AT BATAVIA BETWEEN' PEGAXSAAX AND
MEESTER CORXELIS, WHERE THE GREAT BATTLE WAS FOUGHT BETWEEN
EXGLISH, FRENCH AND DUTCH TROOPS ON AUGUST •26tH, 1811.
THE SOURCES OF THE TJILEWdNL 1;IVKI;.
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 327
Sloops.
Barracouta, Captain Owen.
Hesper, Captain Reynolds.
Hecate, Captain Peachey.
Dasher, Captain Kelly.
Samarang, Captain Drury.'
Harpy, Captain Bain.
Procris, Captain Mansell.
Honourable Company's Cruisers.
Malabar, Captain Hayes and
Captain Maxfield.
Aurora, Captain Watkins.
Mornington, Captain Pearee.
Nautilus, Captain Walker.
Vestal, Captain Hall.
Ariel, Captain Macdonald.
Thetis, Captain -Lieutenant
PhilHps.
Psyche
and fifty-seven transports and several gunboats, amounting in
all to one hundred sail, all of which arrived safely at Chilhngching,
Batavia, on the 4th August, 1811, where the British flag was
flown.
The army, it will be seen, was divided into four brigades,
one forming the advance, two the line, and one the reserve.
The following is the general abstract of the army on the
4th Jane, 1811, at Malacca : —
Officers.
Native
Officers.
Xoii-
commissioned
Officers and
Privates.
Total.
European Force .
I^ative Force
200
124
324
123
123
5,144
6,530
5,344
5,777
Pioneers, Tiascars .
10,674
11,121
839
Grand Total
11,960
Of this number, however, about twelve hundred were
sick at Malacca and about fifteen hundred on landing in
Java.
The advance under Colonel Gillespie proceeded first, of
328 JAVA
course, ashore, and immediately moved forward to gain
possession of the road to Meester Cornehs.
The brigades of the Hne landed next and moved for the
road to Batavia.
The landing was excellent and without mishap, the horse
artillery, the horses of the cavalry, and the bullocks for the
heavy guns being landed immediately after the troops were
ashore.
The enemy disappeared.
General Wetherall marched along the canal to the Anjol
river, and then on to the Batavia road.
The labours of the first few days were excessive, and man}''
died of sunstroke, for every man who did not carry a
musket had to carry a load, and all were on the march.
Tandjong Priok/ a small fishing village, was occupied.
The Anjol river was crossed in single file by a bridge of boats,
rapidly constructed at 10 o'clock at night by Captain Sayer,
of the Leda, and Captains Eeynolds and Mansell, of the
Hesper and Procris, At dawn the next day (the 8th August)
the troops were one mile from Batavia, and Captains Tylden
and Dickson, A.D.C. to the Commander-in-Chief, rode
forward with an escort and summoned the town, returning
with the mayor, Hillobrink, who was deputed on behalf of
the civihans to beg the protection of the English.
All the private houses and business houses of Batavia
were deserted, as all the respectable people had been com-
pelled by Governor-General Janssens to retire into the
interior, so that as little inteUigence or assistance were
given to the enemy as possible.
Two companies of the 59th Kegiment under Captain
Watts, and accompanied by the brigade-major. Captain
Thorn, now advanced into the town, upon which the enemy's
scouts galloped off to Weltervreden.^
1 The harbour had not yet been constructed.
2 The Malays were found busy removing the contents of the stores, and
the streets were strewed with sugar and coffee.
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 329
Occupation of the Town House. — The Town House (called
Stadt Huis) was now occupied ; the adjutant-general,
galloping up, read a proclamation to the few inhabitants
left, and the British flag was hoisted. The fleet in the
roads now fired a royal salute.
Colonel Gillespie, with nearly the entire advance, arrived
in the evening, and drew up in the square in front of the
Town House and dismissed his troops to their various
quarters round about.
Captain Eobison, A.D.C. to Lord Minto, carried a sum-
mons to Governor-General Janssens at 10 p.m. to surrender
the island, but received a reply from him that as a French
officer he could not comply with the request. The last part
of Captain Robison's journey was done blindfold and
through the French lines ; he said the bustle was great, and
the artillery w^as being shifted. French officers were hanging
about everywhere.
Fight at Glodok. — At 11 o'clock at night the troops in the
Town House square lay down to sleep, but had hardly done
so when the picquet at the bridge over the river on the way
to Weltervreden^ was fired upon. Captain Trench, of the
89th Regiment, in command of the picquet, fortunately,
however, raised the drawbridge in time and thus prevented
the enemy crossing. Colonel Gillespie, hearing the con-
tinued fire, rode out at the head of a party and charged the
enemy in the flank, which had the desired effect of driving
them away.
It appeared afterwards that the enemy did not learn until
too late, and after several of this advance party of theirs had
been killed, that Colonel Gillespie had already arrived at
the Town House. They had also fully expected they would
meet with no opposition, as the Chinese and other inhabitants
(in conformity no doubt to instructions) pressed a potent
but deleterious liquor on the soldiers when asked for water,
1 This is what is now known as the " Glodok " Plain.
1J30 JAVA
which the enemy anticipated would have the effect of making
them ah incapable.
Colonel Gillespie's decisive orders counteracted all this.
The troops remained under arms the whole of the first
night in front of the Town House, and next day were joined
by the horse artillery and a troop of dragoons.
In the Castle and the arsenals at the wharf, near the
proper landing-place,^ a number of guns, mostly brass, and
a great quantity of naval and military stores were found.
The following night the town, with every soul in it, was
nearly destroyed by a Malay, who was discovered with a
firebrand in the act of firing a magazine containing gun-
powder. The incendiary was at once hanged.
By the 10th August, a bridge over the Anjol river was
ready and the heavy guns were taken over.
Battle of Welter vreden. — Colonel Gillespie now prepared to
advance with one thousand European and four hundred and
fifty native (Sepoy) troops, moving quietly along the main
road to Weltervreden, passing Molenvleet at just after four
in the morning.
A little before leaving the headquarters, which were kept
by a Frenchman who had previously been a servant of
General Daendels, Colonel Gillespie and his staff drank their
€offee ; but this had been poisoned with some villainous
drug, the result of which was that they were all seized with
most violent pains and vomitings. The Frenchman was at
once taken and a large cup of this mixture was forced down
his throat by the British soldiers, producing a very powerful
effect on him. He afterwards escaped to America, and no
further thought was given to the man.
When the troops arrived near the Koningsplein they were
met by the enemy, who were in five times their number.
The action lasted two hours, the British troops burning all
the villages and clearing the Koningsplein at the point of
1 That is the old boom, or wharf.
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 331
the bayonet. The European houses all around were
described as being very superb buildings. They were
deserted, but the troops left them unscathed.
The enemy lost all their guns and a large number of
killed and wounded, besides prisoners, both Europeans and
natives, amongst whom were many French officers of dis-
tinction. General Jumel and Brigadier Lutzow bolted when
it was getting too hot. The British cavalry, with Colonel
Gillespie at the head, drove the fugitive army as far as the
fort at Meester Cornelis, only drawing rein when a shower
of grape and round shot poured over their heads from the
batteries. Before the guns could be depressed, however,
the cavalry were again out of sight to the last man.
The arsenals at Weltervreden were now taken and found
to contain more than three hundred pieces of ordnance and
a quantity of military stores, abandoned in haste by the
French when they heard of the approach of the English.
The advanced posts were next seized and the French
driven out of their redoubts with a loss of five hundred men
and four horse artillery guns.
Weltervreden was now completely in the power of the
British, and the enemy were shut up in their forts on the
Meester Cornelis road.
Copy of Colonel Gillespie's official Report to Colonel
Agnew, Adjutant-General : —
" Weltervreeden, 11th August, 1811.
" Sir, — I have the honour to report to you for the information
of H.E, the Commander-in-Chief that in conformity with H.E.'s
permission I moved with the advance from Batavia yesterday
morning at 4 a.m. with the following corps : —
Horse Ai'tillery (four guns). Captain Noble.
Troops of the 22nd Dragoons, Captain Chadwick.
Right flank battalion, Major Miller.
Left flank battalion, Major Fraser.
Detachment of the 89th Regiment, Major Butler.
Governor-Generars bodyguard. Captain Gall.
332 JAVA
Detachment of the 22nd Dragoons (dismounted), Lieutenant
Dudley.
Detachment of the Bengal Light Infantry, Captain Leys.
Madras Pioneers, Major Smith Wayte.
" After passing through the cantonment of Weltervreden in two
columns, I found the enemy strongly posted beyond it in a
difficult country, having a battery of guns on the road to Cornehs
behind an abbatis.
" The action commenced soon after day dawned. From the
disposition made for the advance we succeeded in attacking the
enemy in front and both flanks, which enabled us to force their
position, and this appears from what we afterwards saw of the
ground, and the very great strength of the post they occupied,
to have presented a greater effusion of blood on our side.
" After an action of full two hours we pursued the enemy
under their works of Cornehs, and when on the point of advancing
the cavalry to attack, a very heavy fire opened from the batteries,
which obhged me to recall them under the shelter of the wood.
" His Excellency had the opportunity of witnessing a part of this
business, it is unnecessary therefore to enter into a further detail.
" The enemy's guns were taken at the point of the bayonet,
after a defence of the most determined and obstinate nature.
It is reported that the greater part of the European force of
Marshall Janssens were at that spot ; and from the number of
European officers killed and taken we have every reason to suppose
that it was so.
" In appreciating the heroic conduct of the troops in this
sharp service I can hardly find words to express myself. The
fatigue they have suffered since they came on shore, and the
almost impassable country through which they had to penetrate
and push the enemy, will, I hope, be considered by H.E. the
Commander-in-Chief as it deserves.
" Of the conduct of the officers commanding different corps
and companies I have to express my admiration, particularly
Major Eraser, and the left column under his command, who bore
the severest part of the action. In the capture of the guns,
Major Butler and Captain French, 89th Foot, Captain Forbes,
78th, and the officers and men comprising these corps, I have
particularly to mention.
" Captain Lindsay, commanding the light company of the
69th Regiment, Captain Cameron, commanding the rifle company
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 333
of the 78th Regiment, Captains Oakes, Nunn, Rose, and Ramsay,
which last was severely womided, and Lieutenant Young, 89th
Regiment, in fact all the officers and men of this column fought
like British soldiers ; and their gallant commander, Major Butler,
ably seconded by Captain French, deserves my warmest acknow-
ledgments, as does Captain Forbes of the 78th Regiment, for the
same gallantry.
" I cannot say too much of Captain Noble and the officers and
men under his command who so gallantly fought the two guns
that drew a most terrible fire from the enemy : indeed, the zeal
and abihty displayed by Captain Noble throughout the service
demand my particular commendation.
" I must also express my acknowledgments to Major Miller,
commanding the right column, to Captain Stanus, of the 14th
Light Infantry Company, Captain Watts, of the 59th Regiment,
Lieutenant Cochlan, commanding the rifle company of the
14th Regiment, and Lieutenant McPherson, commanding the
rifle company of the 59th Regiment, and the officers and men of
the different corps, as that column contributed much to the
success of the day by turning the enemy's left flank. I have
also to thank Captain Leys, officers, and men of the Bengal
Light Infantry Battahon, and Captain Evans and Captain
McPherson, the officers and grenadiers under their command of
the 5th and 6th Bengal volunteer battahons attached to the
flank battahons ; Captain Leys commanded the detachment of
Bengal hght infantry, in the absence of Captain Fraser, and Major
Dalton, whom I found it necessary to leave in command of Batavia.
" I have also to thank Captain Gall of the bodyguard.
Lieutenant Dudley of the dismounted dragoons, 22nd Regiment,
and Captains Smith Wayte and McCraith of the Madras Pioneers
for their support during the affair.
" To Captain Taylor of H.M.'s 24th Dragoons, military secretary
to the Governor -General, I have to return thanks for his indefatig-
able assistance during the whole affair, and his very zealous
exertions during the vvhole time since we landed, as also to
Captains Dickson and Blakiston, H.E.'s A.D.C, from whom I
experienced every assistance, and whose conduct has been most
gallant.
" Captain Mears of the 17th Madras native infantry, who
volunteered with me on this service, Lieutenant Hanson of the
Quartermaster -General's department, and Lieutenant Taylor,
334
JAVA
25th Dragoons, who have been attached to me since the commence-
ment of the service, I have to thank for their gallantry, activity
and persevering conduct.
" To Captain Thorn, of H.M. 25th Dragoons, my brigade
major, who I can venture to say has hardly slept since we landed,
it is difificult to express my value of his services ; they are great,
but I am sorry to say he has met with two contusions.
" I should not thus have entered into a detail of the individual
services of so many officers, had I not ocular demonstration of
their fully deserving notice, and should feel myself remiss were
I to remain silent.
" I have the honour to be
(Signed) " R. R. Gillespie, Colonel.
" P.S. — Subjoined is a Hst of killed and womided."
Return of Killed and Wounded of the advance commanded
by Colonel R. R. Gillespie, in the action of the 10th August, 1811,
near Weltervreden : —
KiUed.
Wounded.
Horses.
a
'S
p.
a
O
3
1
GO
"3
1
c
p.
6
1
1
1
a
a
1
1
1
2
s
H
1
&
GO
_
2
2
a
'£
"O
B
1
4
3
3
3
13
3
33
1
E-i
I
4
3
3
16
3
38
■a
c
C3
a
i
bZ
p
i
1
5
o
St
1
1
5
4
3
3
24
4
47
•a
_
1
2
i
•a
1
2
2
c
i
1
Brigade
Horse A
Detachi
Bodygu
Right
Flank
Batta- '
lion
Left
Flank
Batta- "
lion
Detachi
Detachi
fantr
Staff
irtillery .
nent 22nd Dragoons .
ard
' Detachment 14th
Regt. .
Detachment 59th
Regt. .
Grenadier Company
, 5th V. Bat.
' Light Infantry Com-
pany 69th Regt. .
Detachment 78th
Regt. . .
Grenadier Company
6th V. Bat.
nent H.M. 89th Regt.
nent Bengal Light Li-
7 Bat.
-
1
-
7
9
8
9
1
4
2
-
1
-
-
16
17
3
3
14
62
73
1
91
3
4
-
7
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 335
Officers' Names.
Killed. — Lieutenant Munro, H.M. 78th Regiment.
Wounded. — Captain Thorn, 25th Dragoons, Brigade Major to
advance ; Lieutenant and Adjutant DriflEield, Horse Artillery,
died of his wounds ; Ensign Nickison, 14th Regiment ; Captaiji
Cameron, 78th Regiment ; Captain Ramsay, 89th Regiment,
severely ; Lieutenant French, 89th Regiment ; Lieutenant and
Adjutant Young, 89th Regiment ; Lieutenant Robinson, 69th
Regiment,
On the side of the enemy (killed or wounded).
One general officer ; one brigadier ; several field officers ;
several subalterns.
Bomhardment and Battle of Meester Cornells, 26^/i August,
1811. — Preparations were now set on foot for driving the
enemy out of their stronghold of Cornelis, defended by a
number of redoubts and batteries, the circumference of the
fortified lines being nearly five miles, and defended by two
hundred and eighty cannon.
Here the whole French force was concentrated under the
command of General Janssens, Governor-General, and
General Jumel, senior military officer. The force had been
augmented by a lot of French troops just arrived from
France.
After long consideration, the Commander-in-Chief decided,
on account of the season being too far advanced to admit of
regular approaches, to carry the forts of Cornelis by assault,
and for two days an incessant heavy fire from twenty
eighteen-pounders and eight mortars and howitzers was
kept up. The execution was great, and soon the nearest
batteries were silenced.
Meanwhile there had been two severe skirmishes, in the
neighbourhood of Meester Cornehs, on the 22nd and 24th
August.
On the first day, when the English were much exposed in
S36 JAVA
carrying cartridges to the batteries, they lost in killed and
wounded : European soldiers, 67 ; native soldiers, 29.
Lieutenant-Colonel Clarges, of the 69th Regiment, had
advanced against the enemy from the lines at Struiswyck,^
supported by Colonel Gibb's brigade, which foiled the enemy
in their attempt to render the new batteries untenable. As,
however, is seen above, the tremendous fire from their
redoubts had its effect. The work in the batteries was
assisted by Captain Sayer, of H.M.S. Leda, coming up at a
critical moment with five hundred bluejackets.^
On the 24th August the enemy's batteries, after a day's
silence, in which they had been repairing the damage done
to the old forts and rapidly constructing new ones, opened
with renewed spirit ; but although the enemy was superior
to the English in the number of guns it was clearly proved
they were inferior in their handling.^
By now Sir Samuel Auchmuty had gained a complete
knowledge of the position he was going to attack through
the help of an intelligent sergeant, and keeping his plans
secret so that the enemy could gain no knowledge of them,
he gave instructions for the assault to take place on the
26th August. This is the memorable day on which all the
native inhabitants from one end of the island to the other
learnt that the British had stormed the formidable lines of
1 Later called Nordwyck.
2 List showing officers killed and wounded on the 22nd August, 1811 : —
Captain Stopford, R.N., lost Ms arm ; Lieutenant Farnaby, Bengal
Artillery, killed ; Lieutenant Munro. Madras Horse Artillery, lost his arm ;
Lieutenant Colebrook, Royal Artillery, wounded ; Lieutenant Shephard,
Madras Pioneers, killed ; Lieutenant-Colonel Clarges, 69tli Regiment,
mortally wounded ; Ensign McLeod, Madras Pioneers, mortally wounded ;
Lieutenant Mitchell, 69th Foot, wounded ; Captain Shaw, 6th Battalion
N. I. Bengal, wounded (since dead) ; Ensign Pringle, 6th Battalion N. I.
Bengal, wounded (since dead).
3 List of casualties which occurred on the 24th August, 1811 : —
Lieutenant Paston, Royal Artillery, killed ; Captain Richards, Royal
Artillery, wounded ; Captain Smith, Engineers, wounded ; Ensign Sim,
Madras Engineers, wounded.
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 337
Meester Cornelis, defended by the French and Dutch com-
bined, in their eyes a wonderful feat.
The following distribution of the artillery and seamen was
ordered for the service of the several batteries, under the
superintendence of Lieutenant-Colonel Caldwell, Bengal
Artillery : —
Captain Napier, Royal Artillery, Commanding the Batteries.
No. I. No. III.
Twelve Iron eighteen -pounder
Battery.
Captain Richards.
Captain Dundas.
Lieutenant Colebrook.
Lieutenant Ralfe.
Bengal Artillery, 36 men.
Royal Artillery, 36 men.
Seamen, 96 men.
Madras Lascars, 18 men.
Bengal Lascars, 18 men.
No. II.
Eight Iron Eighteen -pounder
Battery.
Captain Smith, commanding.
Lieutenant Munro, Madras
Artillery.
Lieutenant Farrington.
Royal Artillery, 18 men.
Bengal Artillery, 30 men.
Seamen, 64 men.
Madras Lascars, 12 men.
Bengal Lascars, 12 men.
Eight -inch Howitzer Battery.
Captain Faithful, commanding.
Lieutenant Scott.
Bengal Artillery, 18 men.
Seamen, 18 men.
Bengal Lascars, 12 men.
No. IV.
Eight -inch Mortar Battery.
Captain Byers, commanding.
Lieutenant Paston.
Royal Artillery, 19 men.
Seamen, 24 men.
Madras Lascars, 16 men.
No. V.
Two Howitzer Batteries in the
Rear of the Right-hand Bat-
tery to Fire across the River.
Lieutenant Harris, command-
ing.
Bengal Golandanze, 12 men.
Seamen, 20 men.
Total men to work the guns,
479.
Advance column in the following order : — Sharp Shooters,
14th Regiment, Lieutenant Coghlan. Pioneers Madras, Captain
Smith wayte. Grenadier company, 78th Regiment, Captain
McLeod.
Eight Flank Battalion (Major J^Iiller), consisting of Light
Company, 14th Regiment, Captain Stanus. Light Company,
J. — VOL. I. Z
338 JAVA
59th Regiment, Captain Bowen. Grenadier Company, 5th
Volunteer Battahon, Captain Evans. Rifle Company, 59th Regi-
ment, Lieutenant McPherson.
Left Flank Battalion (Captain Forbes, 78th Regiment), con-
sisting of Light Company, 69th Regiment, Captain Lindsay.
Light Company, 78th Regiment. Grenadier Company, 6th
Volunteer Battalion, Captain McPherson. Rifle Company, 78th
Regiment, Captain Cameron. Detachment, 89th Regiment, five
companies, Major Butler. Royal Marines, Captain Bunce.
Dismounted Dragoons, 22nd Regiment, Lieutenant Dudley.
Governor -General's bodyguard dismounted, Captain Gall.
Detachment of Volunteers Light infantry Battahon, Captain
Frazer. Detachment of 4th Volunteer Battahon, Major
Grant.
Colonel Gibhs' Column, consisting of Grenadier Company,
14th Regiment, Captain Kennedy. Grenadier Company, 59th
Regiment, Captain Olphert. Grenadier Company, 69th Regiment,
Captain Ross. His Majesty's 1st Battahon 59th Regiment,
Lieutenant-Colonel A. McLeod. Detachment of Volunteers Light
Infantry Battahon, Major Dalton. Detachment 4th Volunteer
Battalion.
Fight at Pegansaan. — The troops, under Colonel Gillespie,
moved off soon after midnight on the 26th, and after groping
in the dark across cocoanut plantations, sometimes in single
file led by Captain Dickson, A.D.C., who had gone over part
of the ground in daylight, the column came out of a wood
quite close to the enemy's first works near the Cornelis
bridge by Pegansaan. Colonel Gillespie now had to wait in
awful suspense, within sight of the enemy, for the rear,
under Colonel Gibbs, to come up.
The day was fast approaching, and a retrograde move-
ment was impossible ; the honour and credit of a whole
army was at stake ; thousands of lives depended on the
success or failure of this battle. Gillespie therefore decided
to attack, trusting that Gibbs, whose gallantry and ardour
he knew he could rely on, would arrive in time.
The English therefore pressed forward in order to secure
i- .'
fe
\-;
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 339
the redoubt directly facing the bridge, and defended by
four horse artillery gims and enfiladed by others. After a
short struggle they captured it. Gillespie now turned to
the left and attacked a second redoubt ; here the English
were met with an overwhelming fire, both musketry
and grape. It was taken, however, at the point of the
bayonet.
These two captured redoubts mounted each twenty
eighteen-pounders and several twenty-four-pounders and
thirty-two pounders, while the ditches swarmed with
musketmen.
Gibbs now came on the field at the head of the 14th, 59th,
and 69th Eegiments, and was directed by Gillespie to take
another redoubt, w^hich he did under the same circumstances
and in the same manner as the former had been taken. A
dreadful explosion took place in this redoubt when the
powder magazine and a number of shells and rockets blew
up, killing two French captains, Muller and Osman, who
are said to have fired it. A heavy loss of hfe followed, one
thousand at least being buried in the works, mangled bodies
and scattered limbs strewing the ground in a horrible
manner.
The French brigadier Jauffret was taken prisoner here
by Gillespie in person.
All the batteries were stormed and taken in succession,
and Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander McLeod now coming up
with his regiment, an attack was directed on the enemy's
park of artillery and their reserve.
The enemy's cavalry then prepared to charge, and the
59th Regiment opened fii'e on them.
The attack was now carried forward briskly on all sides,
under showers of grape and a sharp musketry fire. Major
Yule was now with his flying column at Kampong Melayo,
while McLeod, of the 69th Regiment, made an assault on
redoubt No. 1.
z 2
340 JAVA
The remainder of the army, with the Commander-in-Chief
at its head and Major Wetherall and Colonel Wood command-
ing the reserves and Colonel x\dams with the left brigade of
the hne, now threatened the enemy's front, where the
highest artillery was drawn up. Captain Sayer, with his
body of bluejackets armed with pikes, joined the main
body ; and they were soon all mounted at the expense of
French officers, and obtained the title of " H.M. Marine
Light Dragoons."
The enemy deceived, and thinking a frontal attack was
intended, moved their artillery to this point. On receipt
of this news Gillespie ordered a general advance and final
assault.
Colonel Gillespie was now overcome with fatigue, suffering
as he was from a low fever, which was increased by a
contusion on the head, and he fainted, after his last instruc-
tion, in the arms of Captains Dickson and Thorn.
Eecovering, however, he heard the main attack was
successml, and the enemy, discovering parties rushing in
from all sides, began to flee. The cavalry was now ordered
up, and Gillespie, placing himself at the head, led the
pursuit.
Lord Minto and Baffles now came on to the field to inquire
after the wounded and to see the hospital. The Com-
mander-in-Chief, Sir Samuel Auchmuty, hearing this, rode
up to meet them, reporting his triumph with a radiant
countenance.
The enemy was followed up for ten miles, and although
they tried now and again to rally, a detachment of horse
artillery which followed the dragoons dislodged them and
the cavalry then cut them down.
At Kampong Macassar a stand was made behind broken-
down carts and thick hedges, supported by four horse
artillery guns, which were all they had saved from the wreck
of their army ; but the cavalry cut through everything,
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 341
fearing neither grape nor musketry. The enemy now
dispersed.
Arms, caps, accoutrements, and pouches were flung away
and marked their course. Six thousand prisoners were
taken, and only a handful of men reached the newly-erected
batteries at Buitenzorg, so that there was no one to man
them.
Two French generals were taken ; General Jurnelle
remained in a bog up to his chin for hours and escaped in
the dark. Two of General Janssens's A.D.C.'s, the chief of
engineers, the French commissary-general, all the heads of
departments, five colonels, four majors, twenty-one lieu-
tenant-colonels, seventy captains, one hundred and thirty-
four lieutenants, seven Amboynese lieutenants, three native
lieutenants, five sub-adjutants, and one cadet were taken
prisoners.
Two hundred and eight cannon and several stands of
colours were also captured.
The whole of the French and Dutch army was either
taken or destroyed, amounting to more than thirteen
thousand regular and well-disciplined troops.
Only a very small party on horse under Major Le Blanc
managed to get off with General Janssens.
There scarcely ever was such a thorough rout.
The loss on the English side was also severe ; there were
more than five hundred men killed and wounded, among
whom were forty-eight officers.
The humanity of the English to their wounded prisoners
on that day was admirable. No distinction of colour was
made. English, Dutch, or Malay were carried to hospital.
The Malays and other natives were all in amazement, having
been made to believe that the English were savages, who
treated their prisoners with unheard-of barbarities.
When the disaster to the French army was learnt two
French frigates which were blockaded in Sourabaya Harbour
342 JAVA
(La Nymphe and La Medusa), under the command of Com-
modore Reval) succeeded in escaping the British cruisers.
In these ships several officers, aides-de-camp to General
Janssens, with Dibbatz, chef de battalion, Major Godders,
Larienty, auditor to the Council of State, and Monsieur
Panat went as passengers, carrying home to France the
account of the defeat.
When Sir Samuel Auchmuty discovered the flight of
Janssens to the east he immediately dispatched a small
force to Cheribon, in order to cut off the communications.
A squadron of frigates commanded by Captain Beaver, of
H.M.S. Nisus, and a battalion of Sepoys under Colonel
Wood were employed on this service. The frigates left
Batavia on the 31st August, and when they appeared off
Cheribon the fort surrendered. General Janssens had
passed, however, two days previously, but General Jumel
arrived shortly after, and, not knowing Cheribon was now
in the hands of the Enghsh, walked into their hands. It
appears that when he arrived at Buitenzorg he assumed
command of the Malays, but they mutinied and murdered
an officer, which caused him to leave them in haste and
follow Janssens.
The fort of Tegal surrendered now to Captain Hillyar, of
H.M.S. Phoehe, H.M.S. Sir Francis Drake, Captain Harris,
and H.M.S. Phaeton, Captain Fleetwood. Pellew, with
marines and a part of the 14th Regiment, captured the fort
of Sumenap, Madura. An attempt was made by the natives,
under Dutchmen, to recapture the place, but it was un-
successful.
Sir Samuel Auchmuty with a force left Batavia on the
5th September to capture Janssens, who he supposed had
fled to Sourabaya ; calling at Cheribon on the way he inter-
cepted letters to Janssens and found he was at Samarang.
The fleet under Commodore Broughton was now ordered to
that place.
a a. *i;
>^^^^^^
C^-^;.'
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 343
On his arrival at Samarang, Sir Samuel sent Janssens the
following dispatch : —
** General Sir Samuel Auchmuty, and Rear -Admiral Stopford to
General Janssens.
" Samarang Roads, the 10th September, 1811.
" Sir, — After the proposals made to your Excellency at Buiten-
zorg,^ we might be excused again offering you favourable terms
of surrender. But your Excellency was not then perhaps aware
that the whole of your efficient force was killed, taken, or dispersed
in the action of the 26th.
" You had not perhaps reflected on the miseries to which the
European inhabitants of the colony must be exposed from a
protracted warfare.
" You must be now sensible that the colony is lost to France,
and though by intriguing with native Powers its possession may
be rendered for some time inquiet, the unfortimate colonists
alone will be the sufferers.
" Enough, Sir, has been sacrificed to reputation ; think now
of the interests of those placed under your protection.
" By submitting to a destiny that cannot be avoided, you
immediately arrest the hand of the armed ruffian that now riots
in the blood of the colonists.
" The British troops will then be employed in the grateful
office of giving them protection. But if. Sir, you continue deaf
to the cries of a distressed people, if blood must necessarily be
shed, if the natives must be let loose to plunder and massacre
the European inhabitants of Java, we shall hold you, Sir, and
those who continue to support you, as answerable for the conse-
quences.
" It is our earnest intention to prevent these horrors.
" Your perseverance in a hopeless cause will counteract our
efforts.
" We have directed Captain Agnew, of the Army, and the
Hon. Captain Elhott, of the Navy, to wait on you with this
letter, and we beg to refer you to them for particulars.
" We have the honour to be etc., etc.
" S. AucHivnjTY.
" P. Stopford."
• The Commander-in-Chief asked his surrender, but he declined.
344 JAVA
Answer.
(Translation).
" Samarang, the 10th September, 1811.
" The Governor -General to his Excellency Lieutenant -General
Sir Samuel Auchmuty, Commander-in-Chief of the Army,
and Rear-Admiral Stopford, Commander-in-Chief of His
Britannic Majesty's Naval Forces.
" Generals, — Colonel Agnew and the Honourable Captain
ElUott have delivered to me the letter your Excellencies did me
the honour to address to me.
" Notwithstanding the losses of the 26th of last month, there
yet remain resources in the colony. The faithful vassals of the
Government have the same cause to defend with ourselves, and
I owe to them the same protection as to the Europeans, the
direct subjects of His Majesty the Emperor and King. I am not
insensible to the evils which the colony suffers, but it is not I
that am the cause of their sufferings.
" I have the highest opinion of the personal qualities of your
Excellencies, not to be persuaded that in the same manner that
you combat those who carry arms you will protect the peace-
able colonists and natives who inhabit the territory occupied
by the troops of His Britannic Majesty and prevent those
horrors, which are not the necessary consequences of a state
of war.
" I have the honour to be with perfect consideration,
" Janssens."
On the night of the 10th September, in view of the un-
satisfactory nature of Janssens's reply, Captain Maxwell,
of H.M.S. Procris, took charge of the armed boats ot the
squadron, which proceeded to the shore with a view to
cutting off six vessels lying close in and flying the French
flag. These were taken possession of, but the crews had
abandoned them already, so the guns were taken out to
render them useless. Another party of boats had sailed up
the river.
On the 12th September preparations were made to land,
owning to the formidable works which commanded the
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 345
landing having, it was ascertained, been dismantled. When
everything was ready it was found the town had been
evacuated, on which Colonel Gibbs took quiet possession of
it that same evening.
General Janssens had moved outside Samarang beyond
the Tjandi Hill, where a large land house stood, to
the top of the Djatingaleh (or Big Gombel) Hill. His
force of one battalion from Som-abaya had been joined
by fifteen hundred natives under one of the Surakerta
princes.
The British force, of twelve hundred firelocks and six
cannon, marched to attack Janssens at 2 a.m. on the 16th
September. The enemy was posted on lofty and rugged
hills on the high road to Solo, with thirty pieces of cannon
on platforms covering their front on a spit on the right of
the road, which had a valley in front twelve hundred yards
at least in breadth.^
The Enghsh general sent a detachment with two guns to
occupy a hill on the left of the road which somewhat over-
looked the enemy, and the other four guns were brought to
throw shot at a great elevation across the valley into their
position. The infantry now prepared to cross the valley,
and, as soon as they had recovered their breath, rushed
across on the enemy, who fled, leaving their guns behind
them.
Colonel Gibbs now followed on the main road as fast as
he could, capturing some European officers and men. The
rest of the Dutch force (there were scarcely any French in
it), however, owing to its being mounted, escaped.
An advance was now made on Oenarang, after a good
rest at Serondol.
1 Some cannon are still lying there ; whether they are the same as used
on this occasion, however, is uncertain, and it appears more hkely that they
were cannon used in the Java war of 1825, although the natives say
otherwise.
346 JAVA
Here there was a square fort, constructed in 1786,
on the main road to Solo, about twelve miles from Sama-
rang. It was one of those chain of forts the Dutch built
to keep open the way to the Javan sultans at Solo and
Djockjakarta.
A force had collected here, and on the British army of
English and Sepoj^s advancing the Dutch fired from the
fort the moment they were in sight. Seeing, however, that
the fort was being gradually surrounded, they evacuated it
and fled to the fort at Salatiga. This was General Janssens's
final effort, for, finding himself on his arrival at Salatiga
practically deserted, he sent the same night a request to the
British commander for a cessation of arms and an offer to
treat for capitulation/ The proposal was the more accept-
able as the British commander had no intention of proceed-
ing further for the time.
On the 19th September Gressie was occupied, and on the
22nd Sourabaya surrendered without opposition ; and this
ended the campaign.
A medal was struck, with a bar for each battle, in remem-
brance of this short but " brilliant passage of arms " for the
British army.
Sir Samuel Auchmuty now returned to India, appointing
Colonel Gillespie as Commander-in-Chief of the British army
of occupation in Java and its dependencies.
1 This was the second time Janssens had lost a colony to the English, the
first being the loss of the Cape of Good Hope to Sir David Baird.
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 347
NOTES TO CHAPTER VIII
Note I.
Seamen and Marines Killed and Wounded from the Uh August
to the 26th August, on shore.
Killed.
Wounded.
Seamen ,
. 11
Officers
. 6
Marines
4
Seamen
. 29
—
Marines
. 20
%fa1 •
15
55
jTiOiL .^—
KiUed
. 15
Wounded .
. 55
Missing
. 3
Grand Total
. 73
Names of Officers wounded.
Captain Stopford, severely. Lieutenant Noble, H.M.S. Scipion,
slightly. John D. Worthy (master's mate), slightly. Robert
Dunlop (master's mate), slightly. Lieutenant Haswell, marines
(already mentioned). Lieutenant ElUott, Marines (already
mentioned).
•
Note II.
General Orders by the Commander-in-Chief.
" Headquarters, Weltervreeden, 19th August, 1811.
Parole. Madras.
*' The Commander-in-Chief having received the reports of the
officers commanding the several divisions employed in the late
attack of the enemy's assembled forces, performs a pleasing part
of his duty in expressing to the gallant army he has the honor
• to command, and to the officers and seamen of the Royal Navy and
battalion of Royal Marines, who by the kindness of the Hon. Rear-
Admiral Stopford were placed under his orders, his highest
approbation and admiration of the ardent zeal and irresistible
bravery which marked their conduct during the whole of the
recent operations, and particularly in the decisive assault by which
on the morning of the 26th inst. the strongly fortified position
348 JAVA
of the enemy at Cornelis was carried, and their army completely
dispersed, their Commander-in-Chief with a few cavalry saving
himself by precipitate flight, while a large proportion of his
generals, staff officers, and troops were made prisoners in the
action and pursuit.
" Where ardent gallantry was universally displayed, both by
the European and native troops, the Commander-in-Chief can
only particularise those whose rank and situations of particular
trust, in the course of the attack, rendered their conduct pre-
eminent.
" To Colonel Gillespie, who commanded the principal attack,
and to Colonel Gibbs, who headed the second column under
that officer's orders, it is impossible to say too much, but the
Commander-in-Chief will confine himself to the public declara-
tion that those officers fully performed every service which
he had expected to derive from their well-known gallantry and
conduct, displayed throughout the attack that heroic spirit of
enterprise which proved them worthy to command the gallant
troops they led.
" To Major-General Wetherall the Commander-in-Chief offers
his cordial thanks for the great assistance he has constantly
derived from his zealous exertions, as well as on the last attack
on the enemy's position at Cornelis as on the various operations by
which it was preceded.
" The full success of the several attacks led by Colonel Wood,
of the Bengal Native Infantry, by Lieutenant-Colonel McLeod, of
H.M. 69th Regiment, who fell in conducting his column with
that distinguished gallantry which had ever marked his long
career of active mihtary service, and by Major Yule, of the
20th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry, attacks expected only to
distract and divide the attention of the enemy, is the best proof
of the ability and energy with which those officers conducted the
divisions entrusted to their direction.
" The prominent and meritorious exertions of Lieutenant-
Colonel Adams, H.M. 78th Regiment, commanding the Left
Brigade of the Line, of Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander McLeod,
of H.M. 59th Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Watson, of the
14th Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, of the 78th Regi-
ment, Major Miller, of the 14th commanding the Right Flank
Battahon, Major Butler, of His Majesty's 89th ; Major Grant, of
the 4th Bengal Volunteer Battalion, Major Dalton, Bengal Light
THK KAXARIE LANK AT T.IILAT.IAP
THE UKSIDEN'T's HOUSE, PASUEROEAN.
BRITISH EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811 349
Infantry Volunteer Battalion, Captain Forbes, of His Majesty's
78th Regiment, commanding the Left Flank Battalion, Captain
Fraser, commanding detachment Light Infantry Battalion,
Lieutenant Dudley, commanding dismounted party 22nd
Dragoons, and Captain Gall, the Governor-General's bodyguard,
have been reported to the Commander-in-Chief in terms of strong
applause, and the conduct of Major Travers, of His Majesty's
22nd Dragoons, and Captain Noble, of the Horse Artillery, with
the detachments under their command, in their eager and
animated pursuit and dispersion of the enemy when the roads
were cleared for their advance merits every commendation.
" The Commander-in-Chief thinks it proper to express his
satisfaction at the support he has received from all the officers of
the Staff, but he deems it particularly incumbent on him to mark
his full approbation of the active energy and gallantry of Captain
Dickson and Lieutenant Blackiston, his aides-de-camp, whom
he permitted to act with Colonel Gillespie on the morning of the
attack.
" Colonel Gillespie has also reported the conduct of Captain
Taylor, Captain Thorn, and the officers particularly attached to
his staff as highly meritorious.
" The Commander-in-Chief requests Captain Sayer, the senior
officer of the detachment, and all the officers and seamen of the
Royal Navy under his command, to accept his thanks for the
able and active assistance rendered by the naval detachment
from the moment of their disembarkation to join the army and
assist in the batteries. The eager exertions of the corps of seamen,
when permitted at their request to leave the batteries and join
in the pursuit of the enemy, gave the most satisfactory proof that
British sailors, though not acting on the element pecuharly their
own, are in every situation ready, able, and happy to oppose with
vigour and effect the enemies of their King and country.
" The Commander-in-Chief laments in common with the whole
army the many brave men who fell in the late arduous attack,
but it is ever a pleasing consolation to the sorrowing friends and
relatives of a gallant officer, when he meets that fate which
sooner or later is common to all men, in the execution of his
noblest duties — dies with honour, as these brave men whom
he now laments have done, gloriously supporting the cause of
their beloved Sovereign and their country.
" P. Agnew, Adjutant-General."
CHAPTER IX
The British Occupation of Java and its Dependencies,
1811 TO 1816
Stamford Raffles appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Java. —
Lord Minto, now that the campaign was over, appointed
Thomas Stamford Raffles as Lieutenant-Governor, a post,
indeed, for which he was so fully qualified.
Lord Minto's dispatch to the Court of Directors upon the
capture of Java was quietly recorded — in fact so quietly
that little actual notice of it appears to have been taken by
them. It read as follows : —
" An Empire which for two centuries has contributed greatly
to the power, prosperity, and grandeur of one of the principal
and most respected States in Europe has been thus wrested from
the short usurpation of the French Government, added to the
dominion of the British Crown, and converted from a seat of
hostile machination and commercial competition into an augmen-
tation of British power and prosperity."
Raffles at once saw that his charge was of the most
extensive, arduous, and responsible nature, comprising
thirty residencies, with divisions under powerful and
autocratic chiefs desirous of throwing off the European
yoke, and with a population of nearly six millions. The
rule of the Dutch up to now, on no less authority than Lord
Minto's, had not been a good one, and all the grievous and
mischievous maxims of a narrow and somewhat harsh
policy had until the arrival of the English more or less
swayed every department of affairs. This system Raffles
declared to be a vicious one and against the interests of
Government and people, and one that must be ended.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 351
The collection of the revenues was promptly taken in
hand by him as a matter needing immediate reorganisation.
The old method of " farming " to Chinese was not only
undesirable but the cause of a heavy loss to the exchequer.
The reform meant much preparation, both in making
regulations and providing instruments for the proper
collection.
Raffles then took up the question of paying duties on
exports and imports, appointing special customs authorities,
and an organised staff and service under the direct control
of higher authorities. Regular custom-houses were soon
established at Batavia, Samarang, and Sourabaya.
Gaming and cock-fighting, which had also been " farmed "
out, were aboHshed as injurious to the interests of the
colony.
Plans were formed for the suppression of piracy, which
was a regular scourge in the Archipelago.
Raffles was also determined to put an end to the slavery
which had existed for nearly three centuries, not because it
was particularly grievous to the slaves, whose servitude
was purely domestic or menial, but because it was un-
dignified for a great Power to allow such an institution
within her colonies, the principle involved being a monstrous
one. As a means towards attaining this object Government
ceased entirely to purchase slaves, and the importation by
private individuals or concerns was thereby immediately
checked.
Everything had Raffles' attention ; the large public
offices in the Waterloo Plain, Batavia, are really due to
him^ ; likewise the Harmonic Club, the improvements to
the large Governor-General's palace at Buitenzorg, and the
Resident's palace at Samarang. He took each department
in hand by tm'n and reorganised it in a thorough and highly
efficient manner ; for, as he and Lord Minto were in agree-
^ They were conceived, however, by Marshal Daendels.
852 JAVA
ment, although it was not yet certain whether the EngUsh
would remain in Java, still while they were there they
meant to do as much good as they could.
There is also no doubt that it was in great measure owing
to the five years the English spent in the island that the
present great system which rules the colony could be
brought into being. Up to the time Raffles arrived the
Government had not, as we know, been all that it should,
and many scandalous grievances had crept into officialdom.
Raffles cleansed all this with a strong hand, enabling the
Dutch on their return into possession to open a fresh book
and work on new principles, as in fact they did.
These faults of theirs were not exactly the faults of a
nation, but the faults of the times, their regeneration not
having kept pace with that of the English, whose broader
and more humane principles of government had developed
more quickly.^
During Raffles' first six weeks as Lieutenant-Governor of
Java Lord Minto remained with him, to give his assistance
to his young protege. On every point these two master-
minds agreed and resolved that Java must be made an
English colony as quickly as possible, with EngUsh colonists,
Enghsh capital, and therefore an EngUsh interest. The
country was flourishing, but the field for improvement and
employment was inexhaustible. It was in point of fact not
only the other India, but with its dependencies the richest
empire in the world, Borneo and Sumatra from the sUght
scratches made on their surface proving that wealth inex-
haustible, to which that of Peru, Chile, and Mexico would be
as nothing, was procurable for the asking. The civil service
for the administration of the new possessions was also more
or less reorganised, Britishers receiving nearly aU the
principal posts, but the services of many Dutchmen, among
» Owing to the great quantity of prize property, chiefly cofiee, seized,
Eafflea appointed a prize court with Colonel Cohn Mackenzie as President.
FORT JAPAKA, iHll. (HKITISH FLAG IS FLYING.
FOKT SALATIGA, iHll.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 353
whom were such men as Muntinghe, Crausen, N. Engelhard,
James Du Puy, and several others, were retained by Raffles,
and they were given high posts. The staff when completed
was undoubtedly a good and strong one, which well assisted
Raffles in his great plans.
It must not, however, be forgotten that the tools, in the
shape of this valuable Dutch staff, were in the island on the
arrival of the Enghsh, and, although the end might have
eventually been the same, there can be no doubt that with-
out these capable Dutch officials the difficulties with which
Raffles was first faced would have been greatly magnified,
and in some cases have proved insurmountable.
We learn that Raffles at this time was buoyant in spirits
and firm in courage, and so judiciously had all these changes
been introduced that not a single individual, high or low,
felt aggrieved by them ; and the native population, chiefs,
subordinates, and people, with one accord hailed the new
order of things as a boon conferred upon them by British
philanthropy, and entered on the enjoyment of its advan-
tages with confidence and improving industry.
Raffles examined closely into the Department for the
Interior and found mistakes everywhere. He, however, set
to work himself from daylight until well into the night, and
drew up every detail and instruction, with all the courage
of a pure, honest, and ardent mind, and with that unwearied
assiduity which he displayed until the end of his administra-
tion when he retired from Java, more or less broken in health
and spirits.
His zeal and activity, his exertion and the fatigue he
underwent, were astonishing, and only later on was it
reahsed how much apphcation and attention he devoted to
his duties and to the welfare of the inhabitants. His Dutch
assistants who held high office were altogether unaccustomed
to witness such action of mind and body, and were unable to
keep pace with him. They held, however, the very deepest
J. — VOL. I. A A
354 JAVA
respect and confidence in him, his mild, conciliatory, and
unassuming manners entirely captivating them ; and when
troubles arose with the Government in India and the Court
of Directors, in which Raffles' conduct was assailed, they
were the first to take up the pen vigorously in his defence.
Although Raffles left Ryswyck for Buitenzorg on Lord
Minto's departure, he came down every week to attend the
Council, which consisted of Gillespie (commander of the
forces), W. H. Muntinghe, Crausen, and Wardenar. At
Ryswyck he remained a day or two according to circum-
stances and dispensed hospitality with a liberal hand, being
most attentive to all the members of the former Government,
who were constant guests at his table.
As soon as he could. Raffles wrote from Buitenzorg to the
Court of Directors regarding the internal arrangements for
the government of Java as follows : —
" In this respect stand foremost the judicial and police arrange-
ments. Previous to the establishment of the British Govern-
ment in Java there was no distinction known between the police
and the judicial administration of justice. At Batavia, however,
there existed a Supreme Court of Judicature and a bench or
court of aldermen called the College of Schepenen : and at
Sourabaya and Samarang inferior Courts of Justice had been
established ; and in each district a court termed the Landrost,
consisting of the Landrost, Regent, and High Priest, exercised
both the police and judicial jurisdiction : the only distinction
which existed was that all the Company's servants should be
amenable to the regular Courts of Justice, or to the Supreme
Court of Batavia, while all other persons of every description were
imder the jurisdiction of the Schepenen. A difference of persons
was altogether so strongly against our principles of public justice
and public individual right, and the principle on which such
distinctions might originally have been fomided had so entirely
ceased by the abolition of all distinction between the servants of
the late Company and all other individuals, that an entire change
and separation of the police from the judicial authorities became
necessary, and was directed by the instructions left with me by
the Governor-General.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 355
" The copy of the Proclamation pubHshed in our first Govern-
ment Gazette will sufficiently explain the principles on which
we proceeded, and I flatter myself with the approbation, not only
of the Governor-General, but of the authorities in England, of
the measure taken by us of establishing the trial by jury, which I
am happy to say has given miiversal satisfaction here, and
although with the other new arrangements giving rise to new
difficulties, it is not likely to meet with any serious obstacle.
" The Courts of Justice and poUce, as now modelled, are now
in full exercise, and I hope this colony may receive all the advan-
tages of British jurisprudence without entailing on it the disadvan-
tages of a judicial estabUshment from England, of all things the
most to be dreaded for the general prosperity and happiness of
the population.
" The British Courts of Justice fit with difficulty our permanent
English estabhshments in India, but here their introduction
would lead to anarchy, vexation, and trouble without end."
The following was Lord Minto's Proclamation before
leaving Java for Bengal : —
Proclamation.
" For the satisfaction of the inhabitants and people of Java,
the following provisions are made public in testimony of the
sincere disposition of the British Government to promote their
prosperity and welfare.
" The refusal of their late Government to treat for their interests,
although disabled by the events of war from affording them any
further protection, has rendered the consequent estabhshment
of the British authority unconditional.
" But an English Government does not require the articles of
a capitulation to impose those duties which are prompted by a
sense of justice, and a beneficent disposition. The people of
Java are exhorted to consider their new connection with England
as founded on principles of mutual advantage, and to be con-
ducted in a spirit of kindness and affection.
" Providence has brought to them a protecting and benevolent
Government : they will cheerfully perform the duties of allegiance
and attachment.
" 1. His Majesty's subjects in Java wiU be entitled to the same
general privileges as are enjoyed by the natural born subjects
A A 2
356 JAVA
of Great Britain in India, subject to such regulations as now
exist, or may hereafter be provided, respecting residence in
any of the Honourable Company's territories.
"2. They will have the same freedom and privilege of trade
to and with all countries to the east of the Cape of Good Hope,
and also with His Majesty's European dominions as are possessed
by natural born subjects of Great Britain.
" 3. Dutch gentlemen will be eligible to all offices of trust,
and will enjoy the confidence of Government according to their
respective characters, conduct, and talents, in common with
British born subjects.
" 4. The vexatious system of monopoly, which is understood
to have hitherto prevailed in some instances to an oppressive
and inconvenient extent, will be revised, and a more beneficial
and pohtic principle of administration will be taken into considera-
tion as soon, and to such extent, as full information on the subject
can be obtained, as established usage and habit may admit, and
as may be consistent with a due regard to the health and morals
of the people.
"5. The Dutch laws will remain provisionally in force, under the
modifications which will be hereinafter expressed, until the pleasure
of the Supreme Authorities in England shall be known, and it is
conceived that no material alteration therein is to be apprehended.
" The modifications to be now adopted are the following :
" First. Neither torture nor mutilation shall make part of
any sentence to be pronounced against criminals.
" Secondly. When a British born subject is convicted of any
offence, no punishment shall be awarded against him more severe
than would be inflicted by the laws of England for the same
crime, and in. case of doubt concerning the penalty by English
law, reference shall be made to the Honourable the Recorder of
Prince of Wales' Island, whose report shall be sufficient warrant
for awarding the penalty stated by him to be agreeable to the
laws of England. No sentence against any British born subject
for any crime or misdemeanour shall be carried into execution
until a report shall have been made to the Lieutenant-Governor.
" Thirdly. No sentence of death against any person whatever
shall be carried into execution until report shall have been made
to the Lieutenant-Governor.
*' Fourthly. The Lieutenant-Governor shall have the power
of remitting, moderating, or confirming all penalties, excepting
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 357
inconsiderable fines, short imprisonment, or slight corporal
punishment.
" Fifthly. British born subjects shall be amenable to the
jurisdiction of the Dutch tribunals and to the Dutch laws, in all
cases of civil complaint or demands, whether they be plaintiffs
or defendants.
" Sixthly. All British born subjects shall be subject to the
regulations of police, and to the jurisdiction of the magistrates
charged with the execution thereof, and with the maintenance
of peace, and with public tranquillity and security.
" Seventhly. All persons belonging to or attached to the army,
who are by their condition subject to mihtary law, shall for the
present be tried for any crimes they may commit only by courts
martial, unless sent by the mihtary authorities to civil courts.
*' Eighthly. It being necessary in all countries that a power
should exist of forming regulations in the nature of legislative
provisions adapted to change of circumstances, or to meet any
emergency that may arise, and the great distance of the British
Authorities in Europe rendering it expedient that the said power
should for the present reside in some accessible quarter, it is
declared that the Lieutenant-Governor shall have full power and
authority to pass such legislative regulations as on deliberation,
and after due consultation and advice, may appear to him
indispensably necessary, and that they shall have the full force
of law. But the same shall be immediately reported to the
Governor-General in Council in Bengal, together with the Lieu-
tenant-Governor's reasons for passing the said regulations, and
any representations that may have been submitted to him
against the same, and the regulations so passed will be confirmed
or disallowed by the Governor-General in Council with the shortest
possible delay. The mode in which the Lieutenant-Governor
shall be assisted with advice will hereafter be made known, and
such regulations shall hereafter be framed as may be thought
more conducive to the prompt, pure, and impartial administra-
tion of justice, civil and criminal.
*' Regulations respecting the paper currency, as well as the
relative value of coins circulating in Java, will be published in a
separate paper of this date.
" Done at Molenvliet, the 11th September, 1811, by his Excel-
lency the Governor-General of British India,
" MmTO."
358 JAVA
British Eesidents were appointed at all the capitals of the
various residencies in the island, and at the settlements in
the dependencies. In many instances they were officers
from the army or navy, several of whom remained on the
island in a private capacity for years after the Dutch had
returned to Java. A list of these Eesidents is given at the
end of this chapter.
Visit to the Sultan of Djockjakarta. — Raffles had hardly
had time to settle all the judicial and administrative
questions in Java, when trouble at the native courts of
Palembang and Djockjakarta made fresh demands upon
his valuable time.
The Sultan of Djockjakarta, a most turbulent and
intriguing prince, who naturally retained a rooted ani-
mosity against the Europeans in Java, now indulged, like
so many of his predecessors, in the hope that the time had
arrived for their expulsion.
Daendels had already once had to march an army against
him and to go in person to his capital. He fined him 200,000
Spanish dollars. He would have sacked his capital and
banished him, had he not feared to do so, as the arrival of
the English w^as expected daily, and the money at that time
was greatly needed, besides which Daendels cherished the
idea of being able to return another time and carry out his
wishes.
Raffles decided to visit the Sultan himself, and find out
why the treaty entered into between the British Government
and the Sultan had not been kept by the latter. In this
treaty the sovereignty of the British over Java was acknow^-
ledged by the Sultan, who confirmed to the English East
India Company all the privileges, advantages, and preroga-
tives which had been possessed by the Dutch and French
Governments.
To the Company also w^ere transferred the sole regulation
of the duties and the collection of tribute wdthin the
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 359
dominions of the Sultan, as well as the general administra-
tion of justice in cases where British interests were con-
cerned.
In December, 1811, Eaffles proceeded to Djockjakarta
with only a small escort consisting of a part of the 14th
Begiment, a troop of the 22nd Light Dragoons, and the
ordinary garrison of Bengal Sepoys in the fort and at the
Eesidency House. This smaU force was in no condition to
enforce terms in any way obnoxious to the Sultan, even if
Raffles had been so inclined. In fact the whole retinue at
one moment were in imminent danger of being murdered,
krisses being unsheathed by several of the Sultan's suite in
the audience hall where Eaffles received that i>rince, who
was accompanied by several thousands of armed followers,
whose behaviour expressed such an infuriated spirit of
insolence as plainly to indicate that they only waited for
the signal to begin the work of slaughter, in which case not
a man, owing to the way in which they were surrounded,
could have escaped.
The story of the audience is worth telhng.
When the Lieutenant-Governor arrived at the boundary
of the Residency of Djockjakarfca he was met by a large
multitude of Javans and a guard of honour, and by Resident
Crawfurd and the Sultan. Carriages with four horses
richly caparisoned to drive the illustrious party to the
capital were ready, the finest of all being that reserved for
the Sultan and standing at the top of the line. After the
necessary civilities had passed in the pavihon erected and a
salute had been fired, the Lieutenant-Governor proposed
to start, and began making his way to the first carriage ;
the Sultan, seeing his object, pushed ahead, but Raffles'
aides-de-camp kept him back, while the Lieutenant-Governor
jumped into the first carriage with his officers and forced
the coachmen and outriders to move on, surrounded by the
British cavalry. The Sultan had nothing else to do than
360 JAVA
to take the second carriage, and, in a rage, followed to the
capital.. The insult to him was great, as he acknowledged
thereby to all his people his inferiority to the Lieutenant-
Governor. When they arrived at the Kesidency House
there were two grand golden thrones ready, one for the
Lieutenant-Governor and one for the Sultan. That for the
Lieutenant-Governor stood shghtly in front of the other.
Raffles took his stool, but the Sultan stood, declining to
sit down unless his throne or dampar was also pulled forward.
Eaffles refused to ahow this. In a minute all was uproar,
and Raffles, getting angry, unsheathed his sword with a
glance as if he would run the Sultan through. The Sultan
without an instant's hesitation drew his kris, and simul-
taneously several thousand krisses were drawn. The scene
was a dramatic one ; all was confusion, but Raffles, with
his brain packed in ice, kept his head, and quietly sheathed
his sword again, whilst a few quiet words from the Resident,
John Crawfurd, eased the tension of the situation. The
Sultan was at last induced to sit down, and Raffles began
to discuss matters with him, gaining every point he had
striven for. At the end of the diirhar Raffles proudly
marched out of the audience hall between the sullen and
infuriated Javans.
Next day the Sultan awaited the return visit of the
Lieutenant-Governor, with his troops, a guard of honour,
etc. ; but he waited in vain, for the Lieutenant-Governor,
to allow him fully to understand how inferior he stood to
the power paramount, and as a lesson to him for his behaviour
of the previous day, had returned with his staff to Batavia.
The Sultan, when John Crawfurd visited him, was very
dejected, but later on vowed vengeance for the insults he
imagined he had received from the Enghsh in the eyes of
his people.
Although no act of treachery had occurred, the Sultan
had made up his mind that the expulsion of the English was
'^WUk^-'
i
the resident s office at tawang, samarang, during the english period.
(built about 1775.)
BRITISH officers' QUARTERS, SAMARANG (iN' DISTRICT OF TAWANg}, 1811-1816.
(these quarters were built about 1775.)
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 361
quite feasible and resolved to set about finding the means
of accomplishing it. Raffles also was assured that the
Enghsh would sooner or later come to blows with the Sultan,
and began shaping his jjlans accordingly.
All Arab sets himself up as a Sultan at Indramayoe. — In
the meantime, however, Raffles' attention was turned
elsewhere. Bagoos Rang In, a noted Arabian rebel, had
assembled in the district of Indramayoe a number of deserters
and fugitives from the French army after the battle of
Cornelis, and now began seizing villages and looting them.
He had been at large for six years, and the Dutch had
been unable to capture him, for he had imposed on the
credulity of the natives by assuming the title of High Priest,
and maintaining a position as a Prophet of Allah. Their
veneration for him was so great that no temptations or
rewards had led to his betrayal.
He now threatened Indramayoe, and the fort had to be
closed.
A detachment of Bengal Sepoys under Captain Pool was
sent at once by Raffles to strengthen the garrison, and
another detachment of Europeans and natives under
Captain Ralph, of H.M. 59th Regiment, followed soon after.
The rebel was now attacked, and it was found he had two
thousand musketmen, who were drawn up behind a bank in
an absolutely safe place. The British soldiers waded across
sloppy rice fields and charged with the baj^'onet, which
caused the rebels to flee, leaving numbers killed and wounded,
the loss to the Enghsh being only one rank and file of the
59th Regiment killed, and Captain Jones, of the Bengal
Service, and several rank and file wounded.
Bagoos Rang In escaped, though the effect was decisive,
and those of his men who escaped nearly all deserted him.
This little affair was scarcely over when serious trouble
arose at Palembang, where fearful cruelties had been
perpetrated by an unfeeling monster in the massacre of the
362 JAVA
Europeans and natives belonging to the Dutch factory,
who had been put to death in cold blood.
To punish this act of perfidy on the part of the Sultan
Batu Achniet Baruddin (who had been raised to the throne
in 1780 by the Dutch) an expedition was immediately fitted
out, and sailed from Batavia on the 20th March, 1812, under
command of Colonel Gillespie, the Commander-in-Chief of
the forces in Java, to whom Baffles confided the whole
management, leaving it to his individual judgment and
direction to act as he considered best.
The fleet consisted of : —
H.M.S. Cornelia .... Captain Owen.
H.M.S. Bucephalus .... Captain Drury.
H.M. sloop Procris .... Captain Freeman.
The Hon. Company's cruiser Teign- Captain Howitson.
mouth.
The Hon. Company's cruiser Mercury Captain Conyers.
Gunboats : Schooner Wellington . Captain Cromy.
Schooner Young Barra- Captain Lynch.
couta.
Transports : Samdang, Minerva, Matilda, Mary Ann.
Captain Bowen, of H.M.S. Phoenix, met the fleet at sea,
and took its command as senior naval officer.
Troops embarked were : —
Detachment H.M, 59th Regiment, three companies, rifle and
flank companies.
Detachment H.M. 89th Regiment, five companies.
Detachment Madras Horse Artillery and Hussars dis-
mounted.
Detachment Bengal Artillery, detail ; and detachment of
Sepoys, 5th and 6th Battalions.
Detachment Amboynese.
A considerable number of guns and military stores
intended for the new settlement of Banca were put on board
the transports.
On the 3rd April the fleet reached Nangka Island and
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 363
remained there a week. Tents were pitched on shore, and
boats were constructed for the passage up the Palembang
river.
On the 17th April H.M.S. Procris, Barracouta, Wellington,
Teignmouth, and Mercury were all got over the bar, and the
greater part of the troops destined to proceed up the river
were transferred from the large ships and transports to the
armed brigs and small craft. Some flat boats were appro-
priated for the field artillery.
On the 18th the remaining troops were transferred to
their respective vessels, after which the whole got under
weigh and went ten miles up the river, coming to anchor at
midnight.
Major Eaban, of the Bengal Service, was detached with
the native troops, consisting of two hundred Sepoys and the
same number of Amboynese, to effect a landing at the point
which projects from Monapin Hill near Minta,^ in the island
of Banca.
The following directions were issued for the hne of battle
ahead and the order of sailing : —
Look-out boats.
*****
Division of light boats.
Gun launches. Flat boats with field guns.
H.M.S. Procris.
Gunboat-schooner Young Barracouta.
Mercury.
Flats and other boats.
Wellington,
Teignmouth.
These orders were necessarj^ as Palembang was some
distance up river, and the Sultan possessed the means of
^ Called now Muntok.
364 JAVA
impeding the British advance, so that the utmost care was
necessary.
There were also the formidable batteries at Borang, which
from their favourable situation enabled the enemy to inflict
considerable havoc upon the flotilla.
The enemy also possessed fire-rafts, numerous armed
prows, and floating batteries, thus being well provided with
the means to repel the British.
The Battle Orders were as follows : —
" When the signal is made to anchor it will be accompanied
with a red pendant over. If the Squadron are to anchor in Une
ahead, with the same pendant under. If a line abreast, or
athwart the river, the Division of Light Boats under Lieutenant
Monday wiU always anchor in line abreast, about half a mile
ahead of the leader of the Une of battle.
" The other boats wiU anchor in their stations ; the gunboats,
flats and launches rather ahead of the leader of the hne, and on
each bow. The line of battle abreast will be formed by the
Division of Light Boats in advance, anchored in a Hne
abreast.
" The gunboats, flats, and launches ; in the next line, Mercury,
Wellington, Procris, Young Barracouta, and Teignmouth. In
this order, if it should become necessary to brmg the broadsides
of the ship to bear up the river, the signal will be made for the
boats, first and second line, to retire through the intervals of the
third hue, and form in the rear, in two lines as before. The hght
boats are to keep a strict look-out, and have the fire grapplings
and logs constantly ready.
" The look-out boats of the Light Division are never to be
more than one mile from the headmost ship or vessel of the
Squadron, unless otherwise directed by signal, and no boats
whatever except the mmander of the Forces be in her to pass
ahead of the headmost look-out boat without permission. The
boats of the Light Division are never to lose sight of the Squadron,
even though the winding of the river should enable them to do
so without exceeding their prescribed distance.
" On the approach of armed boats of the natives, the look-out
boats are to retreat in silence and good order to the body of their
division, which is also to fall back to the Procris, where they will
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 365
receive further orders. And no boats are on any account to fire
a shot or to attempt a dash, though the circumstances be ever so
favourable, nor, in short, commit any act of hostiHty without
orders.
" The Squadron are to observe and obey the signals of the
Barracouta, where the Commander of the Forces is embarked.
The Barracouta wears a Union Jack while the Commander of
the Forces remains on board.
" Here follow various signals for forming the line of battle,
according to circumstances."
The fleet having taken longer time to get to Palembang
than was expected, owing to contrary winds, the Sultan had
plenty of time to consider whether he would fight or flee.
With a view to the latter possibility, he removed his treasure
and his wives into the interior, sending messages of respect
to the British commander, hoping thereby to mislead him.
When the batteries of Borang were sighted it was found,
as was expected, that they were well armed, and the armed
prows had been joined hy a large Arab ship. These vessels,
with the floating batteries, were moored across the river in
echelon, raking with their guns the whole length of the
passage ; whilst the artillery from the fixed batteries bore
across the channel by which the British flotilla had to
advance, thus enabling the enemy to bring the fire of their
guns to a focus on any point in the line of the advance.
Fire-rafts were ready to cast adrift, to complete the
discomfiture.
Messengers still continued to arrive, congratulating
Colonel Gillespie on having come safely so far, and saying
that the Sultan would be happy to see him, but that he
hoped he would visit him without so large a force, as the
Sultan feared the appearance of so many armed men would
disturb the inhabitants of Palembang. It was easy enough
to see the insidiousness and falseness of this proposal, and
Colonel Gillespie knew the base and treacherous Sultan far
too well to aUow himself for one moment to be taken in.
366 JAVA
The Sultan had insulted the Government by his offensive
want of attention to the British mission sent him during the
preceding November, and had added to the insult by sending
an ambassador to Batavia with false statements about the
iniquitous massacre of the Dutch, and no faith whatever
was to be placed in him.
Captain Meares, the Malay interpreter, now demanded the
surrender of the Borang batteries : no time was given for
consideration ; if they surrendered they would be taken
over amicably and without loss of life, if not, they would be
reduced to nothing. Gillespie was close at hand with
detachments of the 59th and 89th Eegiments in light boats,
supported by gun-launches and field artillery in flat boats.
Great, indeed, had been the fatigue and discomfort of the
soldiers and sailors on the passage up the river. During the
day while rowing they were exposed to the rays of a tropical
sun and deprived of sleep at night owing to incessant rain-
storms. Notwithstanding all, however, their ardour was
as great as ever ; and nothing could shake their desire to
get at the Sultan's troops, to let them see what stuff British
sailors and soldiers were made of.
The enemy, however, knew this, for no sooner had Captain
Meares put the question than the garrison, catching a glance
of the British coming up, were terrified, and, wholly un-
mindful of the strict and positive orders of the brutal Sultan
to defend the passage here to the very last, fled as fast as
they could to the eastern part of Borang Island and the
western side of Bintang Island, and here concealed them-
selves.
The guns taken amounted to one hundred and two, and
were already charged and primed.
The large Arab ship was seized, the crew deserting it in
the same manner, and was used as quarters for a good
portion of the soldiers, the remainder being lodged in huts
on shore and on floating batteries which had covers to them.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 181G 367
When the flotilla again sailed on, the fire-rafts, which it
was found were filled with combustibles of all kinds, were
fired and let loose. They were extremely dangerous owing
to the fact that they were all fastened together and stretched
right across the river, the current carrying them down.
Captain Owen, with the crews of the hght boats, at
8 o'clock in the evening was successful, however, in cutting
the rafts asunder before they were thoroughly in flames.
The Cornelia's guns were moreover now able to reach the
enemy, and the parties of Malays who attempted to fire the
rafts more thoroughly, so as to make them blaze quicker,
were fired into and instantly dispersed.
On the 25th April (the day following) an Arab arrived,
who begged his ship back, which was given him. He gave
the news that when the Sultan heard of the loss of the
defences of Borang, on which it seems he had pinned his
faith, he had joined his wives and treasure, knowing there
was now nothing to prevent the further progress of the
determined British troops. The Arab said that on account
of the Sultan's flight the greatest confusion and plunder and
assassination prevailed in the fort, the palace, and even the
city.
On hearing this Colonel Gillespie did not delay an instant,
and hurried with the small boats as fast as he could go to
Palembang city, and by his presence prevented the entire
massacre of the wealthy Chinese and other inhabitants,
whose property was to have become the prize of the assassins.
Gillespie proceeded with the Arab chief in his canoe, and
was accompanied by Captain Meares and Mr. Villneruby (a
Spaniard), who acted as interpreters.
In this and another small canoe which accompanied them
were seven grenadiers of the 59th Eegiment, and these were
followed by Captain Bowen, E.N., Major Butler, D.A.G.,
Major Thorn, D.Q.M.G., in the gig of the Phcenix, and by
ten more grenadiers in the barge of the same ship, with
368 JAVA
Lieutenant Monday, E.N., and Lieutenant Forrest, of the
59th Kegiment. The remaining troops, under Lieutenant
McLeod, had orders to follow with all possible speed.
The distance to be traversed was about twenty miles, and
when Gillespie arrived at Old Palembang it was already
dark.
The canoes, in one of which was Gillespie, had shot well
ahead of the other two boats, which were not even in sight.
On a sudden a gun was fired by the enemy, and a dreadful
heartrending yelling and shrieking was heard on all sides,
and lights and conflagrations suddenly burst out along the
banks of the river for about seven miles.
Those in the two boats behind had also heard the uproar,
and seeing the lights, exhausted as they were, redoubled
their efforts and happily came up in time.
To describe the horrors of the situation is impossible.
Eomance could not tell anything more hideous ; nor could
any invention of the imagination ever be so appalling as that
which met this handful of Britishers in the middle of the
night, in the interior of a wild, unknown tropical country,
and surrounded by a hundred thousand demons of hell let
loose. Nor can the brave, plucky, and undaunted act of
this small party of Englishmen, who, to revenge the deaths
of Dutch fellowmen, took possession of the fort and palace
that night, be surpassed. To meet a ferocious foe face to
face in daylight is one thing ; to do so under the present
circumstances on a pitch-dark night was quite another.
Undismayed, however, by the terrible uproar, and in the
face of large bodies of armed Malays, Colonel Gillespie
stepped bravely on shore, and, accompanied by the seven
grenadiers and the officers ah'eady mentioned, and with the
Arab chief as guide, marched through a multitude of Arabs
and treacherous Malays, whose weapons, steeped in poison,
shone by the light of the torches they carried.
Battlements whose appearance in the dark looked massive,
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 369
with immense gates leading from one court to the other, met
Gillespie, and presented a fearful spectacle of human blood
reeking and flowing on the flagstones of the courtyard.
Once they were inside the gates closed upon the British
party, so that no escape seemed possible from this veritable
slaughter-house. A Malay pressed up to Gillespie with a
double-edged knife. The night was stormily inclined, and
at this moment a flash of lightning showed him the weapon
just as the man was drawing it up his sleeve to conceal it.
Totally regardless of the crowd around them, they seized
the fellow and took his weapon from him.
In the palace reigned devastation and cruelty. Murder
and rapine had joined hands, and the place had been
plundered from end to end. To add to the dreadfulness of
the situation, rain was coming down in torrents, as it only
can in the tropics, amid a storm of thunder and lightning.
The flames were now getting nearer and nearer to the
palace where Gillespie and his brave few were waiting.
The crackling of bamboos was like the discharge of muskets
— the burning roofs kept falling in ; and there was the
dreadful knowledge that the palace was surrounded by
assassins, into whose hands the approaching fire was going
to drive them. Gillespie, however, decided they must sell
their lives dearly and endeavour to hold the fort should
any attack be made on them before the arrival of the forces
under Colonel McLeod. The grenadiers were stationed at
the principal entrance, and a strict guard was kept.
At midnight Major Trench with sixty men of the 89th
Eegiment arrived, and was welcomed with great relief.
He had had literally to cut his way through. In the
morning McLeod, faithful to his promise, arrived with the
entire force ; the task had been a hard one, indeed almost
an impossible one, with the means at his disposal, but he
had done it. The fort, with its two hundred and forty- two
guns, was now taken without any struggle.
J. — VOL. I- B B
370 JAVA
The rapidity of the movement, the arrival in the night
of Gillespie, and then Trench, the numbers with whom were
greatly magnified by a panic-stricken foe, whose terror was
not lessened by the unexpected arrival of McLeod with his
large force, paralysed the efforts of the Malays and threw
them into utter confusion, as always happens with Asiatic
races when the unforeseen arises.
There is no doubt that Gillespie's timely arrival saved
the town from absolute destruction and plunder.
An American, who was the supercargo of a large Chinese
junk then lying at Palembang, gave Gillespie an account of
what would have occurred that very night if he had not
arrived, the junk, with all on board, having in fact been
marked out as the first object for destruction.
The great body of inhabitants was really pleased at the
change of masters, having endured the tyranny of the
Sultan and his eldest son, Pangeran Katu, long enough.
The latter had been particularly notorious in the wanton
exercise of every species of oppression, cruelty, criminal
immorality, and bestiality. The vile, libidinous habits of
this prince indeed, it is said, were the first cause of the
terrible massacre of the Dutch ; it seems that he paid one
of his visits by night to the wife of a native, who resisted
his criminal designs on her honour, and yelled for assistance ;
and this brought out the guard of the Dutch factory, which
happened to be near. The guard, not knowing- who the
culprit was, pursued him to his prow on the river, which
was moored a few yards from the shore. Pressed by the
Dutch, he was obhged to swim to his boat, but once there
his escape was assured. No sooner, therefore, was he on
board, than he turned on his pursuers, shouting : ** You are
ignorant of the power you have defied. I am Pangeran
Eatu, and in three days you shall all of you be murdered
and your factory made the abode for birds to build their
nests in."
■M
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 371
The Sultan, hearing of this insulting treatment of his son,
sent a message to the Resident, the commandant, and the
principal officers of the garrison to visit him for the object
of transacting business of an important nature. When they
had left the fort for their visit to the Sultan, armed Malays
surreptitiously walked in, and once the Resident's party
was within the walls of the palace it was seized and all
were murdered. The fort was instantly captured, and the
garrison, both Europeans and natives, seized, bound, and
hurried with their weeping families on board the prows
prepared to carry them down the river to a place called
Soosang, where they were slowly put to death. Every
cruelty seems to have been practised to prolong the suffer-
ings of the unhappy men ; they were stabbed with krisses
in tender places, and lacerated in a shocking manner,
entirely midescribable here. The prows, with the unhappy
men still living, were then set on fire.
There was one Dutchwoman, the wife of an officer, who,
not able to bear the thought of a separation from her
husband, followed him on board one of the prows, although
forbidden to do so ; she carried her infant child with her.
Her fate was the fate of the other unhappy ladies, for, after
being first polluted by these monsters in a manner impossible
to relate, she was murdered and her body thrown over-
board.
The Resident's wife, who was pregnant, was thrown into
the jungle without food or shelter. The other unfortunate
ladies were sent as slaves up-country ; some with their
children took refuge in the w^nods, where they dragged out
a miserable existence among the wild beasts, naked, and a
helpless prey to hunger and disease. The very few who
survived were brought in a most deplorable state of wretched-
ness to the British headquarters after the capture of Palem-
bang, as the result of a search set on foot by Gillespie.
To detail the various miseries suffered by these poor
B B 2
372 JAVA
women^ would take too much time and space. For months
they Hved on betel-nut and the refuse of the dunghill, and
there was no refinement of cruelty to which the Sultan and
his followers did not subject them. There was no persecu-
tion too great, no degradation too humihating, for these
unfortunate women.^
At noon on the 28th April, 1812, the British flag was
hoisted, under a royal salute, on the Sultan's bastion.
Pangeran Adipatti, brother of the Sultan, was now
invited by the British Commander to a conference. He had
a good reputation, and, as it appeared afterwards, had
warned his brother of the results of murdering the Dutch
and had tried to dissuade him from the act.
The Pangeran at once called on Gillespie (the 29th April) .
He was received at the landing-place by Captain Meares and
all the officers of the general staff. At the door of the pubhc
hall Gillespie awaited him and conducted him to where
seats were arranged for all the company. On his landing
H.M.S. Mercury boomed out a salute of nineteen guns,
and as he entered the pubhc hall the land artillery gave
him another salute ; this considerably impressed the
natives.
After sitting for a short time, Gillespie and the prince
entered a private apartment and conferred alone, through
the interpreter. Captain Meares.
In the afternoon the Commander of the Forces returned
the visit.
The old Sultan, who had buried his treasure and put to
death all those employed in burying it, so that the secret of
its hiding-place might be known only to him, now gave up
' The following ladies were eventually rescued by the British officers : —
Mrs. Harflegter and two children, widow of the Resident ; Miss Adriana
Peters, her sister ; Mrs. Volkers, widow of one of the writers ; Mrs. Johanna
Reignwits and Mrs. Catsey Veigser, widows of corporals.
'' When found, these ladies were taken under the special care of Gillespie,
who personally waited on them and saw their wants were suppUed.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 373
all hopes of returning to his throne and withdrew far into
the interior.
Gillespie sent a long dispatch to the Lieutenant-Governor
of Java and its dependencies, in which, after detailing the
whole situation and the several operations, he concluded
as follows : —
" Palembang, 28th April, 1812.
" I cannot avoid expressing to you the high sense I entertain
of the cordial co-operation and support that has been afforded
to me by every branch of the Naval Service during the progress
of our voyage ; particularly the arrangements that were made
in the first instance by Captain Owen, of H.M.S. Cornelia, and
conducted subsequently by Captain Bowen, of H.M.S. Phoenix,
who relieved him in the command. Captain Drury of H.M.S.
Bucephalus, was necessarily separated from the body of the
expedition where he had previously manifested great anxiety
to forward the pubHc interest. I cannot refrain from offering
my most grateful thanks and acknowledgment to Captain Bowen,
and bearing public testimony to the energy, zeal, and exertion
displayed by those valuable officers in executing the important
duties of their situation.
" The military reputation and gallantry of Lieutenant-Colonel
McLeod, of H.M. o9th Regiment, are already so well established
that any panegyric of mine would add little to the fame he has
so justly earned. I shall therefore content myself on the present
occasion with returning him my very best thanks for the activity,
anxiety, and attention he has manifested during the progress of
the service.
" Major Trench and the detachment of the 89th Regiment,
Captain Campbell and the detachment of the 59th Regiment,
Captain Simond, of the Artillery, are all entitled to my warmest
approbation. To Major Butler, D.A.G., Major Thorn, D.Q.M.G.,
and the Officers composing General, Personal, and Brigade
Staff I am much indebted for their assiduity and attention.
" I am desirous, however, of bringing particularly to your
notice the superior quahfications of Captain Meares, who has
been acting both as my Aide-de-Camp and Interpreter, and who
has displayed an activity, zeal, and acquirement that enable
him to discharge the dehcate and important duties of his situa-
374 JAVA
tion with honour to himself and great advantage to the pubhc
service.
" I have the honour to be, etc., etc.,
" Robert Rollo Gillespie
" (Colonel Commanding H.M. Troops)."
The day appointed for the coronation having arrived, at
9.30 in the morning Pangeran Adipatti landed at the stairs
in front of the palace. Here he was received by Lieutenant-
Colonel Alexander McLeod, attended by the officers of the
staff, and was conducted to the gate of the inner court,
where, being met by Colonel Gillespie, he was led by him to
the public hall, in which a throne had been erected under a
canopy of yellow silk.
Gillespie conducted him first to a couch on the left of the
throne, covered with crimson velvet, on which they seated
themselves.
The troops lined the way from the landing-place, keeping
back a large concourse of natives.
A proclamation was now read in Malay, at which Adipatti
was much affected, and wiped his eyes several times.
Gillespie then ordered Captain Meares to ask the crowd
" whether it was their wish to have Pangeran Adipatti as
their ruler over them," to which they gave hearty assent, by
loud acclamations.
Gillespie then led the Pangeran Adipatti and seated him
on the throne, which was raised three steps above the level
of the hall. When he had taken his seat a royal salute was
fired, the British colours hauled down, and those of the
Sultan hoisted in their stead, and the new monarch received
the salute from all the British officers, who passed him in
single file, with Gillespie at their head. As each officer
passed, the Sultan answered his full salute by taking off his
own hat.
The natives then came in their order of precedence ; some
kissed the hands, others the knees or the feet of the Sultan,
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 375
When this ceremony was over, the natives again seated
themselves, and, silence being ordered, the Commander of
the Forces, speaking through an interpreter, addressed the
Sultan in the following speech : —
" In the name of His Britannic Majesty and the Honourable
East India Company, I have the honour to place you, Pangeran
Adipatti, on the throne of your brother Mahmud Badruddin,
deposed for atrocious and barbarous murders, and now declare
you duly constituted Sultan of Palembang and its Dependencies,
under the title of Sultan Ratu Achmen Najmuddin.
" Long may you live to enjoy the high and exalted rank which
the EngHsh nation have conferred upon you.
" May God watch over j^our actions and direct your councils ;
and may the punishment inflicted on the late Sultan (who by
listening to evil counsellors and wicked men has drawn on himself
the vengeance of a great and powerful people) be a warning to
you to avoid similar errors.
" May J' our reign be prosperous and happy. May you con-
tribute by your goodness and justice to the happiness and welfare
of your subjects, and may they have reason to bless the nation
that have placed you on the throne of the City of Safety." ^
The ceremony was striking and impressive throughout,
and had a powerful effect on the prince and all the natives.
It was in fact a brilliant display of that great magnanimity
for which the British character is celebrated.
The speech of Gillespie being concluded, he took the Sultan
by the hand and conducted him to the landing-place, where
the royal barge awaited him.
The British officers now stood at attention, saluting as
the Sultan left the stairs. x\t this moment the brigs-of-war
and all the sloops in the river, which were gaily decorated
for the occasion, as also all the native boats, fired a royal
salute. This circumstance immensely excited the admira-
tion of the native population.
J Palembang, in the old Malay historical works, is styled " the City of
Safety."
376 JAVA
On the 16th May a State banquet was given by the Sultan,
at which Gillespie and all the British ofl&cers were present.
The next day the Sultan took possession of the palace and
the British troops embarked.
Eaffles was at Cheribon when he received the news of the
British victory.
General orders were, however, at once issued recapitulat-
ing the event, from which the following is a short extract : —
" Cheribon, May 27th, 1812.
" The Lieutenant-Governor has the highest satisfaction in
communicating to the army, during the absence of the Commander
of the Forces, and to the pubUc in general, the full and complete
accompHshments of the objects which the British Government
had in view in adopting measures of hostiUty against the Sultan
of Palembang, etc., etc.
" Signed by order of the Honourable Lieutenant-Governor,
" C. G. Blagrave
" (Ass. Sec. to Gov.)."
From Cheribon RafHes proceeded to Samarang, so as to
be near Djockjakarta and Soerakarta, which were sources
of continual trouble and friction. His family followed him.
At Samarang Raffles lost no opportunity for gaining local
knowledge, as was his invariable custom.
He lived in the new palace^ just constructed, a beautiful
building at the end of the Bodjing road, some distance out-
side the city walls, and surrounded by the forest on all sides,
and with a high hill on its right and a view of the mountains
behind it.
He entertained a great deal, the native chiefs being con-
stant guests, a.nd, although society at Samarang was small
in comparison with Batavia, sixty to eighty persons were
always present on public occasions at Government House,
and one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty on ball
nights. Raffles was always busy ; and the only recreation
^ This palace was pulled down in 1908.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 377
he allowed himself was an evening drive to the foot of the
Chandi Hills, and sometimes a morning ride to Kaliewongoe.
His dinner-hour was 4 o'clock, so that a drive could still be
taken afterwards ; but for public banquets 7 o'clock was
the hour. He was always affable, animated, agreeable, and
attentive to all.
No public servant ever applied himself with more care
and zeal to such arduous duties. He allowed himself no
relaxation, his motto being, *' My country first."
When Gillespie and the troops from Palembang arrived
in Java they were ordered on to Samarang.
On his arrival the following general orders were published :
" Samarang, June 6th, 1812.
" The Lieutenant-Governor is happy to congratulate Colonel
Gillespie on his return to Java and on the full accomplishment of
the objects of the late Expedition.
" The successful termination of these operations in a manner
so highly beneficial to the interests of humanity, and to the
security and advantage of the British possessions in those seas,
must be entirely attributed to the prompt, judicious and politic
measures adopted under the personal direction of the Commander
of the Forces. And although the applause so justly due on this
occasion may rather fall within the province of a higher authority
to whom the proceedings will be submitted, it is gratifying to
the Lieutenant-Governor that he is not precluded from bearing
public testimony to the services which have been rendered, nor
of expressing his admiration of the superior talent and character
which has been so conspicuous throughout.
" The Lieutenant-Governor requests Colonel Gillespie will
accept his best thanks for the zeal, ability, and precision with
which the service has been executed ; and in recordhig his entire
approbation and unreserved confirmation of the whole of the
arrangements made for the future security and advantage of
the British interests, the Lieutenant-Governor is satisfied that he
only anticipates the sentiments of the Supreme Government.
" By Order of the Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor,
" J. ECKFORD
'•' (Act. Sec.)."
378 JAVA
Trouble at Native Court of Djockjakarta. — The Sultan of
Djockjakarta was becoming more and more impossible^ ;
he was bidding practically open defiance to John Crawfnrd,
the British Eesident. When he heard of the British troops
being occupied on the Palembang Expedition, not knowing
anything about the number employed, but having heard of
the great power of the Borang forts, which would need
thousands of men to capture them, the Sultan very naturally
concluded that the present time was a favourable moment
to expel the European power from Java. He formed,
' In September, 1811, the ex-Sultan of Java resumed the government at
Djockjakarta, putting to death his first minister and the latter's father for
opposing his wishes. The following is taken from a despatch by Raffles to
the Resident there : —
" The Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor T. S. Raffles to Resident John
Crawfurd at Djockjakarta.
" You will also inform the Sultan and Regent jointly that the assumption
of authority by the former is in direct opposition to his bond or declaration
of 3l8t December, 1810, but this assumption cannot be admitted by the
British Government, and that in conformity to the said deed you are now
instructed to address the Regent only as holding the chief authority in
Djockjakarta. You wiU in consequence address the Regent in all future
communications that you may have with the Court. That after the Sultan
and Regent have jointly sent their Ambassadors to pay homage as directed,
the Sultan should without delay address to me a letter explaining by the
best means in his power the circumstances which led to the assumption of
the Government . . . acknowledging his errors and expressing regrets
. . . ; further that the Sultan should, as a proof of his sincerity, resign of
himself the throne to the Regent, stating in his letter that he had done so
in order that the British Government might make such arrangements for
Djockjakarta as may be deemed most advisable. On the above conditions
I have intimated to Notto Kosomo (Natoe Koesoema) that the Sultan may
possibly be again received into favour and restored to the throne. The
letter to be signed by the Sultan must be dictated by you, and you will be
careful to express it in such terms as may adequately answer the purposes
of atonement intended. The letter should contain the best excuse for his
conduct that can be adduced. The above will, in my opinion, be sufficient
atonement on the part of the Sultan and a justification for my again placing
him in power.
" It must be laid down as a principle in all our proceedings with the
Native Courts that in no case we must demand what we cannot enforce in
case of refusal.
" Samarang, 15th December, 1811."
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 379
therefore, a general confederacy of all the native courts,
constituting, so to say, the strength of Java, of which he
was the legitimate head. Even the well-known animosity
which existed between the Emperor of Solo^ and the Sultan
of Djockjakarta was on this occasion surmounted, and all
family feuds were buried, the chiefs combining their forces
to effect the destruction of the English, as well as of all the
Dutch colonists settled along a coast line of seven hundred
miles.
The magnitude of the threatened danger called for prompt
and vigorous action. The troops from Palembang, although
ordered to Samarang, were obliged to proceed there by way
of Banca and Borneo, where stores had to be landed.
Gillespie, however, had arrived, and, matters now coming
to a crisis. Raffles decided to move, with such military force
as could be collected, to break at once the chain of com-
bination, which if allowed to increase and strengthen would
very likely prove the entire ruin of the European settlements
in the East.
The Lieutenant-Governor Proceeds to Djockjakarta. — Raffles
left Samarang with Gillespie on the 14th June, 1812, arrived
at Klatten on the 16th June, and at Djockjakarta on the
evening of the 17th. On the 18th the Sultan, who had been
busy preparing for active operations, sent out strong bodies
of horsemen to cut off the communication in the rear of the
English by burning and destroying all the bridges and laying
waste the country. Gillespie, on hearing this, proceeded
with fifty dragoons to reconnoitre, and after several detours
fell in with a large body of the Sultan's horse. As offensive
measures had not yet finally been decided upon, Gillespie did
not charge them, as he would have wished, but through the
Resident, Crawfurd, tried to induce them to return peaceably
to their homes in the kraton. To all solicitations they paid
no regard, even throwing stones from slings, and at last their
* Soerakarta.
380 JAVA
spears, by which a sergeant and four dragoons were
wounded.
Hostilities between the English and the Sultan of Djockja-
karta begin. — They were thus the first to provoke hostihties,
which ended in the dragoons cutting their way through the
surrounding multitudes and wholly dispersing them. The
dragoons only lost one man killed.
The Lieutenant-Governor, still anxious to avoid blood-
shed, sent a final communication, amicably couched, by
messenger to the Sultan ; but it fell on deaf ears, the
arrogant chief, feeling secure behind his large force and
his strong fortifications, returning the messenger with
insults.
The Lieutenant-Governor now saw clearly that the only
way to bring the recalcitrant monarch to his senses was
by a battle, further delay only increasing his power, and
adding to his insolence and the consequent injury to the
colony.
The Lieutenant-Governor communicated his views to the
Commander of the Forces and requested him to prepare for
instant battle.
The troops collected were as follows : —
A Detachment 14th Regiment.
A Detachment Bengal Light Infantry.
3rd Volunteer BattaKon Bengal Infantry.
Two troops 22nd Dragoons.
Artillery.
A further force, with a large supply of ordnance, was
expected at any moment, under the orders of Colonel
McLeod.
At Djockjakarta the Dutch had already built a fort during
a more peaceful time, and it was so constructed that the
kraton, or palace of the Sultan, was within reach of its guns.
The English Fort now O'pens Fire on the Kraton. — The fort
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 381
now opened fire on the kraton, to which the Sultan's batteries
there immediately replied.
The kraton was three miles in circumference, surrounded
by a broad ditch with drawbridges, and a strong rampart,
broad and high, with bastions, and defended by one hundred
cannon. Inside it were numerous squares and courtyards,
enclosed with high walls, all very strong in themselves and
highly defensible. At this time the principal square in
front had a double row of cannon facing the entrance,
besides which it was flanked with newly-erected batteries.
Seventeen thousand regular troops manned these works,
while an armed population of more than one hundred thou-
sand surrounded the exterior kampongs (villages) for miles,
and occupied the walls and various fastnesses along the sides
of the different roads leading to the kraton.
Soon after firing had begun one of the powder magazines
of the enemy blew up, and shortly after a similar accident
happened on the English side, several officers and artillery
soldiers being burned, some severely ; amongst these were
Lieutenant Young, Brigadier-Major, and Lieutenant Hunter,
of the Bengal service ; Captain Teesdale of the Royal Navy,
who volunteered his services, was wounded by this occur-
rence. This explosion set fire to one of the fort buildings,
but it was soon extinguished, and the bombardment of the
kraton continued, under cover of which parties began to
scour the kampongs to the right and left of the palace. This
kept the Sultan's troops in play, and prevented their cutting
off the rear of the British troops or harassing the detachment
of Colonel McLeod, which was hourly expected and anxiously
awaited ; it had left Salatiga for Djockjakarta by way of
Bojolah.
As evening was drawing near the Sultan sent out a flag of
truce under an escort of some thousands, to demand the
unconditional surrender of the British garrison. He was
apparently under the impression, seeing that no progress
382 JAVA
had been made, that he was really victorious ; and in an
arrogant exultation arising from his immense superiority
in numbers, presumed he could now crush his enemy at
any moment. No reply was vouchsafed to the Sultan's
insult.
Major Dalton, with a part of his Bengal Light Infantry,
who occupied part of the Dutch town between the port and
the kraton, was unsuccessfully attacked four times during
the night.
The enemy, hearing of the momentarily expected arrival
of reinforcements under McLeod, began destroying all the
bridges and preparing obstacles for them.
The dragoons were sent to keep the way open, and in the
evening, under Lieutenant Hale, of the 22nd Regiment,
were ordered to force their way through to McLeod and ask
him to hasten along. The country swarmed with the
enemy ; not even a native could pass through unseen or
escape being murdered ; in fact McLeod had already sent
one with a message to Gillespie, but the message never
reached him.
Colonel McLeod, still wishing to communicate, offered a
reward to any man who would carry an order to Captain
Byers, commanding a detachment of the Royal Artillery,
who was a day's march in his rear. John O'Brien, a private
in the Madras Horse Artillery, offered to undertake this
perilous task.
He galloped as hard as his horse would carry him right
through the enemy's camps and returned unscathed. For
this he received public thanks and a gold medal.
The party of dragoons from Djockjakarta were soon
attacked from all sides, the enemy presenting an impene-
trable wall of spears. Lieutenant Hale was wounded, and
narrowly escaped being speared to the ground, a fate which
happened to six of the dragoons, who were found next day
mangled in a most barbarous manner.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 383
On the 19th June the troops under Colonel McLeod
reached headquarters, consisting of : —
A detachment of Royal Artillery.
Grenadiers of 59th Regiment.
Flank companies and rifle company of 78th Regiment.
A troop of Hussars.
A detachment of Madras Horse Artillery.
The long forced marches of these troops and their exposure
to the sun had completely exhausted them.
The kampongs round the kraton were now set fire to and
the enemy burned out ; meanwhile the guns were pouring
shot into the palace itself.
In the evening Gillespie ordered all the troops, both
cavalry and infantry, into the fort, with a view to allowing
the enemy to think that no serious attack on the kraton
was contemplated.
The Sultan was now more than ever convinced that he
held the Enghsh in his hand and that they were afraid of
his strength.
The troops remained inside the fort, but the bombardment
continued to harass and weary the kraton. This went on
until 3 o'clock in the morning of the 20th June, when
Gillespie ordered the firing to cease. His secret was well
kept ; only the leaders knew that the kraton, this formidable
fortification, defended by men from the neighbouring
villages numbering twenty to fifty thousand, some say even
one hundred thousand men, was to be assaulted. The task
was a heavy one and its aspect appalling. Gillespie was
playing his last card, but the stake at issue was the very
existence of the British force ; the fate of the whole colony
depended on the result.
The Island of Java in a State of Suspense. — At Bantam,
Cheribon, Sourabaya, and other places hundreds of thousands
were willing to break loose against the colonists at the
Sultan's signal, which itself depended on the British garrison
at Djockjakarta. The danger was no imaginary one ; the
384 JAVA
Sepoys at Sourabaya in their barracks had been fired upon,
and a fire of musketry opened from the Malay town into the
European quarter.
The Town of Sourabaya saved from being Sacked by the
Prompt Action of the English Commanding Officer. — The
Dutch inhabitants there shut themselves up in their houses,
expecting every moment to be massacred, but the troops
stationed at Sourabaya were put immediately under arms
and paraded under the commanding officer, Lieutenant-
Colonel Eraser, of the 78th Eegiment, through whose
vigilance and strong action the trouble was immediately
suppressed. The following day, on an inquiry being made
into this affair, it appeared that the rebellion could be
traced to a priest, who had dreamed of seeing two large
eagles, a black and a white, fighting in the sky, and that after
a long fight the white one was torn to pieces. The natives
understood the allusion, all eyes being then fixed on Djockja-
karta, and tried to anticipate events.
Gillespie and Eaffles were meanwhile discussing matters
in the fort ; they reahsed the seriousness of affairs, which
was enough to daunt the bravest mind. Baffles, however,
appeared as calm and collected as ever, with not a shadow
on his open countenance ; while Gillespie was concentrating
his thoughts on his own comprehensive, clear, and well-laid
plans for storming the fort.
The English Attack the Kraton of Djockjakarta. — A column
under Lieutenant- Colonel Dewar, with a part of the Bengal
Light Infantry, a volunteer battalion, and Prince Prang
Wedona's corps, proceeded at 4 o'clock in the morning by a
long and circuitous route to dislodge a strong body of
natives posted outside, southward of the kraton, after which
they were to try and force the South Gate, while at the
North Gate an attack was to be made under Major Grant.
A column under Lieutenant- Colonel Watson, with a part
of the 14th Begiment and a part of the Bengal Light
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 385
Infantry, with Lieutenant-Colonel McLeod's colainn of
grenadiers of the 59th Eegiment, flank companies and the
rifle company of the 78th Eegiment, composed the main
attack.
This column, headed by the brave grenadiers under
Captain Johnstone, rushed the ditch under a shower of
grape and drove the enemy from their guns. Lieutenant-
Colonel Watson now hurried them on to the top of the
ramparts, and rushed for the Prince's Gate, while a
party of Sepoys crossed the ditch at the angle of the
bastion first attacked, w4iich had now been blown up by
an explosion of the powder magazine below. After-
wards these passed along to the bottom of the rampart
and let down the drawbridge, enabling McLeod's column
to cross over.
The Prince's Gate, being very strongly barricaded, was
with difficulty blown open, but in the meantime the
troops, having cleared the ditch over the drawbridge,
climbed upon one another's shoulders through the em-
brasures and, meeting Watson's column, swept the ram-
parts clear.
All this time the fort was pouring shot and shell into the
centre of the kraton.
The fighting became desperate. Lieutenant-Colonel
Dewar's colunm now came up ; he had defeated the enemy
badly in the suburbs and killed Toomoogong Senoot Dinin-
grat, the Sultan's chief adviser, and the instigator of every
plot against the English.
The Kraton Captured. — With fixed bayonets the men now
swept through fort after fort hke a whirlwind, hand-to-hand
encounters taking place every minute. Gillespie now
secured ah the main ways out of the kraton, holding them
with artillery and cutting off the fugitives, who were
slaughtered by the thousand. His principal object was,
however, to see the Sultan did not escape.
J. — VOL. I. CO
386 JAVA
The Sultan of Djockjakarta Prisoner in the hands of the
English. — To this course of action may be attributed the
complete success of the operations, for the Sultan, finding
escape impossible, gave himself up.
The Crown Prince also Prisoner. — The hereditary prince
also threw himself on the mercy of the English.
The enemy, however, were not yet beaten, and the
western bastion still held out ; but as soon as it was known
that the Sultan was a prisoner they lost hope and were
driven out of this last stronghold.
The fortifications being now cleared of the enemy, the
mosque on the outside of the fort, which was their last refuge,
had now to be cleared. A brisk fire was kept up over the
walls and through the apertures. Here Gillespie was
wounded in the arm by a shot from a blunderbuss. Two
horse artillery guns opened fire on the mosque and kept it
up for fully three hours before it gave in. This ended the
battle.
The loss of the English was one hundred killed and
wounded. Thus rather less than one thousand men defeated
a hundred times their number ; but the men had been
thoroughly impressed beforehand that it was a case of
death or victory.
Sultan of Djockjakarta Banished. — The old Sultan was
banished at once to Penang, the hereditary prince mounting
the throne as Paku Bavana III.
The Emperor of Solo, astonished at the result of the fight,
now readily acceded to all the Lieutenant-Governor's
proposals, to which before he had refused to listen, and
his example was followed by all the native princes in the
island.
Bagoos Bang In, the Bebel Chieftain, Captured. — Bagoos
Bang In, the so-called Sultan of Indramayoe, the well-known
rebel chieftain, after having eluded pursuit for a number of
years, was captured on the 28th June, together with his
luKT JUANA, 1811.
FOKT DAMACK (dEMAK), 1811. (tHE BRITISH FLAG IS KLYING.)
BRITISH OCCUPATIOX, 1811 TO 1816 387
nephew, Bagoos Manoch, and his uncle Griessen, otherwise
Sidja Djuda ; and on the 2oth June a party under the noted
Naireen was also defeated. Thus peace and tranquilhtj^
were now restored, British supremacy was estabhshed on a
solid basis throughout the whole island, and Raffles was
able to boast in a despatch to the Governor-General, Lord
Minto, that at last a European Power for the first time was
absolute^ paramount in Java.
The population was quite stunned by the result of the
short war, while the pangerans, or princes, were astonished
and amazed at the tmii affairs had taken, one which thev
had not for one single moment anticipated or even believed
possible.^
The following is the return of killed and wounded of the
forces employed in the capture of Djockjakarta by assault,
20th June, 1812 :—
Killed.
His Majesty's 22nd Dragoons .
His Majesty's 14th Regiment .
His Majesty's 78th Regiment .
Light Infantry Battalion
Djyang Sekars
8 rank and file
8 ,, ,,
3 ,, ,,
tJ J) >>
Total kiUed .
. 23
5> )>
Wounded.
Staff : Colonel Gillespie, Commander of the Forces.
Horse Artillery, 2 rank and file.
1 In the old British chronological table the following entry appears : —
" June 29th, 1812.
" The British march against the Sultan of Java, and declaring war against
him storm his fortified palace with less than one thousand men, and take it
without diflficulty, though defended by more than eight thousand (inside
the craton).
" The Sultan is made prisoner and his son placed on the throne by the
title of Mangku Buvano the Third.
" The Susunun and Sultan of Java cede to the British Government the
provinces of Kadu,t Blora, Jipang, Japan and Garobogan."
The territorial revenue of Kadu (Kedoe) in 1812 was 600,000 rupees.
C C 2
888
JAVA
Bengal Artillery, Major Butler (slightly) ; 1 drummer,
11 rank and file.
22nd Dragoons, Lieutenant Hale (severely) ; 12 rank and
file.
His Majesty's 14tli Regiment, Lieutenant McLean (severely,
since dead) ; 30 rank and file.
His Majesty's 78th Regiment, Lieutenant Robertson
(slightly) ; 3 rank and file.
His Majesty's 89th Regiment, Lieutenant Young, Brigade-
Major.
Light Lifantry Battahon, Lieutenant J. H. Paul (see note) ;
7 rank and file.
Third Bengal Volunteer Battahon, 2 rank and file.
Fourth Bengal Volunteer Battahon, Lieutenant Hunter.
Ambojoiese, 1 havildar.
Royal Navy, Captain Teesdale.
Total wounded . . 76
Grand total
99
N.B. — Of Prince Prang Wedono's^ and Prince Nata Koesama's^
corps the killed and wounded are not included.^
List of Ordnance captured on the Fortifications of
Djockjakarta, June 20th, 1812.
Brass.
Brass.
Pounders.
Pounders.
Four.
Three.
Two.
Swivels.
Eigh-
teen.
Twelve.
Nine.
Six.
Four.
Three. Two.
One.
Total.
2
3
4
18
8
7
3
15 26
1 3
2
92
With a considerable quantity of powder, ammunition, and
shells.
1 Prince (Pangeran) Prang Wedono was rewarded with lands formerly
belonging to the Emperor of Solo.
^ Nata Koesama was given lands in the district of Grobogan, formerly
belonging to the Sultan of Djockjakarta.
^ Some time before this war broke out the following General Orders were
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 389
The following is an extract from the General Orders by
the Commander of the Forces : —
" Headquarters, Djockjakarta, June 21st, 1812.
" The Commander of the Forces congratulates the troops he
had the honour personally to command upon the late glorious
results of the arduous and honourable enterprize.
" Their remarkable steadiness and disciphne shall be brought
to the notice of higher authority, and it will be the duty of
Colonel Gillespie to obtain for this force the approbation they have
so justly merited.-
" To Lieutenant-Colonel Watson, who commanded the leading
column, the Commander of the Forces cannot convey the high
sense he entertains of his distinguished bravery, and of the
quickness and alacrity with which he conceived and executed
the attack.
" The animated style in which Captain Johnston and Lieu-
tenant Hunter crossed the Ditch, and at the Head of the 14th
Grenadiers escaladed the ramparts, under the fire of the East
Bastion, could only be equalled by the order and zeal of their
gallant followers.
" Lieutenant-Colonel McLeod for his prompt and decisive move-
ment in forcing the passage to the Prince's Gate and supporting
the leading column was equally daring and meritorious.
" The long detour of Lieutenant-Colonel Dewar towards the
Southern Gate, and his well-timed entrance through that passage
and spirited assault.
" It is right also to specify Captain Leys and part of the Light
issued in the Government Gazette regarding Prince Prang Wedono's
Legion : —
" General Orders of the Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor in Council,
Batavia, 13th February, 1812.
The Legion of Prince Prang Wedono to consist of —
Horse Artillery ...... 50 men
Cavalry 200 „
Sharp Shooters of Light Infantry . . 100 „
Infantry of the Line ..... 800 „
1150 „
With two three-pounders Horse Artillery complete.
The Prince Prang Wedono to be Colonel-Commandant, and native
officers to be appointed for his family.
Lieutenant J. H. Paul to be Adjutant of the Legion, with a special
moiety of one hundred and thirty -two rupees pei month."
390 JAVA
Infantry Battalion who covered the Ditch at a fordable part,
and chmbed to an embrasure on each other's shoulders.^
"It is also just to mention the conduct of Major Forbes, who
attacked the right of the Sultan's square, and detached Lieutenant
Douglas with a smaU party of His Majesty's 78th Regiment to
cover the guns that were directed with so much spirit and effect
by Lieutenant Cameron, of the Bengal ArtiUery.
" It would also be wrong not mentioning the spirited conduct of
Major Dalton and his battalion, who scoured the ramparts to the
left, and admitted Lieutenant-Colonel Dewar at the South Gate
after preserving the life of the Crown Prince [or Hereditary Prince].
" It appears that Lieutenant Douglas had the honour of
capturing the person of the Sultan,
" Major Butler and the Foot Artillery,
" Captain Byers and the Royal Artillery,
" Captain Rudyerd and the Horse Artillery,
" and Lieutenant Dudley and the Hussars
were all conspicuous for the same bravery.
" Captain Colebrook, of the Royal Artillery, Captain Byers and
Lieutenant Black all rendered effectual assistance to Colonel
McLeod by blowing open the Prince's Gate with one of the Horse
Artillery guns.
" It now remains for the Commander of the Forces to particu-
larize instances of personal bravery and intrepidity ; and amongst
these may be classed the conduct of Lieutenant HiU, of His
Majesty's 14th Regiment, who reconnoitred the Kraton, and
ascertained the depth of water in the Ditch, and furnished a most
correct report.
" The behaviour of this officer will be brought to the knowledge
of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief m Lidia, where just
claims to distinction are never disregarded.
''It is also reported to the Commander of Forces that the
conduct of Private John O'Brien, of the Horse Artillery, was
particularly conspicuous, in having performed an important
point of duty under circumstances of great personal hazard.
" The Commander of Forces must also testify to the activity
and exertions manifested by Captain Dawes, and the officers and
men of His Majesty's 22nd Dragoons.
1 Three Sepoys, after crossing tlie ditch, passed rapidly along the Berm,
and let down the drawbridge at the Prince's Gate for Colonel McLeod' b
column.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 391
" Also of Major Grant, of the 4tli Volunteer Battalion.
" The Commander of the Forces also performs a pleasing task
in recognising the valuable services of
" Major Butler, Commanding the Artillery ;
" Major Butler, Deputy-Adjut ant-General ;
" Major Thorn, Deputy-Quartermaster-General ;
" Captain Hanson, JMihtary Secretary ;
" Captains Parsons and Taylor, Aides-de-Camp ;
" Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie, of the Engineers ;
" Lieutenants Harris and Baker, of the Bengal Army ;
" Majors Campbell and Johnson ;
" Captains Jones and Bethune, also the Officers of the Honour-
able the Lieutenant-Governor's Staff.
" The conduct of Lieutenant Hector McLean, of His Majesty's
14th Rifle Company, of Lieutenant Robinson, of His Majesty's
78th Regiment, and of Lieutenant J. H. Paul, of the Bengal
Native Infantry, has also been reported zealous and meritorious.
They were wounded in the assault [see note], and although the
Commander of the Forces cannot help deploring the loss, however
small, that we have sustained during the progress of the service,
he cannot avoid reverting to the ardour and rapidity of the
attack which ensured to the gallant troops a most complete
victory, and lessened those bitter feelings of regret which the
loss of a brother soldier must always produce.
" Russa Khan Havildar, of the 4th Volunteer Battahon, and
Marwam Sing, Sepoy in the Light Infantry Battahon, are promoted
to the rank of Jamidars : and Roop Maran Sing, of the Light
Infantry Battahon, is promoted to the rank of Havildar for
their distinguished and conspicuous gallantry. These appoint-
ments are to be considered as having taken place during the
action, and they will also be subject to the confirmation of
Government.
" The exertions and assistance that were afforded by Mr. Craw-
furd. Resident, Mr. Robinson,^ IVIr. Deans,^ and Mr. Hardy ^
1 William Eobinson. In 1813 made member of Revenue Committee,
Batavia ; second commissioner Court of Requests ; sub-treasurer of Pay-
master's Department and collector of Customs. At the end of 1813 sent
to Palembang temporarily as Resident. He died at Batavia, the 22nd of
June, 1815.
2 John Deans. Later head of Deans, Scott and Co.
3 John Hardy. Made, in 1813, commissioner of Court of Requests,
892 JAVA
shall be brought to the attention of the Honourable the Lieu-
tenant-Governor.
(Signed) *' Richard Butler
" (Deputy- Adjutant-General)." ^
The Lieutenant-Governor, happy and delighted with the
results of the battle, as well he might be, returned to
Samarang with all speed to carry on the government and
fulfil his arduous duties.
As showing his indefatigable spirit and energy, the
following instance may be mentioned.
The Lieutenant-Governor Beturns to Samarang and Batavia.
— ^Whilst at Samarang Raffles heard one day that a fleet
had arrived at Batavia bound for China, and decided to
proceed there at once to receive his despatches. He left
that day with Charles Assey, the secretary to the Govern-
ment, and his A.D.C., Captain Travers, in a vessel called
the Hamston, arriving at Batavia after a very quick passage
in seventy-two hours. During this time he drew up a
Report of the Capture of Djockjakarta.
He landed at 7 o'clock in the evening, when a grand ball
was being given in order to celebrate the anniversary of the
Prince Regent's birthday. Supposed to be at Samarang, he
attended the ball, and was the life and spirit of the assembly,
which was composed of three hundred of the Batavia Slite.
After remaining a few days at Batavia, Raffles returned
to Samarang overland, to superintend the arrangements
consequent upon the capture of Djockjakarta. This done,
Samarang, and magistrate of the town of Samarang. Brother of F. E.
Hardy, the Resident of Batavia, 1814, and Resident of Rembang, 1826,
where he died shortly afterwards.
^ According to a Dutchman Uving at Djockjakarta, whose father was
present at the battle at Djockjakarta, and taking part in the assault of the
kraton, Lieutenant Hector McLean was not wounded in the fighting, but
on the taking of the palace was seen rushing towards the Sultan's harem,
from which he emerged with a ghastly Jcris wound. Whether Lieutenant
Robinson's and Lieutenant J. H. Paul's wounds were owing to the same
cause was not stated.
sfm''^'T^.wmwvt-i'esmi.'^^WVfK^-
^tev'*?
FOKT KAMBAXG, ISll.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 393
and after obtaining all the local knowledge possible regarding
Samarang and the surrounding country, he returned with
his family to Buitenzorg at the end of 1812, where arrears
of public business awaited him.
Despatches were received shortly after from Lord Minto,
the Governor-General of India, approving of all that Baffles
had done. The most important reads as follows : —
" Government House, Calcutta, 15th December, 1812.
" My dear Sir, — I shall be impatient for the materials which
are called for, because I am anxious to dehver without reserve,
or qualification, the very high and favourable view I now have of
that whole series of measures, beginning with the expedition to
Palembang, and ending with the arrangement of the two courts
of Solo and Djockjakarta, connected and combined with each
other, as those measures were. I consider the result of the latter
proceeding as very glorious to your administration, during the
short period of which more wiU have been accompHshed for the
security of the European power, the tranquiUity of the island,
and the soHd improvement of general prosperity and happiness,
than several centuries have been able to perform, when the
superiority of European power was exerted, unencumbered by
the scruples of justice and good faith.
" Nothing can be more excellent than all your arrangements
in the eastern districts of the island.
" With regard to Palembang and Banca, your latest reports
have enabled us to approve, without reservation, the arrange-
ment formed at Palembang, and the annexation of Banca to the
territories of the East India Company, our minds being satisfied
upon the two points of justice and expediency.
" The sovereignty of the Sultan of Palembang in Banca is
placed beyond question, and leaves that dependence of Palembang
indisputably subject both to the laws of conquest in so just a
war and to the effect of cession from the authority under which
it is now held.
" Beheve me ever, my dear Sir, most truly and affectionately
yours,
" MiNTO."
Despatch Regarding the Appointment of Fdkoe Alam. — The
394 JAVA
following is taken from a despatch from the Resident of
Jogjakarta, Captain R. G. Garnham, to the Honourable the
Lieutenant-Governor : —
" The intention of Government to appoint Pangeran Pakoe
Alam regent to the territories of Mataram during the minority
of his Highness the Sultan, I have received with much anxiety
and apprehension. This measure, although, I am inclined to
consider rather a provisional one, than the result of a selection
founded on any positive assurance of his unexceptionable character
and conduct.
" The obligation I have to perform requires that I should
definitely state for the information of the Honourable the Lieu-
tenant-Governor in Council the character drawn by my immediate
predecessor in office here of Pangeran Pakoe Alam. ' The
Pangeran is a man of ability and acquirement, but devoid of
sincerity and principle ; his ambition is great, and if personal
timidity did not restrain that passion, he would most assuredly
endeavour to give it full scope. His deposed brother (Sultan
Sepoeh) he cajoled, flattered, and after every solemn pledge of
loyalty and affection most deliberately betrayed and insulted
him. His letters to the Resident sounded a desired concurrence
that might favour views cherished by him of succeeding his
brother on the throne. His nephew the late Sultan (Sultan
Radja) he abused and vilified.
" ' The people also report this Pangeran to be avaricious,
and that those under his immediate authority must trust to
the protection of the Resident to prevent ex agitation and unjust
practices.'
" Where, then, after every possible hmitation such an important
trust must devolve into the hands of a Regent, and for such a
length of minority, I would most respectfully submit to the
immediate notice and consignment of Government whether after
the above statement, and founded on such authority, it may be
the final order of the Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor in
Council to place the regency of Mataram in the hands of the
Pangeran alluded to.
" Jogjakarta, 24th November, 1814. No. 46."
The reply contained the following : —
" The Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor in Council does
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 395
not deem it expedient to alter the arrangement made for the
Pangeran Pakoe Alam, for although part of the character given
him by the late Resident may no doubt be correct, it is on the
other hand to be recollected that this Pangeran has claims on
this Government, not only for the fidelity which he showed to
our cause at the time of the war against the ex-Sultan of Jogja-
karta, but also on account of the promises then held out to him."
Financial State of Java during the English Period. —
RafHes had already begun to feel the necessity of having
more cash in the colony. Until the revolution in Holland,
large sums of silver were annually sent out to pay the
establishments and purchase the investments. The impor-
tation, in fact, of bullion had been considerable. Specie was
sent to British India and procured either a return of silver,
or the proceeds, by which opium, cloths, and the principal
importations required by Java could be purchased.
During the years of Daendels' and Raffles' administra-
tions these advantages had been entirely lost, the only
supply of bullion being that received by the Americans — a
great number of whom were during this period in the East
Indian Archipelago — to buy coffee, pepper, and other
colonial produce. This supply, however, owing to the war
with America and the special Orders in Council regarding
the exports thereto, was lost to Java ; in the importation of
bullion for coffee alone nearly two millions of Spanish
dollars per annum were lost. The coffee lay in the godowns
in Java, awaiting shipment and literally rotting away under
the influence of the weevil.
Daendels, to rectify matters, obtained forced and volun-
tary loans from the inhabitants, in order to raise sufficient
money for the extraordinary measures rendered necessary
by the defence of the island, and four millions of rix dollars
and paper currency were thrown on the market. When
Raffles arrived, this same paper had fallen in the market to
the rate of 6^ rix dollars for 1 Spanish dollar silver. Later
396 JAVA
on it fell to 12 and 13 for 1, making a difference of nearly
100 per cent, in its actual current value in the market.
Under these circumstances property was very insecure,
and pubhc confidence was shaken.
The Sale of the Private Lands in Java hy the English. —
EafHes decided, after a full and ripe consideration of the
matter, to meet this demand for money by selling lands and
withdrawing all the paper money from circulation.
The principle on which this measure was adopted was as
follows : —
The paper currency was a colonial debt ; therefore the
loss from depreciation would naturally fall upon the colony,
and not on the individual holder ; and the selling of a portion
of the Crown domains in liquidation, or partial liquidation,
of this public debt was a perfectly justifiable and legitimate
action.
There was in fact a precedent ; for Marshal Daendels in
1810, to raise ready cash for defence works, had sold various
lands, even whole provinces.^ The Lieutenant-Governor,
therefore, caused the following advertisement to appear in
the Java Government Gazette : —
" Notice is hereby given
" That it is the intention of Government to dispose of a quantity
of lands in the Batavia Regency, in Crawang, and in the environs
of Samarang and Sourabaya, to individuals.
" Buitenzorg, 14th Nov., 1812."
This notice was also printed in Dutch.
The following advertisements in this matter also appeared,
so that the proceedings were of a quite public character,
although the contrary has sometimes been stated : —
Th. McQuoid.
" {Java Government Gazette, \%th December, 1812.)
" Pubhc notice is hereby given, that a general description of
the boundaries of such lands as the Government intends selUng
^ See a previous chapter.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 397
in the Batavian and Preanger Regencies is now in readiness to
be seen at the Office of the Resident of Buitenzorg, and that a
more minute description is preparing with a map of the Lots, a
copy of which will be left at the Collector's Office in Batavia for
inspection ten days before the day of sale, of which due notice
will hereafter be given.
" Th. McQuoid
" (President of the Committee for Sale of Lands).
" Buitenzorg, 10th December, 1812."
*' {Java Oovernment Gazette, \Qth January, 1813.)
" In the former notice fixing the sale of lands in Crawang and
in the Batavia Regencies for Monday the 16th of January, a
mistake was made in the day ; and with a view to aid the intention
of purchasers who are desirous of a short delay in the sale of the
lands, this sale is now postponed until Monday the 25th instant,
on which date the lots which may not have already been sold by
private contract, will be disposed of agreeably to the conditions
published.
" A general hst and description of the lands may be seen at
the Office of the Magistrates and of the Collector.
" By order of the Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor in
Council.
" T. McQuoiD
" (Resident, Buitenzorg).
" Buitenzorg, 7th January, 1813."
The Lieutenant-Governor sold in 1813 the lands as
follows : —
Soekaboemi (which included the districts of Goenweng,
Parang, Tjimahi, Tjihenlang, Pagedangan, and
Pagasahan).
Tjipoetrie.
Oedjong Bron.
Kraioang}
Tjassem}
Pamanoekan}
Kandanghauer.
Indramogoe (Westf).^
1 These lands had been hired out to Dutchmen for various periods by
the Dutch East India Company ever since 1705.
398 JAVA
The lands Soekaboemi and Tjipoetrie were bought by the
Lieutenant-Governor ; the former Governor of Java's
north-east coast (Samarang), Nicolaus Engelhard ; the
Eesident of the Preanger, Thomas McQuoid ; and the
Government of&cial, A. de Wilde.
Baffles was the owner for one-half, while the three
others had each a share to the extent of one-sixth ; the
price paid was the ridiculous sum of 58,000 Spanish dollars.
The land Oedjong Bron, which lay to the north-east of
Bandoeng, was bought by the above-mentioned A. de Wilde
for 6,153.56 Spanish dollars ; he took it over, so to speak,
from the family of the first Dutch owner, Swalue.
The Pamanoekan and Tjassem or Tjiassem lands were
bought by Mr. Shrapnell and Mr. Skelton for Sir Charles
Forbes, of Bombay, whose relation, Major Forbes, of the
■78th Begiment, was now in Java, and no doubt advised him
that the sales would take place, or else sent him a copy of
the Java Government Gazette. There were also sold one or
two other lands in the neighbourhood of Batavia, besides
a good many in the neighbourhood of Samarang and
Sourabaya ; for a full hst of these and their purchasers the
reader is referred to the end of Chapter XL, " Tow^ns in
Java."
With the sale of these lands the immediate pressure on
the finances of the country was reheved. Lord Minto, in
writing to Baffles on the matter, approved of his measures
very highly as " an able expedient to meet a case of great
emergency " ; and of his ability to form a correct and
impartial judgment there can be no doubt. It was, in fact,
the only immediate expedient that could have been
devised to support the credit of the new Government,
especially at a time when it was important to create a
favourable impression upon the population of their change
of rulers.
Trouble between the Lieutenant-Governor and the Com-
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 399
mander of the Forces. — The Commander of the Forces,
Colonel Gillespie, and the Court of Directors condemned the
expedient, however, in no measured terms ; and when full
particulars reached the latter, they qualified the same as
** a ver}^ questionable proceeding." Gillespie's charges were
officially made and officially discussed, and there can be no
doubt, coming as they did from an officer whose high
military character and services were admired by every one
who knew him, that they were honestly made. That they
lacked, however, proof in so far as Eaffles w^as concerned
must be allowed ; for although it is clear that the intention
of Raffles was to become a large landowner in Java (which
he was quite entitled under the regulations to be), the means
by which he intended to become such, as far as he was
concerned, were absolutely honest, fair, straightforward, and
legitimate.
Gillespie had a long list of offences against Raffles,
relating chiefly to the disposal of the lands ; but his prin-
cipal charge was that he accused Raffles of improper conduct
in purchasing Government lands at a lower price than they
had been tendered for outside. This charge was found to
be entirely false, no higher tenders having ever been made
for the lands in question, and Gillespie, one of the most
honourable of men, was moved to Calcutta to fill a high
staff appointment, General Miles Nightingale being sent to
command the troops in Java in his stead.
Raffles wrote a full and complete reply to all Gillespie's
charges ; but although the Viceroy (Lord Minto) and the
Government in India approved of his explanations, and
nominated him for the Residency of Bencoolen if Java was
returned to the Dutch, the Court of Directors only accepted
his explanations in silence.
Pathetic Letter from the Lieutenant-Governor to one of the
Directors of the East India Company. — Raffles further
supplemented his offlcial letters by a private one to Mr.
400 JAVA
W. B. Ramsay, one of the Directors in London, an extract
from which reads as follows : —
" Buitenzorg, March 21st, 1814.
" Without family pretensions, fortune, or powerful friends, it
has been my lot to obtain the high station I now fill, and I have
not been without my due proportion of envy in consequence.
You are aware of the differences which occurred between Major-
General Gillespie and myself, and that he in consequence applied
to be reheved of the mihtary command. Arriving in Calcutta,
after Lord Minto had left it, he found the new Governor-General
[and a new CounciP] unacquainted with all that had previously
passed, and succeeded to a certain extent in impressing him
favourably in his behalf.^
" He was committed in the course of some of our differences
by assertions which he had made, and, finding that he had
succeeded in turning the current of pubhc opinion a good deal
against me, he has brought regular charges against both my
administration and my character.
" The whole are, I thank God, easily to be repelled, and the
closer the investigation, the purer my conduct will appear.
Lord Minto is fully aware of the violent faction which has taken
up arms against me, and will defend me in England. In Lidia I
have a possession, and a clear character to maintain it : let
Satan do his worst.
" My enemies have said much, and written much, but in the
end truth and honesty must prevail."
Death of the Governor-General, Lord Minto. — Before this
letter had reached London Lord Minto had breathed his
last, on the 21st June, 1814, a few days after his arrival.
This unfortunate occurrence meant the loss to Raffles of
the only man who could have relieved the Court of Directors
of their false impressions in regard to their Lieutenant-
Governor ; although they w^ere never able to prove the
accusations, in fact they had seen them disproved to an
extent which is seldom practicable in a case of defence,
^ These words are inserted here.
2 Gillespie was killed in the war in Nepaxil in November, 1814, during an
assaiilt on the small fort Kalunga.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 401
they still remained in that sceptical frame of mind which
did no credit to such a body of public men.
Even General Nightingale, after careful perusal of the
documents laid before him, declared with a full and firm
conviction the utter innocence of Baffles of every charge
brought forward by Gillespie. To the Directors, however,
this was of no avail.
Improved System of Internal Management Introduced hy
the English. — Raffles' last great w^ork was the introduction
of an improved system of internal management in Java and
the establishment of a land rental, a measure which added
lustre to his administration, and which was prepared dm'ing
a period of great anxiety and trouble.
When he first brought the proposal before the Council
and explained it, it was received with a cold and cautious
approval.
Some of the members spoke from long experience, and
with presumed knowledge of the native mind and character ;
and there was not a Hollander in the island who believed
the plan could succeed. It was moreover generally thought
that any attempt to introduce it would lead to serious
consequences.
Raffles, however, with a view to the introduction of this
new system, now personally visited each district, and
explained it to all the regents and chiefs, well knowing that
they trusted him. Sometimes he travelled sixty and
seventy miles a day in his exertions to reach some destina-
tion within a given time ; and he did not return to Batavia
until he had the satisfaction of seeing his new^ measure
introduced all over the island and proving a great success.
The old system was a vicious one, and gave no freedom to
an industrious population.
Eventually Raffles received the full support of Mr.
Muntinghe and Mr. Craussen in the introduction of the land
rental system, who made up in every possible way for the
J. — VOL. I. D D
402 JAVA
coldness and alarm they had shown when it was first
proposed.
The Wife of the Lieutenant-Governor Dies at Buitenzorg
(1815). — Misfortune and anxiety clouded Eaffles' last
eighteen months in Java. In this time he had the sorrow
of losing his wife, the friend who had stood by him in all his
troubles. She died at Buitenzorg suddenly, and was buried
in the Tanah Abang cemetery at Batavia. A tomb was
erected to her memory in the beautiful gardens of the
Governor- General's palace at Buitenzorg, just outside the
lane of kanari trees. When the colony was restored to the
Dutch, a clause was inserted in the treaty which made this
memorial of Lady EafHes the lasting care of the Dutch
Government, an undertaking which they have faithfully
kept ; for after a century the tomb remains neat, clean, and
cared for, lying peacefully under the delicate rich foliage of
waving palms and bamboos, and making a touching link
with the by-gone English rule.
Java to he Beturned hy the English to the Dutch. — Jiist
before the loss of his wife Baffles received the news of Lord
Minto's death, and, as it were, to crown his sorrows, news
was brought that Java in all likelihood would be returned
to the Dutch. His buoyant spirit gave way, and for some
time he lay seriously ill. When better he removed to
" Ciceroa " (Tjisereuh).
Here he rose early, and began business before breakfast,
after which he went through the official duties of the day ;
then till 4 o'clock, when he dined, he occupied himself with
a party of intelligent native chiefs who Avere his guests ;
after dinner a walk for the sake of his health, and then until
he retired he read, translated, or compiled various manu-
scripts. His mind, however, remained restless, so that his
health could not improve.
A new English Lieutenant-Governor, Fendall, Appointed. —
It was while here that Baffles heard without any warning
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 403
that John Fendall was on his way to relieve him of the
government. He proceeded, therefore, to Eyswyck at once
to prepare for his reception.
The British governorship of Java was now about ending.
This " governorship " was, in fact, " Stamford Eaffles " ;
without him it would have been nothing. When he arrived
the revenue was four million rupees ; now it was more than
forty millions, and the finances of the colony were in such a
state as they had never been in before. When it was known
that Eaffles was leaving Java, Europeans and natives united
in expressing their deep regret at his departure, and acknow-
ledged in the warmest terms their gratitude for the benefits
which he had conferred upon them during his administra-
tion ; only the minority, a mean-spirited few, were pleased
to lose him.
March 26th (1816). — When he left by the ship Ganges on
the 26th March, 1816, the scene in the roads of old Batavia
was an indescribable one ; people of every nation were
anxious to pay theh^ respects and tribute to one for whom
they entertained the most lively affection. The decks were
covered with their offerings of fruit and flowers. With liim
travelled Lieutenant-Colonel Garnham, Captain Travers
(two of his aides-de-camp), and Sir Thomas Sevestre, his
medical attendant.
The high Dutch officials of to-day all recognise what
Eaffles did for Java, and do not hesitate to allow that his
policy was a broad and thorough one. Even Mr. van
Deventer, not always a favourable critic of Eaffles, ^mtes
most generously regarding his administration, and grants
his ^^■ide perception and single-hearted endeavour to sound
the depths and reach the core of every measure he advocated.
His administration was in short that of a brilliant statesman,
and upheld the honour of England in the East Indies to no
small degree.
The new Lieutenant-Governor Fendall, who took over
D D 2
404 JAVA
charge from Baffles on the 12th March, 1816, entered upon
duties which consisted more or less in handing over the
administration of Java and its dependencies to the Dutch,
for back to them it was to go, in spite of all Baffles'
endeavours to prevent it.
Java Returned to the Dutch ; the British Flag Hauled
Down. — Shortly after his arrival Major Nahuys, in accord-
ance with the terms of the Treaty of Vienna, arrived with
three thousand five hundred Dutch troops, which relieved
the British garrisons all over the island, and the British flag
was hauled down everywhere on the 19th August, 1816.^
British Forces in Java (1816). — The British forces at this
time in the island consisted of the following : —
His Majesty's 14th Regiment, 800 men.
His Majesty's 59th Regiment, 800 men.
His Majesty's 78th Regiment, 800 men.
Two troops 22nd Dragoons.
A detachment Royal Artillery.
Two troops Hussars.
Five battalions of Sepoys, each 800 men.
Corps of native cavalry.
A detachment Bengal Artillery.
Madras Pioneers.
Two regiments of Amboynese and Javanese, 3,200 men.
One Bengal European regiment, 350 men.
There was thus in all a force of about 11,000.
Troubles between the English and Dutch Representatives
over the Return of Java. — Of the troubles and difficulties,
indignant letters, remonstrances, and protests which arose
between the British Governor, Fendall, and the Dutch
Commissioners, Baron van der Capellen, Dr. C. T. Elout,
and Mr. A. A. Buyskes, appointed to take over the adminis-
tration of the East Indies, nothing is to be gained by here
1 When tlie Dutch Commissioner Nahuys arrived to take over Java, John
Fendall was the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir WiUiam Grant Keir Commander
in-Chief of the Forces, and Thomas Abraham and Willem Jacob Craussen
members of Council.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 405
speaking ; the end was that England lost to Holland all
the settlements on the outlying islands which she had
possessed. The Commissioners were quite right in fighting
for them ; the fault lay with the English in giving them up.
The Bich Island of Banca Surrendered to the Dutch ; as
also the Rich Island of Billiton and the Settlement of
Banjermassin. — Thus we see the valuable island of Banca
given up in exchange for the insignificant town of Cochin
in India ; the island of Billiton and the settlement of
Banjermassin given up for no other reason than that the
Dutch Commissioners demanded them. Instead of the
difficulties decreasing they increased, and the feelings of the
Dutch Commissioners, and of Fendall, the secretary Assey,
and the other English assistants ran high.
Sir Stamford Baffles at Bencoolen (1818). — The Dutch
believed that the British were intent on depriving them of
their territorial rights in the East ; whilst the British
authorities — who now had Sir Stamford Baffles as their
adviser at Bencoolen, he having returned to the East — were
convinced that the Dutch intended to establish a monopoly
with a view to shutting British trade and influence entirely
out of the East.
This latter view, however much it appeared then a likely
one from the frantic haste the Dutch showed in taking
back their colonies, and the many regrettable incidents and
incessant friction consequently arising, cannot be admitted.
The culminating point was reached when Raffles occupied
Singapore on the 29th January, 1819.
The Dutch claimed Singapore under a treaty with the
Sultan of Johore, but the British pointed out that this
treaty had been made with a usurper, whereas the British
treaty had been made with the rightful Sultan. After
years of struggle the Dutch dropped their claim, for the
British, at least here, had taken a stand and meant to keep
to it.
406 JAVA
The treaty of the 13th August, 1814, from the fact that
it was probably hastily drawn up, left the door open for
still further misunderstanding between the Dutch and
British officials, there being an entire lack of sympathy on
either side, the utmost jealousy prevailing — partly for
reasons already stated and partly on account of the fact
that the principals were ill-suited to each other. These
misunderstandings and regrettable incidents continued right
down to the end.
The Governments at home, tiring of these incessant
quarrels, appointed plenipotentiaries to carry out finally
the terms of the treaty.
Final carrying out of the Treaty {Bencoolen Handed over to
the Dutch; Malacca returned to the English). — The British
representatives were Mr. Canning and Sir Charles Watkin
Williams Wynn, with Mr. Valck and Mr. Vagel acting for the
Dutch Government. All questions were now settled ; Ben-
coolen was exchanged for Malacca and Chinsurah, and the
English agreed not to settle anywhere else in Sumatra or
make any treaty with any of the native princes in this island.
English Agree not to make any Treaties with Sumatran
Princes or Settle anywhere in that Island. — The British
plenipotentiaries withdrew their objections to the Dutch
occupation of Billiton ; and the Dutch likewise to the British
occupation of Singapore. The British Government also
agreed not to establish any settlements on the Karimon
Islands, or on the islands of Battam, Bintang, Lingin, or
any other islands south of Singapore, which they had some
right to do.^ Thus the Dutch became the undisputed
masters once more of the entire East Indian Archipelago
and England of the Malay Peninsula.
That the Governments on both sides were pleased with
the final settlement it is easy to imagine, for they had by
1 The Moluccas were also to be given up when the spice monopoly was
entirely abolished, which happened in 1824.
BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1811 TO 1816 407
this time become almost hopeless of reaching an agreement
between the two countries.
Governor FendalP left Java in June, 1818, on the ship
Ccesar, with Sir William Keir, Captain Taylor, and the
whole English staff in Java, having already ceased to act
as Governor since 1816. The Dutch accorded him all
honours on his departure.
With him ended the British occupation of Java, as was
later notified in the Java Government Gazette Extraordinary
dated Monday, the 19th August, 1818.^
1 John Fendall, who was born in London on the 9th October, 1762, was
in the service of the East India Company, and died at Calcutta on the 10th
November, 1825, after having served on the Viceroy's Council from 1824.
"^ See the Appendix for various records of the British Occupation of Java.
CHAPTER X
Java once more under Dutch Rule : 1816 to the
Present Day
The Dutch again Bulers in Java. — The Dutch on their
return to power in 1816 had a difficult task to perform, for
they were no longer the agents of a bankrupt commercial
Company, which had wielded supremacy in the East Indies
only for the amassing of wealth and the paying of large
dividends to grasping shareholders, but they were now the
representatives of a sovereign who had a name to make and
maintain. It w^as necessary above all, therefore, that their
prestige in the East, which had lasted for more than two
centuries, but of late had been severely shaken, should be
re-estabHshed, and that all trace of the British administra-
tion should be wiped out. This policy was not especially
due to the fact that the character of this administration had
been actually disapproved of by them, but their name had
to be rehabiHtated at all costs. In many cases there can
be no doubt that any half-measures would have been
ineffective, but in other cases, through their haste to alter
existing privileges without first thoroughly examining into
these, they raised hornets' nests about their ears, which
took years to quiet down.
Trouble Brewing at Native Courts. — The conditions in Java
under the administration of Raffles had entirely altered;
more freedom was allowed to the natives ; slavery had been
more or less suspended ; an independent spirit had grown
up amongst the princes and regents, to which the young
Dutch officials were unaccustomed and which was not what
they had been led to expect from a race that their fore-
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 409
fathers had managed to keep so thoroughly in hand. These
new officials were naturally as full of zeal for their country
as it was possible to be, but they lacked experience. When
in the execution of their duties in the interior they assumed
a high and haughty tone in addressing the princes, and
dictated without giving a chance for a discussion of opinion,
the latter, who, under the British Government, had become
accustomed to a polite and deferential treatment, in accord-
ance with their inherited right as rulers, declined to put up
with these methods, or if compelled did so in a sullen and
dissatisfied mood which boded no good for the future. It
was apparent, therefore, to the merest beginner in politics
that such strained relations as at the time existed between
the hereditary house of Djockjakarta and Soerckarta and
the Dutch must sooner or later lead to a conflagration, once
a spark should be thrown on the ready fuel.
Java War 1825 to 1830 Breaks Out. — In an ill-advised
moment this spark was supplied through a tactless and
unnecessary order given by the authorities at Buitenzorg in
regard to the land tenure of Mid Java. The result was a
war which lasted five years, and depopulated some of the
finest provinces in the island.
The lands in the region mentioned had for a thousand
years past, in accordance with the Old Hindu laws, been
leased by the sovereigns to the princes, who in their turn
leased them to the agriculturists. The trouble arose
entirely through these lands having been hired in more
recent years by Chinese and Europeans, the latter being a
few French, but chiefly Dutch.
The existing regulations, it must be admitted, were far
from perfect, and the rightful owners of the soil were in
point of fact being fleeced in so far that full value was not
being paid for the properties hired. The princes or pangerans
were, moreover, nevertheless well satisfied with these
arrangements, for they were still in receipt of large incomes
410 JAVA
drawn from the hirers of these lands, and in an easy and
entirely legitimate manner were able to keep up the standard
of luxurious living necessary for their positions.
The Dutch officials, however, doubtless had the twofold
end in view of clearing out these foreign leeches (possibly
not so much the Hollanders as the Chinese), and of regulating
once and for all the system. It looked, indeed, as if these
princes were lapped in wealth, but here a mistake was made.
Orders were sent by the Government at Buitenzorg that all
present contracts were to be annulled, or if executed to be
restricted by wholly impossible conditions. The Resident
at Djockjakarta, Baron de Salis, had been replaced at this
time by Jonkheer A. H. Smissaert, a man whose family and
personal gifts were under ordinary circumstances such as
wholly to warrant his being placed in this very difficult
position.^ The secretary at Djockja was also unfortunately
changed, Chevallier taking the place of D'abo. These
alterations were at this critical moment a mistake, for
Smissaert, not properly grasping the situation, endeavoured,
instead of arranging matters by a mutual understanding,
to carry out the Government's instructions to the letter ;
this he did in all their severity with no tact whatever. If
to this is added the circumstance that a stupid interpreter
translated documents of importance incorrectly, it can be
easily seen that the elements were all there for intensifying
the trouble. The princes were now told to reimburse the
hirers of their lands the sums advanced them, and to take
back the former, with the fabricks and houses included, at
the Resident's valuation.
The means to pay back such sums advanced were naturally
lacking, much more so to take over property which was of
no value to them. Moreover, a point which struck these
pangerans as entirely indefensible was the forcing of
them to cancel contracts which carried the seal of their
See note at end of this chapter.
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THE SULTAN OK JOCKJAKAKTA GOING IN PROCESSION FROM THE CRATON
SITI INGGIL AT THE GAREBEG FESTIVAL.
THE RESIDENT S HOUSE AT JOCKJAKARTA.
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 411
highly revered ancestors — an action to them worse than
sacrilege.
The prime mover in the rising was Dipo Negoro, an
illegitimate son of a former sultan, who was eventually
joined by Prince Mangkn Boemi, of the reigning house.
The former was a religious fanatic, and in taking up arms
he did so in the name of the Prophet Mahomet, wiiich
brought almost the whole population to his standard.
Eumours of the rising were more or less unheeded by the
Dutch, and before they knew it they found themselves in
the midst of a maelstrom the like of which they could never
have foreseen. The military force at their disposal was
found to be entirely inadequate, and reinforcements, such
as they were, had to be drawn from all the outlying stations
in the dependencies, leaving these settlements without
proper defences.
The Dutch turned immediately to the Susuhunan of Solo,
and tactfully managed to secure his neutrality, which was
naturally of immense value. After the first conflicts the
Government ostentatiously removed Smissaert from Djockja
and replaced him by H. MacGillavry,^ who was resident at
Solo, by an edict dated the 26th September, 1825. It
helped, however, in no w^ay.
The edict was signed by General Hendick Merkus de Kock,
the Governor of Java, who proved himself to be the strong
man that was needed for the occasion.
^ This Henry MacGillavry was the son of Harry MacGillavry, a Scotch-
man who went to Holland about 1740. Henry came to Java at the begin-
ning of the nineteenth century and became Resident of Solo in 1825, just
before the war began. Being thought by the Government to be making
money out of the commissariat supphes — which, however, could not be
proved — he was transferred to Sumatra as Governor of the Padang High-
lands. His children were a son, who went into the factory ; Charles who
became assistant Resident ; Donald, administrator of a coffee estate in
East Java ; and Henry, who became owner of the coffee and cacao estate
near Djati Eoengo and died in 1911 ; and Robert, administrator of Nobo,
whose daughter married Burghard, the manager of the Koloniale Bank,
Samarang,
412 JAVA
On the 28th July, 1825, Djockja was surrounded, and
shortly after the best part of Middle Java was in flames and
the population restless throughout the island.
To follow each skirmish and fight would entail volumes^
and is unnecessary.
In all the first encounters, however, the Dutch found they
had an enemy to deal with whose skill in guerilla warfare
was of no mean order ; they frequently disorganised the
Dutch army by attacking them in ambush, or sneaking
through the sentries and pouring into their camps on pitch-
dark nights to the accompaniment of terrific soul-piercing
yells, dealing death with their klewangs ^ on all sides, and only
withdrawing into the forest when daylight appeared and
their enemy marched out to attack them. They would
renew these tactics at every opportunity, and harass the
army on the march by attacking them unseen from behind
the trees or bushes and cutting off stragglers. Towards the
end of August, 1825, even Samarang itself was threatened,
where an incident well worthy of mention occurred at the
beginning of the operations.
When the war broke out trouble appeared at Demak, and
the Samarang " schuttery " (a burger corps) and sixty
sailors from the frigate Javaan, which was lying in the roads,
were sent there, also a corps of mounted volunteers who had
placed themselves at the disposition of General de Kock,
whom they had ridden out from Samarang to meet, pro-
ceeded to the scene of hostihties near Demak. This corps
consisted of nineteen^ gentlemen of Samarang or elsewhere,
of whom thirteen were Englishmen, and was placed under
the command of Lieutenant Diedrich Borneman,"^ an of&cer
of the Bengal Lancers.
^ Major Louw's work, "Java Oorlog," is the best record of this war.
2 Short, heavy native sabres.
3 According to my calculations there were twenty-two.
* Died at Samarang the 24th Jvdy, 1833, and was buried on Gegadjie
Hill, in a tomb standing out as a pyramid.
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 413
On the 2nd September the force marched to Dempet on
the road to Denidk. Here the following day the said little
corps of mounted volunteers, seeing the enemy in the dis-
tance, without any direct orders and following merely a
general one, charged the Javan centre with great spirit and
drove the left column back in disorder. The right and
centre columns of the enemy now, however, endeavoured to
surround them, so that Borneman was obliged to sound the
order to collect. This was immediately obeyed, and the
party again attacked the other columns. Unfortunately
these columns had muskets and kept up a continuous fire,
so that the order had to be given to retire. The men in the
corps were not sufficiently masters of their horses, and there
was also not any advantageous ground to which to retire,
so that they were obliged to retreat on the road to Samarang.
Here the village folk turned out in thousands, and, when
able, picked the men off one by one ; of the party of twenty-
two fourteen were cut to pieces, of whom seven were British.
A medal was struck and given to those that survived.^
The Dutch had to eventually retire from Demak more or
less beaten, and when the news of this defeat reached
Samarang the consternation in the town was great, and all
the tenants of the houses in the Bodjong road left them and
retired inside the walls of the town. More troops now
arrived, and the safety of the Kesidency of Samarang was
guaranteed by General van Geen, in consequence of which
and of a public note from the Resident the Europeans
returned to their houses in Bodjong. General de Kock was
at this moment at Salatiga with fifteen hundred men pre-
paring for a new battle ; he had also seven eager volunteers.^
The result of this was no better than the first fight.
1 See note at end of this chapter.
2 S. Hamar de la Brethoniere, Frenchman, owner of " Assinan " cocoa
and nutmeg estate ; Medard Louis, Frenchman, administrator and late
owner of Melambong coffee estate ; WiUiam Brown, EngUshman at
414 JAVA
During the whole of 1825 and 1826 the enemy under Dipo
Negoro spread then' power through Kedoe Pekalongan,
Ledok, Selarong, and Madioen, where a Javan called Sentot,
a son of a former regent of this place, with a large number
of natives joined the standard. The Banjoemas fell also
under the influence of the enemy, so that the anxiety and
responsibihty of the commander-in-chief was very great.
Towards July, 1826, the crisis was reached, Dipo Negoro's
power was now at its height, and the Dutch had sustained
such heavy losses through battle and sickness that they
were no longer in a fit state to take the field. There were
no more troops from the outlying islands to be called in,
and matters looked very dark indeed. New troops were
therefore ordered out from Holland, and the army in
the field remained partially inactive whilst the reinforce-
ments were arriving. Small fights, however, occurred at
Delangoe and Kahtan, in which the Dutch again came
off badly.
The new troops from Holland, when they did arrive, proved
no use, as they were a raw, undisciplined crowd of youngsters
who, after being cooped up for nearly four and a half months
on board the ships, when brought on shore at Samarang
broke loose and committed all sorts of disgraceful outrages,
disgusting and frightening the Dutch and native inhabitants
of the place, who shut themselves up in their houses when-
ever they appeared. They were, however, eventually
brought to reason and sent up country, where they very
shortly fell victims to the hardships of life in the field, or if
by chance they succeeded in withstanding this (which very
few did) they died off from dysentery, fevers, and cholera.
From a private letter from Gillian Maclaine, the head of the
Melambong ; Jolin S. Cameron, Englisliman, brother of Lewis Cameron,
of Deans Scott and Co. ; H. Israel, Armenian, owner of Land, Tegal Tappen
1816 (or J. Israel, owner of Land, Karang, Anjer, 1818) ; A. E. Bromver,
Dutchman of Merchant House, Brouwer Nolthenius and Co. ; Verwoort,
planter, Salatiga.
i'ALACK (IF TlIK (idVKKNOlI-GKN'KKAL AT UriTKXZdKd.
GOVERNOR-GENEKAL .^ PALA( K. KYSWVK. BATAVIA.
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 415
house of Maclaine, Watson & Co., Java, to his brother, dated
Samarang the 14th June, 1828, the following extract may-
be given : —
" Out of three thousand fine young men who marched through
here last season for the interior sixteen hundred have actually
died by the official returns made a month back. The number
of deaths now amount to eighteen hundred. This sad mortahty
is not occasioned so much by the climate as by want of care.
The Commissariat department is bad, the medical not much
better. The soldiers have no change of dress, no tents when in
the field ; in short, no comfort. I scarcely think Dipo Negoro's
generals manage matters so badly."
At one time the Dutch Government actually ran short of
guns, and had to ask the help of one of the English houses,
Thompson, Koberts & Co., to try and buy a supply for them
at Singapore.
In 1827 the Government, fully realising that this hand-
to-mouth method of procedure was likely to cost them more
in the end, set about improving matters.
The commissariat and transport departments were over-
hauled and taken in hand, provisions being improved and a
proper administrative staff being appointed. The soldiers
were to be paid regularly, and not, as heretofore, to have to
wait months for their pay, so that the officers were obliged
to advance them small sums to purchase absolute neces-
saries. The sick were to be better cared for instead of
being left to die in cowsheds, and the field forces were to be
properly clothed and housed. Clothes some of them had
none, and the bamboo sheds given them now and again to
live in were mere " kraals " fit for beasts but not for men,
being exposed on all sides to wind and weather. Proper
doctors in sufficient number were also to be secured. Up
till now several had been caring for the wounded with little
or no knowledge of medicine or the art of healing. This all
tended to there being an unprecedented percentage of
416 JAVA
deaths, which was due, not to battle, but to the following
four main causes : —
1. Want of clothes.
2. Bad housing or want of housing.
3. Too little and poor food.
4. Bad doctors, and medical assistance.
By the middle of 1827 these improvements had been
carried out, and when a system of redoubts, which were
erected at intervals in regular order, was completed affairs
looked distinctly brighter. Each redoubt had its own com-
plement of men and two cannon which swept all sides, and
the officer in charge was responsible for keeping a certain
district quiet. As in general the redoubt garrisons Vv^ere
made up of men actually unfit for active service, very few
of those available were not in the field attached to the
mobile columns ; these de Kock now caused to be ever on
the march and thus give no peace or rest to the enemy.
The idea of this redoubt system originated in the mind of
Lieutenant A. J. C. Dezentje, who was adjutant to the
Emperor of Solo's legion for some years. ^
An Englishman endeavours to secure Peace. — The discom-
fiture of Dipo Negoro and his generals was soon apparent,
and by August, 1827, Mr. William Stavers, an Englishman,
and the owner of an estate called Singo Sarie, managed to
open negotiations with one of Dipo Negoro's generals, and
sent the following correspondence to headquarters ^ : —
" Mr Stavers presents his respectful compliments to his
Excellency the Commissary-General of Netherlands, India, etc.,
etc., and has the pleasm-e of forwarding the copy of a letter being
an answer to the letter written by the Pangeran de Patie Poerbaya.
After the usual compUments it commences as follows : —
" ' I have received your letter the contents of which I know
and understand. What you speak of that is my wish, the raising
1 An account of this man and his son is given at the end of this chapter.
2 This correspondence is to be found in Major Louw's great work,
" The Java War."
JAV^A UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 417
or elevation of the Islam reUgion on Java, that is to say, that no
other rehgion may be above the religion of Islam, above it if
possible, but not the same.'
" 30 Doelkadji, 1242."
This letter, says Stavers, was written as Kjahi Madja
received the news of the defeat of his army at Pasar Gede
and was in a very bad humour.
" Another letter is ready for him, which, if possible, I am to
take myself. If I succeed I shall send your Excellency a copy of
it. If not, your Excellency shall have a copy of the answer that
goes to Dipo Negoro. Trifling as these letters may be, I hope
they may be the means of opening a correspondence. I know
the Resident MacGillavry has sent a letter with great difficulty
to Kjahi Madja by an old woman who has not returned yet.
One does suspect she will never return, as I hear the rebels will
have nothing to do with him. I am extremely sorry to hear
your Excellency has been so indisposed, but hope the fine air of
Buitenzorg wiU soon bring your Excellency sound again."
On the 13th August Stavers sent the Governor- General
two more letters.
The first was an answer to the letter he had said he would
send Kjahi Madja as above, and the second was his own
answer to this. The most important portion of the first is,
according to the translation Stavers gave, as follows : —
" His Excellency General De Kock and General Van Geen
both of them know the reasons why his Highness Dipanegara is
grieved, and you wish to know which is his Highness' wish, and
which I wish. We ask nothing. His Highness the Sultan
Dipanegara wish that he (the G.G.) will make him Radja Islam.
All the priests and all my family, and all the people proclaim him
Sultan, and ask it of God, and if possible do also ask of God to
make clean the rehgion of Islam on Java. If his Excellency
the Commissary-General will agree to his Highness' wish, yes
I will meet you both.
" 15th of Sura ; 8th Aug., 1827."
J. — VOL. I. E E
418 JAVA
Stavers replied as follows : —
" We have told his Excellency the Governor-General De Kock
the contents of your letter. His Excellency -will settle about
his Highness being proclaimed Sultan Islam, and again about the
explanation of the reUgion of Islam. Yes, he will settle about
that also. The reason H.E. cannot give a decisive answer is he
must first refer it to his Excellency the Commissioner-General
at Batavia. Now we ask permission from his Excellency the
Governor-General if you think it good to stop all operations of
war that we may the better consult on the present business.
" His Excellency wishes Mr. Stavers and myself to meet his
Highness Dipanegara, and yourself Kjahi Madja, for the above
purpose, if his Highness has any doubts of our sincerity we can
ask his Excellency for his son, whom we are sure he will send
should you wish it. We escort your messengers to Klaten, where
we shall wait his Highness' orders, and hope H.H. will send
passes for us that we may both meet H.H. and yourself as soon
as possible.
" Mohammet ibn AU, and Mr. Stavers, to Kjahigoeroe Madja,
13 Aug., 1827."
Kjahi Madja duly answered this letter as follows : —
" To Mahommet ibn Ah Kitip and Mr. Stavers.
** Your letter I have received, and the contents I understand.
The Governor-General will consult with the Commissary-General.
You speak of an end of war and you wish to meet the Sultan
and myself, that you wish a pass, and people to show you the
way.
" About the end of war I have spoken to the Sultan. Yes, he
agrees to stop all hostiUties, but both parties shall remain quiet
at their respective posts.
" You wish to meet his Highness and myself ; his Highness
does not wish to meet you himself, but will send myself and
Pangeran Ngabehi Abdul Rachman.
" Both of you had better consult together, that anything
may be more easy ; when you have consulted with the Commissary-
General send me word, and I will directly send people to meet
you."
" Jargo Lamy, Wednesday 22nd of the moon. Mahomad."
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 419
This letter was a somewhat awkward one, having gone a
step further than was expected before the Governor was
ready. Thus we find Stavers writing to De Kock as
follows : —
" The above letter puts me to my shifts. The only thing I
can beg of your Excellency to do is to send a letter to Mahommet
ibn Ali and myself, authorising us to parlementair with Kjahi
Madja, and Pangeran Ngabehi. Your Excellency will see he
wishes to consult with the Commissary-General, but this will lose
much time.
" He is near Klaten now and a few days would be a great loss.
His people are still with me . Please to write what your Excellency
should wish to show them, also that your Excellency authorises
me to meet them in half margin with your Excellency's seal, and
Mahommet ibn Ali will write it in Arab on the other side."
De Kock gave Stavers the necessary authority to visit
the rebel camp, but this visit ended in nothing — Stavers
was unable to get Dipo Negoro to alter his conditions, to
which the Dutch Government virtually declined to listen.
For his valuable services Stavers was appointed in September,
1827, a captain on the general staff and decorated.
Fighting began again, and although the new system was
found a very convenient one, it did not, on account of the
enemy changing their tactics, immediately answer all that
was expected of it, and the question was seriously considered
of giving it up.
In December, 1827, trouble broke out in Rembang, and
spread over all the whole residency to such a degree as to
be called another " Java war." The Resident was F. E.
Hardy, an Englishman by birth,^ who was in Java under
Raffles, and the \yorry of this little war caused his death on
the 6th February, 1828.
Further new troops were now sent out from Holland, and
a force of nearly twenty-five thousand men was put into the
1 A forefather, I believe, in Java of the well-known ProboHngo family of
that name.
E E 2
420 JAVA
field by De Kock, who with restless energy at last was able
to begin drawing his lines closer and closer on a dis-
comfited enemy. The war was now only a matter of time.
The enemy began at last to suffer from want of provisions,
and was obliged to loot from the villagers, and who conse-
quently assisted them no longer. On the 6th August, 1829,
the family of Prince Mangku Boemi surrendered themselves
to the Dutch, followed very shortly afterwards by the
prince himself, who saw the day was lost. In October
Sentot and all his army went over to the Dutch.
Dipo Negoro still held out, however, and evaded the
Dutch for still another five months. His family, however,
was captured, and at last on the 28th March, 1830, he him-
self was taken prisoner, but not in a very direct manner.
The Dutch offering him terms of peace, he came in with his
followers with their krisses, and on account of this w^as taken
prisoner in the residency house at Magelango. He would,
however, in any case have been captured very shortly, as
his troops were being hemmed in between the rivers Bogo
Wonto and Progo, the former of which, on account of some
old superstition, they dare not cross. Dipo Negoro was at
once sent into captivity to Macasoar at Nice, where he died
in 1855. Thus ended a war that had lasted five years and
cost the Dutch Government at least twenty-five million
guilders, besides the loss of about fifteen thousand Europeans
and native soldiers.
A number of Dutchmen distinguished themselves in this
long war and deserve to be mentioned (see note at end of
chapter).
There were also many Frenchmen and several Englishmen
attached to the cavalry, who proved themselves men of
character. On the slightest occasion these cavalry squad-
rons, sometimes with, but more frequently without, orders,
would charge, with a loss more serious, however, to them-
selves than to the enemy, the ground being generally
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 421
unsuitable for cavalry operations. Thus nearly all the
Frenchmen in Java were killed.
Cultuur System (1831 — 1870). — The war was scarcely over
when the new Governor- General Johannes van den Bosch,
who took over the seals of office on the 16th January, 1830,
introduced his renowned system for raising money and
filling the sorely deplenished Dutch exchequer, called the
" Culture System." There can be no doubt that this
system was the greatest benefit the island ever had, and in
the forty years it was in vigorous operation the exports of
Java, and no less the population, increased tenfold. The
more successful the system became, the more the Dutch
nation was abused, the richer it became, the more it was con-
demned. Invective and condemnation, insults and threats,
were showered upon it by the so-called humanitarian
sections of English society. Had, however, England sub-
stituted this system for the very inefficient " ryot warree "
or land system she introduced in India, it would have been
better for that country to-day ; for as during this time
India, with an area sixteen times greater than that of Java
and with twelve times the population, only produced a
revenue four times as great, it is clear which system was the
more efficient.
While the " culture system " was more or less at its
height and public opinion regarding its iniquity at boiling
point, Mr. J. W. B. Money, a clever Calcutta barrister,
visited Java in 1859 and stated openly that he had nothing
but praise to bestow on all he saw.
This he declared in a two-volume book, entitled " Java ;
or. How to Manage a Colony."
Wallace, the great naturalist, who was m Java between
the 18th July and the 31st October, 1861, records his views
on the system as follows : —
" This brings us to the culture system which is the source
of all the wealth the Dutch derive from Java, and is the subject
422 JAVA
of much abuse in this country because it is the reverse of free
trade.
" Natives of tropical climates have few wants, and when these
are suppUed are disinclined to work for superfluities without
some strong incitement. With such a people the introduction
of any new or systematic cultivation is almost impossible except
by the despotic order of chiefs whom they have been accustomed
to obey, as children obey their parents.
" The full 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
trade offers him gay clothes, 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 conse-
quence is 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 demoralises, 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 groimd 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. It must be remembered that the Govern-
ment expended capital for years before any return was obtained,
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 423
and if they now derive a large revenue, it is in a way which ia
far less burthensome, and far more beneficial to the people, than
any tax that 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 civilised people, as it is to the material advan-
tage 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 disappear. It is said that the Residents desirous
of showing a large increase in the products of their districts have
sometimes pressed the people to such continued labour on the
plantations that their rice crops have been materially diminished,
and famine has been the result. If this has happened it is
certainly not a common thing, and is to be set down to the abuse
of the system by the want of judgment or want of humanity in
the Resident.
" A tale has lately been written in Holland and translated into
EngHsh entitled ' Max Havelaar, or the Coffee Auctions of the
Dutch Trading Company' (Nederlandsche Handels Maatschappij,
commonly called the 'Factory'), and with our usual one-sidedness
in all relating to the Dutch colonial system, this work has been
excessively praised, both for its own merits, and for its supposed
crushing exposure of the iniquities of the Dutch government of
Java. Greatly to my surprise I found it a very tedious and long-
winded story full of rambling digressions, and whose only point is
to show that the Dutch Residents and assistant Residents wink
at the extortions of the native princes, and that in some districts
the natives have to do work without payment and have their
goods taken away from them without compensation.
" Every statement of this kind is thickly interspersed with
italics and capital letters, but as the names are all fictitious, and
neither dates, figures, nor details are even given, it is impossible
to verify or answer them. Even if not exaggerated the facts
stated are not nearly so bad as those of the oppression by free
trade indigo planters, and torturing by native tax gatherers
under British rule in India, with which the readers of English
newspapers were famihar a few years ago. Such oppression,
however, is not fairly to be imputed in either case to the particular
424 JAVA
form of government ; but it is rather due to the infirmity of
human nature, and to the impossibihty of at once destroying
all trace of ages of despotism on the one side, and of slavish
obedience to their chiefs on the other. It must be remembered
that the complete estabUshment of Dutch power in Java is much
more recent than that of our rule in India, and that there have
been several changes of government, and in the mode of raising
revenue. The inhabitants have been so recently under the rule
of their native princes that it is not easy at once to destroy the
excessive reverence they feel for their old masters, or to diminish
the oppressive exactions which the latter have always been
accustomed to make.
" There is, however, one grand test of the prosperity, and
even of the happiness, of a community which we can apply here,
the rate of increase of the population.
"It is universally admitted that when a country increases
rapidly in population the people cannot be very greatly oppressed
or very badly governed.
" Since the beginning of the century the population has
increased from 3,500,000 to in 1865 14,163,416 persons. If, as
I believe, this vast population is on the whole contented and
happy, the Dutch Government should consider well before abruptly
changing a system which has led to such great results. Taking
it as a whole, and surveying it from every point of view, Java
is probably the very finest and most interesting tropical island
in the world."
It will be seen from these remarks by Wallace, written at
the time by such a trustworthy and accurate recorder, that
the scathing remarks made against the Dutch nation at this
period were wholly undeserved. The system was carried
on in full vigour during the Governorships of their Excel-
lencies Jean Chretien Band, Dominique Jacques de Eereus,
Carel Girardus Willem, Count vanHogendorp, Pieter Merkus,
Jonkheer Joan Cornelis Keynot, and Jan Jacob Kochussen.^
By this time various abuses had crept into the carrying out
of the regulations, but mostly of a local nature, and all in"
direct contradiction and in defiance of Van den Bosch's
^ Grand -uncle of the present author.
PAXUEKAN PRABOKNEXCiRAT (sUKAKARTa), BROTHER TO THE sUSLHLXaN.
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 425
provisions. Kochussen, one of the most humane of gover-
nors, did all that he could to put these abuses down v/hilst
in Java, and when he became colonial secretary he more or
less abolished them. The chief complaint was that too
much land was being used for sugar and coffee and too little
for food products for the ever-increasing population. In
1870 a scheme of reform was introduced which relieved the
natives a great deal and led the way to the system of free
cultivation which now exists in the island. When all is said
and done, however, the culture system did an immense
amount of good for Java.
Trouble with England over the Duties. — In 1834 the
Governor-General, Band, introduced a heavy scale of duties
which specially affected British goods, and gave a preference
to those of Dutch importation, and which was quite con-
trary to treaty. This led to a very strong protest being
lodged with the Dutch Government by Lord Palmerston,
who was then Foreign Secretary. Lord Palmerston seems
to have only pressed the matter when urged on by a request
presented by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, which was
induced to take this step by the house of James Finlay & Co.
Trouble with England over Siak. — Trouble also arose
between the two countries over the validity of a treaty
which had been made by the English with the Kajah of Siak
in 1818. The controversy was continued for a long time,
and at one period became almost acute.^ It was not finally
disposed of until 1871, when a new treaty gave the Dutch
absolute sway over Sumatra, in exchange for which England
assumed some rights which were theirs in West Africa,
which rights by some w^ere considered more imaginary than
real.
Trouble ivith E7igland over Sarawak, 1814. — Again trouble
arose with England over Saraivak, which in 1841 was ruled
over by Sir James Brooke as rajah. Brooke was an English-
1 See McGillian Maclaine'e letter of the 1st Marcli and the 1st May, 1833.
426 JAVA
man who found his way into the Eastern Seas shortly after
the EngHsh occupation of Java, and having taken part in
an expedition to Burmah in 1825 was so taken with the
romantic side of hfe and the chance for adventure that he
left the Eoyal Indian Army in 1835 and bought his own ship
out of a legacy of £30,000 left him by his father. He now
began to roam about on his own account, in this small
schooner of a hundred and forty-two tons. During these
cruises he seems always to have frequented the islands round
Borneo, and became firm friends with the Eajah of Sarawak,
Muda Hassan.
Once when he was there the town was attacked by rebels,
and proceeding on shore with his men he assisted the rajah
to clear his dominions.
Sir James Brooke becomes Bajah of Sarawak, 1840. — By
1840 he had so entirely gained the affections of Muda Hassan
that the latter insisted on Brooke becoming a rajah in his
place.
Brooke, nothing loth and loving romance, accepted the
proposal, and was duly installed and confirmed in his
possession by the lord paramount, the Sultan of Brunei, on
the 18th August, 1840, at Kuching.
In 1843 Captain Keppel (afterwards admiral of the fleet)
visited him with a view to devising plans for destroying the
pirates in these seas, which had increased since the last raid
made by the English in 1813. The Dutch were not at all
satisfied with Sir James Brooke's installation, and kept an
eye on him, as despite his duties as Rajah of Sarawak he
still found time to visit other islands and ports in the neigh-
bourhood during his occasional cruises.
Sir James Brooke annexes Labuan, 1846. — When Labuan
was ceded to Brooke on the 18th December, 1846, their
patience gave out, and representations were made to the
British Government that this annexation was an infringe-
ment of article 12 of the Treaty of 1824. There were
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 427
certainly grounds for the protest, but the British Govern-
ment had ceased to be quixotic over the question of the
East Indian possessions, and the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Lord Aberdeen, decHned to accept the Dutch
reading of the clause. This was to the effect " that the
British Government might not make any establishments
on the Carimon Java Islands, or the islands of Battam,
Bintang, Lingin, or any other islands south of the Straits
of Singapore." Lord Aberdeen maintained that Labuan
was only for use as a coaling station and not for making an
establishment on, and suggested the occupation would help
to keep down piracy. The Dutch from force of circum-
stances were obliged to accept this reply.
In 1857 the Chinese at Sarawak rose in a body and
massacred all the Europeans, Sir James Brooke escaping
by swimming the river. In due course, however, he returned
with his faithful Malays, and thrashed the Chinese, cutting
two thousand of them to pieces. In 1868 this remarkable
man died, leaving the kingdom to his heirs, who to this day
reside and nominally rule there, although Sarawak is no
longer an independent State but a part of the English
dominions (see note at end of chapter).
In 1877 the Kajahs of Brunei and Solok ceded a portion
of their territories to Messrs. Dent ^ and Overbeek, and these
rights were handed over to the British North Borneo Com-
pany in 1881. Seven years later, on account of the Russians
casting eyes on this part of Borneo to find a place for a
coaling station, the British Government extended the
Sarawak territories and placed Brunei and the British North
Borneo Company's lands, together with Sarawak, under the
protection of the British Crown, leaving the Brooke family
with certain ruling rights in perpetuity. The opportunity
was also now taken to appoint a commission to demarcate
the boundaries between the Dutch and British territories
^ Of the great house of Dent «fe Co., Hong Kong.
428 JAVA
of Borneo. The Dutch had no reason to be dissatisfied with
the results, as can be seen by a glance at the map, and the
boundless wealth of their portion has been proved by the
few scratchings on the surface made from time to time.
Borneo is one of the countries, together with Sumatra, whose
greatness will be in the future, and the riches that lie there
buried will place those of Mexico and Peru wholly in the
shade. Dutch Borneo, as it was then called, caused the
Dutch at first a considerable deal of trouble, the Chinese
hongsees, or guilds, offering an obstinate resistance to what
they considered an aggression on their ancient rights. The
grandfathers and great-grandfathers of the Chinese for
several generations back had been born in Borneo, and not
only did they own the land, but they assisted and encouraged
the pirates who practised their nefarious trade in these
waters. Several expeditions were sent to Borneo before
these were put down. At Banjermassin, especially, there
w^as trouble, and it was years before the Dutch were able
completely to put an end to their difficulties here. There
had been always a desire on the part of the sultan here, who
disliked the Dutch, to cultivate the acquaintance of the Eng-
lish, whose connection with Banjermassin went back as far as
the year 1614, and who had opened a factory here in 1703.
In 1846, and again in 1848, expeditions were sent to Bali
to bring into subjection the princes there, who were con-
tinually giving trouble ; in the final fight the stronghold of
Djagaraga was taken and Karang Assam occupied. Bali
and Lombock were now considered a portion of the Dutch
East Indies. This was rightly so, for as far back as 1597,
when Cornells Houtman's fleet was in these waters, they
visited Bali. A small account of this is given by Captain W.
Cool, a well-known Dutch engineer, in his handy and very
pleasant little book entitled " With the Dutch in the East,"
which also embodies the story of the Lombock expedition
of 1894.
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 429
The nineteenth century seems one long period of expedi-
tions and strife with the neighbouring princes, on the part
of the Dutch ; for no sooner had one expedition returned
from one part of the Indies than another had to be sent in
the opposite direction. So was it with the Achin war.
This arose in quite a simple manner, but lasted more than a
quarter of a century. When the Dutch and British made
the treaty of November, 1872, by which the former acquired
an absolutely free hand in Sumatra, the Sultan of Achin,
who under a treaty made by one of his predecessors in 1819
with the Penang Government by the direction of Sir Stam-
ford Baffles claimed that the British and not the Dutch
were his overlords, began to make hostile demonstrations
against the Dutch, and refused to make any treaty with
them recognising their sovereignty. James London — a son
of the well-kno^^^l Englishman, Alexander London, who came
to Java with the British Expedition in 1811, and a small
account of whom is given elsewhere — was now Governor-
General, and had therefore nothing left to do but to launch
an invading army against Achin, thrash the Achinese, and
appropriate their country. The task had, however, been
underestimated, for the Achinese, like the men of the
ancient empire of Majapahit, were born fighters, and when
they had been aroused to defend their homes fanaticism
made them a formidable foe. In the first war in 1873,
despite the fact that all the best Dutch generals were at the
front (Generals Kohler van Sivieten and Verspyck ^), the
Dutch in the attack on the kraton (sultan's palace) and
missigit (temple) were badly beaten, and only a year later
was the missigit captured after a defence worthy of the most
disciplined troops in the world. The war was, nevertheless,
but in its infancy. Later Generals van der Heyden and
1 The uncle of Mr. Rudolph Verspyck, one of the partners of the firm of
Dunlop and Kolff, Samarang. General Verspyck died in 1909, at the age
of 84, covered with honours.
430 JAVA
Wiggers van Kerchem were sent to the scene of operations,
and in 1878 the former began a vigorous poHcy somewhat
hke that of General De Kock in the Java war, namely, the
continual harassing of the enemy by keeping them ever on
the move and allowing them no rest. The coast was
blockaded and gradually the enemy's resistance was broken
down, so that by 1881 it at last looked as if the country had
been pacified, if not conquered. General van der Heyden
now left Achin, and a new civil Governor (up till now van
der Heyden had held the dual position of civil and military
head), Pruys van den Hoeven, took his place. Just before
this, in 1880, an unfortunate incident occurred. The British
steamship Nisero, from Sourabaya with a full cargo of sugar
on board, was wrecked on the Achin coast on the 16th
November, and eighteen British and six other sailors were
made prisoners. The chief of Pangah, a Malay dependant
of Toekoe Oemar Muda, Kajah of Tenom, in whose territory
the vessel was stranded, refused when requested by the
Dutch Government to release the prisoners. A ransom was
then offered to the rajah, but with no greater effect, and a
threat of warlike proceedings was laughed at. In 1884, under
pressure from Earl Granville, the Dutch stormed and took
Tenom the 7th January, but the prisoners, several of whom
in the meantime had succumbed to their hardships, had been
removed to some other stronghold. In May the British
Government, tired of procrastination, dispatched H.M.S.
Pegasus to the scene, and the commander opened communi-
cations with the rajah. The tone of the rajah was concilia-
tory, but what he wanted was to be placed under British
sovereignty and his country given free trading rights. This
communication was carried back to Singapore and sent to
Earl Granville. He returned messages to the rajah, recom-
mending him to put himself on good terms with the Dutch
Government and to hand over the prisoners whom he had
kept too long. The rajah at last, seeing nothing was to be
HIS HIGHNESS THE PRINCE MANGKOE NEGERO VI.
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 431
gained by further delay, handed over the prisoners, now
only eighteen in number, to the commander of H.M.S.
Pegasus,^ and an indemnity of 50,000 dollars was paid to
him.
Mr. Pruys van den Hoeven had hardly assumed office
when the Achinese, thinking the moment opportune,
mobilised their forces and descended on the Dutch in full
strength, beating them everywhere, and forcing the garrisons
of all their outposts to withdraw to the coast. The con-
sternation amongst the Dutch was great ; they had quite
settled down in the country, and the officers had their wives
and famiUes with them in a line of forts and blockhouses
reaching from Kota Raja to Olehleh. These all had to
make a hurried retreat, fighting a losing battle the whole
time, added to which dysentery, cholera, and beri-beri
decimated the troops in a shocking manner. The struggle
continued for nearly another ten years without intermission,
the Dutch army making no headway, and the Achinese re-
maining practically as independent as they were when the
war broke out. The Dutch, however, felt some hope when in
1893 one of the powerful chiefs, Toekoe Oemar, came over
to them and assisted them to regain a portion of the country
lost. Rewards, honours, and so forth were showered on
Toekoe Oemar, but in 1896, becoming disgusted, he returned
again to liis countrymen, and it was not long before the whole
country rose, more determined than ever to free themselves
from the Dutch yoke.
General Vetter had now become commander-in-chief, and
Jonkheer Car el Herman Aart van den Wyk was Governor-
General ; the combination was perfect. When the latter
(who was one of the best Governor- Generals the Netherlands
India has ever had) took anything in hand he always carried
it through to success, and he was determined to put an end
1 There is a book all about this affair called, " The Wreck of the S.S.
Nisero.'^
432 JAVA
to this state of perpetual warfare which was costing the
exchequer so many miUions.
General Vetter, an excellent cool-headed and calmly
calculating man, received his orders, and proceeding to the
scene of action he attacked the enemy with a vigour that
even they could not stand, defeating them time after time,
and won back the territory of Achin once more. In 1899
ToekoeOemar died, exhausted by his struggles, and in 1903,
the new sultan surrendering to the Dutch, the war was at
last at an end. Whilst the Achin war was at its height the
Sultan of Lombock, who had been restive for many years,
insulted the Governor- General of Netherlands India,
Pynacker Hordyk, by refusing to receive a letter from him,
and a small force was sent there in 1894 to bring him to a
better frame of mind. The troops landed, and marched to
Tjakra Negora and Matarem without opposition. Here they
stationed themselves whilst the Eesident made his demands,
which were instantly granted. All suspicions were at rest,
when on the night of the 25th August the enemy delivered
an attack on the Dutch camp at Tjakra Negora, causing a
loss of nearly four hundred killed and wounded, including
General van Ham. The story of this fight by the Dutch in
the middle of a very dark night with an enemy who had
surrounded them is one of the most thrilling ever told. It
is a story one can read and read again. Fresh reinforce-
ments were sent forward at once, and the battle of Tjakra
Negora was fought, which ended with the surrender of the
prince and his family.
Troubles have since occurred in various parts of Sumatra,
viz., Siak and Djambi,^ but these were never very serious
and were soon quelled. The Dutch East Indies, at the
present moment under a wise and beneficent administration
upon which it would be difficult to improve, are blessed with
peace.
* The old Jambee, or Jumbi.
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 433
One can only hope that this may long so continue. What
the future of the Dutch possessions is to be it is difficult to
say, but there can be no doubt that envious eyes have
already been cast upon them, and that their worth is well
known to others.
Looking back into the past, and recalling all the incidents
upon which our own gi'eat Eastern empire has been built
up, of those that have accompanied the rise of the Dutch
empu'e in the East we cannot but acknowledge that the
Dutch nation had wholly deserved through their pluck,
thoroughness, perseverance and energy all that it to-day
possesses, and that the gracious and good sovereign who
rules over it has a heritage of which she may well be proud,
and one which we cannot but hope she may never lose.
May this hope be fulfilled and may the Dutch flag long wave
over these lovely Eastern islands.
NOTES TO CHAPTER X
Note I. — Smissaert Family.
The following note deals only with those members of this
family who came to the East. In 1530 Johannes Smissaert was
raised to the nobility by the Emperor Karl V., who was also
Count of Holland. Holland was then a repubhc, and the comit
had sovereign powers. The seat of the family in 1500 was
Antwerp, but between 1550 and 1600 they moved to Amsterdam,
after spending a year or two (about 1576) in France, where at
one time they thought of establishing themselves. During the
eighteenth century the family was a very important one, and its
heads held the highest positions in the land.
The first of this distinguished family to come to Java was
Jonkheer Dirk Willem Heiidrik Smissaert, who was a son of
Hendrik and Jonkvrouw Anna Agneta van Brienan. He was
born at Rhenan on the 2nd May, 1751 ; went into the army
in 1765 ; joined the East India Company in 1774 ; was " onder
koopman " imtil 1775 ; a member of the court of chancery,
J. VOL. I. F F
434 JAVA
1777. He married Johanna Antonia Dormieux on the 14th April,
1776, at Batavia. Died at Batavia on the 3rd December, 1779.
A brother of the latter's, Jonkheer Balthasar Smissaert, was bom
at Rhenan on the 30th July, 1747. He arrived in Batavia for
the East India Company in 1766, where he took up his position as
" onder koopman." From this he gradually rose to " boek-
honder " in 1772 ; captain-general, or " opperhoofd," of Killas
Ambonia in 1782 ; administrator at Batavia in 1803 ; president
of the court of chancery (" weeskamer ") at Batavia in 1808, in
which capacity he served the British Government under Raffles
both at Batavia and Somabaya. From the Java Government
Gazette of the 2nd May, 1812, it would appear that during April
of that year he was temporarily acting as resident, as he gave an
official party, the toasts of which were : (1) " God Save the
King " ; (2) " Prince Regent " ; (3) " Lord Mnto " ; (4) " Sir
Samuel Auchmuty " ; (5) " Mr. Raffles." He married on the
30th Jiuie, 1776, at Batavia, Wilhelmina Johanna Soual. Bal-
thasar died and was buried at Ambonia in 1814, where Raffles
had sent him on special service. He was a valuable ser\^ant to
the British Government.
The next to come to Java was Jonkheer Marinus Adriaan
Perpetuus Smissaert, a son of Jonl^heer Mr. Carel Smissaert and
Jonkvrouw Charlotta Balthasarina Godin. He was born at
Utrecht on the 11th November, 1773. He went into the army
and rose to be colonel (chef de legion). In 1815 he was engaged
on service in Java. He was a member of the court of finance,
1st October, 1816 ; inspector-general of the tin mines in Banca
and Billiton, 27th October, 1817 ; Resident of Banca, 1st June,
1818. He married on the 23rd March, 1799, Marie Feitama.
He was murdered at Banca in the night of the 1st November,
1819. He held several orders.
Jonkheer Anthony Hendrik Smissaert, a son of Jonkheer Dirk
Willem Hendrik Smissaert, was born at Batavia on the 8th March,
1777. He came to Java as " onder koopman " in 1802 ; was
superintendent of woods and forests, 1808 ; member of the
court of justice, 1809 ; Resident of Rembang, 1819 ; Resident
of Djockja Karta, 1823, and when war broke out, 1825. He
married on the 5th October, 1800, Clara EUsabeth, Baroness von
Liebeherr. Died at The Hague on the 25th October, 1832.
Jonkheer Jacob Willem Hendrik Smissaert, a son of M. A. P.
Smissaert already noted, was him on the 21st November, 1802.
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 435
He came to Java as a midshipman in the Netherlands Imperial
Navy, 1816 ; became clerk to Resident of Rembang (A. H.
Smissaert), 31st December, 1818 ; on special service, island of
Ceram, 1822 ; income tax duties, Magelang, 1823 ; Resident's
office, Magelang, 1826 ; vendu meester, Magelang, 1826 ; secre-
tary, Magelang, 1827 ; public notary, 1828 ; secretary, Soera-
karta, 1830 ; Resident of Bagelen, 1830 ; Resident of Cheribon,
1836 ; Resident of Samarang from 1843 till 1846, when he asked
for his pension. The night before he left Samarang the whole
town was illuminated and a grand farewell ball given, with a
display of fireworks. On his return to Holland he was given
high appointments and honours. He married AHda Maria
Catharina Klein on the 3rd December, 1835. Died at The Hague
on the 13th December, 1874.
Jonkheer Hendrik Ann Constantyn Smissaert, also a son of
M. A. P. Smissaert already noted, was born on the 1st January,
1805. He came to Java in 1824, and after being controleur and
secretary in Salatiga Banjoemas and Pasoervean became assistant
Resident of Probolingo in 1838. He was to have become President,
but took his discharge and bought the sugar fabrick Besito from
Jonkheer Lawick van Pabst. As mentioned elsewhere (see
Personeeha of Macquoid, Davidson Co. : John Davidson), he
married Emma Davidson, a daughter of John Davidson, on the
12th January, 1818. Died at The Hague on the 13th December,
1874.
Then Jonkvrouw Henriette Marie Claire Smissaert, a daughter
of A. H. Smissaert already noted, married on the 11th March,
1818, at Rembang, Jonkheer Otto Carel Holmberg de Beckfelt,
who was assistant Resident of Kendal in 1822, Resident of
Pekalongan, 1825, and Resident of the Preanger Regencies 1828.
A son of this marriage married a daughter of the Acting G.G.
Prins. The other two daughters of Prms were married as
foUows : Betsy to G. H. Mieregaes, of Maclaine, Watson Co.,
and Madelon to one Raaders, who was working in Java in the
B.O.W. Department.
Jonkheer Jacob Willem Hendrik Smissaert, a son of Jonkheer
Joan Carel Smissaert, and his wife, Jonkvrouw Pauline Dorothee
van Eys, was bom on the 27th March, 1829, came to India in
1847, and joined the Netherlands Tradmg Company. He died
at Sourabaya on the 2nd November, 1855.
Jonkheer Marien John Smissaert, a son of Jonkheer H. A. C.
F F 2
436 JAVA
Smissaert already noted, was bom at Pasoeroean on the 2nd
February, 1838. He married Mathilde Marie Isabelle Rombout
van Mechtelina on the 25th May, 1866, at ProboHngo. Of this
marriage there were nine children, among whom was Jacob
Willem, who became notaris, like his father, and married, on the
20th February, 1898, Nelly Eliza Margo van Hasselt, a daughter
of the assistant Resident of Banida Neira. There were three
daughters — ^IVIarie Jeanne, who married H. M. March, a partner
in Pitcairn, Syme Co., Batavia ; Mathilde Marie Isabelle, who
married D. Maclaine Campbell, a partner in Maclaine, Watson and
Co. (see personalia of that firm) ; and Eliza, who married Lambert
Hesterman, director and owner of the tea estate Tji Sampora,
in the Preanger. This brings us down to the present day.
Note II.
The following is the list of the gallant little body of EngHshmen
and others in the engagement at Dempet : —
John Macmaster, Scotchman, agent from 1822 at Samarang for
Messrs. G. Maclaine Co., Batavia. Killed on the way back to
Samarang (see G. Maclaine and Co. personalia).
W . Lindesay, Englishman, a son of W. Lindesay, formerly a
partner in the house of Scott and Co., Penang, 1796. Came to Java
in 1820. In 1823 commanded Captain John Greg's ship Ennore
Transit, a vessel of 237 tons. In 1824 he came to Samarang, and
started a ship chandlery business, which he continued to manage.
Killed on the field whilst retreating (sometimes spelt Lindsey).
J. C. Goldsmith, Englishman. Arrived in Java 1820. In 1824
commanded Captain Charles Kerr's (of Sourabaya) schooner
Anna, 174 tons. The vessel was probably at Samarang when the
trouble at Demak broke out, as in September, 1825, he was still
in command of the vessel. One of the few not killed, brother
of R. Goldsmith, assistant secretary's office, Buitenzorg, 1813 —
1816.
John Macneill,'^ Scotchman, agent from 1823 at Sourabaya for
Messrs G. Maclaine and Co., Batavia (see Maclaine, Watson and
Co. personaha). Not killed.
Peter Jessen, Englishman, the original partner of the firm of
Jessen, Trail and Co., Batavia (see Jessen, Trail and Co. personalia).
1 In Major Louw's " History of the War " John Macneill's name does
not appear, but in another it does. His name has therefore been included
here.
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 437
Happened to be passing through Samarang when the troubles
broke out at Demak. Not killed,
J . Bremner, Englishman, agent at Samarang for Thompson,
Wliiteman and Co., of Batavia, and in 1826 Thompson, Roberta
a.nd Co. Not killed, but wounded by a lance.
George Sutton, Englishman. Was in the Batavia house of
Addison and Co. and their agent at Samarang. Killed on the way
back to Samarang.
Robert Barrows, Englishman. Was in the Batavia house of
A. L. Forester and Co., and probably their agent at Samarang.
Killed on the way back to Samarang.
Lewis Cameron, Englishman. Was in the Batavia house of
Deans and Co., and probably their agent at Samarang. Killed on
the field whilst retreating.
Hammond, Englishman. Was in the Batavia house of IVIiln,
Haswell and Co. ; probably was at Samarang on a visit. Killed
on the field.
Spencer, Englishman. Was an employee of Macquoid, David-
son and Co. Not killed.
Philip Willis, Englishman. Was employed by John Macmaster
(see G. Maclaine and Co. personalia). Killed on the field whilst
retreating,
Russell Charles Page, Englishman. Was a partner in the
Batavia mercantile house of Stewart, Turing and Co. in 1823, which
was the year he came to Java. Whether he was only on a trip
to Samarang in 1825, when the war broke out, or whether he had
ah'eady opened a branch for them is not certain, but as Stewart,
Turing and Co. had no interests in Samarang, it is the more likely
he was only on a trip. In 1826, when Stewart, Turing and Co. had
closed, R. C. Page came to reside at Samarang, but left in 1828
temporarily. " R. C. Page is leaving Java and offers his house
and garden in Bodjong near Samarang for sale or to hire with or
without furniture " {Java Comant, 1st January, 1828). When
he returned to Java in 1830 he went to live on a coffee estate
near Salatiga, which he had apparently bought. This estate was
managed by his son Joseph le Page from 1836 to 1845 ; it was
then managed by Philip Terence Lacourt for a couple of years.
R. C, Page left Java for good in 1831 ; he must have come to Java
a rather elderly man,
C. Chatoir, Armenian working in the merchant's office of Jordan
Johannes. Killed on the field.
438 JAVA
J. Martherus, Armenian. Came to Java in 1824 and worked in
Johannes' office. His brother, G. Martherus, captained and
owned a ship in 1825 called the Ondernemer, 180 tons, and was
afterwards owner of the Vrouwe Helena, and later on a merchant
at Sourabaya. Killed on the way back to Samarang.
F. A. Brandt, Dutchman. Formerly the partner of Roms-
winckel and Brandt, Batavia ; afterwards partner in A. E.
Soerman and Co., Batavia ; was probably on a visit to Samarang
to his brother, H. A. Brandt, who was a schoolmaster of the first
class there. Killed on the field.
J. Cramer, Dutchman. Employed in the Dutch Government
service. Killed on the field.
C. Lorch (L. F. C), Dutchman. Came to Java in 1816. In
1820 was trading from Pekalongang with his own ship, the
Jacoba Ambrosina, 128 tons. In 1821 this ship was sent to sea
in command of Captain J. A. Lang ; Lorch remained himself at
Pekalongang and did a merchant's business. In 1822 he removed
to Samarang and did a small business there, running the ship on
joint account with Lang. In 1823 he took to the sea again, and
became owner once more of the ship. He continued at sea until
1825, Samarang being his headquarters. He then settled on
shore, again sending his ship to sea in command of A. G. de Kater.
Killed on the field.
J. F. Ker sting, Dutchmen. Controller in the Binnenlandsche
Bestuur, or Dutch Government Service of the Interior. Killed
on the field.
There were three other Dutchmen — Van Braak, Henrich, and
Paulus — who were also said to have taken part in this fight, and
the last two named returned alive ; but Controller Van Braak was
taken prisoner. The prisoners were usually ground to death in
the rice blocks.
Note III. — Dezentje.
August Jan Casper Dezentje was of French descent, and like
many other Frenchmen, finding his way to Batavia, but how is
not quite clear, during the East India Company's rule about
1797 — 8. At first he did a small wine business at Batavia, but
about 1800, when recruits for the army were being sought, he
joined as a lieutenant, and was sent to Soerakarta to join the
garrison there. From all accounts he must have been a very
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 439
fine specimen of a man. At Soerakarta he married, it seems, a
Javan lady, and shortly afterwards was appointed adjutant to
the emperor's " legion." In 1812 he retired from this post to
make room for an English officer, and took an estate called Ampel
which he had hired from the emperor. Here he built himself
a fine house and settled down. When the British army of
occupation left Java in 1816 he took his final discharge from the
Dutch army, to which he was still nominally attached.
Whilst at Solo a son was born who was called Johannes
Augustinus, one of the greatest characters Java has ever seen,
and who eventually, owing to the influence of his father, became
a greater persona grata at the native court than the former was
himself. In 1820 " Augustinus," as he was generally called,
owned a considerable number of the emperor's estates, and was
shortly afterwards drawing an income of £25,000 a year. When
the Java war broke out in 1825 the neutrahty of the emperor was
greatly desired by General de Kock, who personally visited Solo
with a view to arranging it. Through the indirect assistance
of the Dezentjes he achieved his purpose. At the same time
Augustinus raised a corps of fifteen hundred men, which he
equipped and kept in the field at his own expense, thereby
rendering a service to the commander-in-chief which the Dutch
Government never forgot as long as he Hved, shutting their eyes
afterwards at all his vagaries and extravagances in Mid Java,
which led the native population to suppose he was almost an
independent prince. From worry or trouble, or more hkely
exposure in the field, August Jan died at Ampel on the 2nd
December, 1825. The Java war continuing and the whole of
Mid Java being in a state of uproar, Augustinus built a fort at
Ampel round his dwelling-houses in 1826, and to protect his
little army borrowed two cannon from the Dutch army. When
hard pressed in the field his men retired to the fort behind these
guns, which the enemy had a considerable respect for. When
the war was over Augustinus was rewarded for his services by
the order of the Netherlands Lion ; he then settled down to
attend once more to his estates, which had been more or less
ruined during the war, in consequence of which he thought fit
to enter a claim on one or more of the princes of the Solo court
for 22,000 guilders. The claim was of course never paid, but
Dezentje's complaisance in waiving it gave him — if it were
possible — still more power at court, which perhaps after all was
440 JAVA
his only reason for entering it. His style and mode of living at
this moment was almost equal in magnificence to the emperor's,
and he dispensed hospitality with a royal and lavish hand. If
there is any doubt of this a perusal of Gilham Maclaine's account
of his visit to Dezentje (given later on) will dispel it. He enter-
tained the princes, even the emperor himself, with whom he was
at last on such close terms of intimacy that he took his sister in
marriage. The wedding was celebrated at the hraton in Solo with
great magnificence— lacs, it is said, being expended on the feasts.
After his wedding neither he nor his princess ever left Ampel
without a cavalcade of men on horseback and several dozens of
slaves following. His sentries called the guard out to salute
as he passed in or out of the fort. Ampel was in fact a small
royal residence, whilst the power that was wielded here was only
second to the emperor's (at least so some said). From 1822, when
Augustinus had coffee to dispose of from his estates, Gilliam
Maclaine had acted as agent for him, the two having struck up a
friendship when the latter was managing the coffee estate of
Melamboug, which was near. The coffee was received at Sama-
rang on behalf of Dezentje by John Macmaster at first, and when
he was killed, by John Macneill. He was allowed almost an
unlimited credit, but was nevertheless always in difficulties, and
more than once did G. Maclaine proceed to Ampel to assist him
to straighten out his affairs.
The last time G. Maclaine went there at Dezentje's request
was with his wife, and he was promised and received a royal
welcome. Until the fifties did the connection of the Dezentjes
with G. Maclaine's firm continue.
The Dezentjes have still many descendants Hving in Java near
the native court. Some have held high positions, but none have
risen like their distinguished grandfather.
The estate of Ampel, with its still existing old residence and
fort, has reverted once more to the native court, but each succes-
sive emperor makes it a sine qua non that it shall be administered
by a Dezentje, and it is considered as an hereditary position by
their family.
IV. — Notes on certain Persons who took part in the Java
War, ending in 1830.
Hendrik Merkus de Kock, born at Hensden . 1779
In French service as 2nd lieutenant of General
Daendel's staff 1794
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 441
Hendrik Merkus de Kock — continued.
In Dutch civil service ..... 1800
1st lieutenant by the fleet .... 1800
Chief of staff in squadron under Admiral VerheuU 1804
East India 1806
Adjutant-general to Governor-General Wiese . 1807
Colonel commandant East Java . . . 1808
Brigadier to army and commandant Samarang
division ....... 1809
Chief of the general staff . . . . .1811
Taken prisoner . . . . . .1811
Campaign against French in Europe . . 1813 — 1815
Colonel of 8th Battalion infantry . . . 1814
Commandant of Fort Hertogenbosch . .1814
Major-general . . . . . .1815
Returns to East Indies . . . . .1817
Governor of Moluccas . . . . .1818
Commandant of troops . . . . .1819
Commander-in-chief of Palembang expedition . 1821
Lieutenant-Governor of East Indian possessions. 1822
Commander-in-chief of the forces in Mid
Java 1825—1830
Acting Governor-General .... 1826
Lieutenant Governor-General . . . .1826
Resigned 1830
Returned to Holland 1830
Commander-in-chief in Zealand . . .1831
Created baron ...... 1835
Minister of Interior . . . . .1836
Resigned ...... 1841
Died at St. Gravenhage ..... 1842
Order of Unie, 1807 ; Commander of that order, 1808.
Commander de Reunie, 1813. Two orders, M.W.O.,
1813 and 1821. Grand Cross, 1830. Metal Cross, 1832.
Grand Cross, Netherlands Lion, 1841.
Governor-General de Kock's portrait is to be seen at Weltwreden
in the building of the Masonic lodge, of which institution he was
Grand Master.
Frans David Cochitjs, born at Valkenburg . . 1787
Entered Engineers corps ..... 1804
Lieutenant . . . . . . .1809
Lieutenant on staff in French service . . 1810
2nd captain ....... 1811
1st captain ....... 1812
In French service ; took part in capture
of Leipzig and Lutzen and subsequent
operations ...... 1813 — 1814
442
JAVA
Prans Daved Cochius — continued.
In Dutch service ...... 1814
Intends to proceed East Indies. . . . 1814
Quatre Bras ....... 1815
Arrives Java ....... 1816
Major, Engineers 1817
Lieutenant-colonel, Engineers . . . .1821
Palembang 1821
Adjunct director of fortifications . . . 1822
Colonel, Engineers ...... 1825
Java war 1825—1830
Pensioned 1829
Again in activity with army in field . . . 1830
Commander-in-chief of army in the field . . 1830
Commandant observation corps . . .1831
Major-general 1832
Commander-in-chief of Army .... 1835
Commissaris of Government, west coast Sumatra . 1837
Capture of Bondjol 1837
Lieutenant-general ...... 1843
Pensioned and thanked by Government for his
lengthy and valuable services . . . 1847
Order M.W., 1822. Honourably mentioned in des-
patches, 22nd November, 1828. Java medal, 1831.
Commander M.W.O., 1838. Adjutant to King, 26th
February, 1841.
Uncle of Frederic Cochius, employee of Messrs. Macneill Co.,
Samarang, Java, 1889 — 1902, and later Head of Messrs. Dunlop
and Kolff, Batavia, Java, 1902—1909.
Albert Hendrik Wendelin de Kocz, bom at
Sourabaya, 20th March ....
2nd Ueutenant and adjutant commander-in-chief
1st lieutenant
Adjutant of Governor-General
Java war ...... 1825
Captain
Sumatra west coast
To Holland .
Returns to Java
Chief of stafif, Sumatra west coast
Major by staff
Lieutenant-Colonel and mihtary commandant of
Palembang whilst acting Resident
Resident of Bezoekie and Commissioner for Bali
Second expedition, Bali ....
1808
1824
1828
1830
-1830
1832
1833
1836
1838
1838
1838
1841
1848
1848
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 443
Albert Hendrik Wendelin de Kock — continued.
Resident of Jogjakarta ..... 1848
Java medal, 1831. Orders M.W.O., 1834.
Netherlands Lion, 1847. Star of " Eikenkroon," 1856.
Etienne Joseph Wagener, born at Luxemburg
Soldier by 108th Regiment infantry
Corporal
Fourier .
Sergeant
2nd lieutenant
1st lieutenant
Wounded at Waterloo in left arm
Transferred to army in Java
Arrived Batavia
Expedition to Palembang
Died at Buitenzorg
1790
1808
1809
1809
1810
1812
1813
1815
1818
1818
1821
1828
JoHAN Georg Otto Stuart von ScnairDT atjf Alten-
STADT, born Siut Oedenrode, 5th May . . 1806
Military School, Samarang .... 1820
2nd heutenant 1823
Java war . . . . . . 1825 — 1830
1st lieutenant ...... 1829
Adjutant to Governor-General .... 1832
Acting assistant Resident of Keboemen . . 1833
Definitely appointed Resident of Keboemen . 1837
Resident of Bagelen .... 1842 — 1849
Java medal.
Leonard Petrus Joseph du Bus de Gisignies, born
1st March in Castle Dottignies in East Flanders
Major of Doorink, by forced appointment from
Napoleon .......
Member of Second House of Parliament . 1819-
Governor of Antwerp .....
Governor of South Brabant ....
King William I. sent him as commissary-general
to Java, where he remained during whole war,
being strongly against redoubt system .
1780
1813
-1820
1820
1823
1825
In the front porch of the Roman Catholic cathedral at
Weltwreden a memorial stone has been placed in memoriam
to van du Bus as the man who estabhshed the first poor house
at Batavia.
444 JAVA
The following is the reading on the stone : —
D. 0. M.
Et Piae Memoriae.
Praenobilis viri Leonardi Petri Josephi Vicecomitis
DU Bus, Domini De Gisignies D in Belleghem, Heyl-
Broeck, Oostmalle, Sawangen, etc.
In Patriis Finibus Statuum GeneraHum, secundae
camarae Legati Deinde Praesidio Provinciae Ant-
exinde Brabantiae meridionalis Guber-
verpiae
natoris.
Qui Anno M. Dccc. XXV.
Domi quinque per annos Summam administrarat
Rerum. Has suis sub auspiciis per annos exstrui
Christo Deo Curavit Aedes, Memorque ut esset
Gratae Hoc in imperio commemorationis.
Fundum sawangan Javanen sem in Praedia sua merito
adscripset Post navatam FeHciter Rempublicam
In Patria Redux.
Maximo ordinis Leonis Begici insigni ornatus supremum
obiit diem anno M. Dccc. XLIX. die XXXI M. A. 11.
Dominio suo in Oostmalle prope Antverpiam requiescit.
George Gardner, born in London, 5th December
2nd lieutenant, Paris, 9th August
2nd heutenant dragoons, 5th April .
1st lieutenant, 18th April
Attached East Indies Cavalry, 25th May
Embarked, 7th October .
Died at Mergaloenjoe, 1st July
Fought in Germany
Fought in France ....
Fought at Waterloo
Order M.W.O.
1790
1814
1815
1820
1824
1824
1827
1813
1814
1815
Johannes Nicolaas de Groot, born at Amsterdam,
26th October 1796
Soldier, 27th August 1817
Arrived at Batavia, 28th August . . . 1818
21st BattaHon infantry, 1st September . . 1818
■^^*i^
PAXGERAN" HARIU POERSAXAGOKO. (COLONEL-COMMAXDAXT OF THE
ARMY OF THE SUSUHUXAX OF SOLO.)
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 445
Johannes Nicolaas de Groot — ccmtinued.
Corporal, 11th April 1819
Fourier, 6th April 1823
Sergeant-major, 11th October .... 1827
2nd lieutenant, 8th August . . . .1828
Pensioned, 18th April 1836
Fought at Cheribon .... 1818—1820
Fought at Banca 1821 — 1822
Fought in Java 1828 — 1830
Java medal.
A great number of de Groots still reside in Java, many being
in Government employ.
JoHAN Alphonse Victor DE Sturler, born at Thiel,
15th September ....
2nd lieutenant hussars, 19th April
1st lieutenant, 4th December .
Adjutant to Governor-General, 14th May
Captain, 31st July ....
Died at Buitenzorg, 5th July .
Java medal.
1804
1826
1830
1833
1833
1836
BENJAivnN BiscHOFr, bom at 's Gravenhage, 22nd
September ....... 1787
Cadet marines, 3rd October . . . .1801
2nd lieutenant army, 26th March . . . 1805
1st lieutenant on General Daendel's staff, 17th
February 1807
Captain of dragoons, Java, 16th May . . 1808
Lieutenant-Colonel, 24th June .... 1809
Arrived in Java, March . . . . .1816
Colonel 5th Regiment, 1st January . . . 1817
Inspector of army, East India, 20th July . , 1818
Governor of Macassar, 14th December . . 1824
Major-general and commander-in-chief of army,
nth September 1828
Arrived at Batavia, 13th May . . . .1829
Died at Tanjore, 7th July . . . .1829
At the Cape of Good Hope, 1802 to 1806, when taken by the
EngHsh, he returned to Holland. He fought here against the
English in General Janssen's corps.
Thoivias Jackson, born at Geldersheim, 20th
September 1797
Cadet, 6th June 1814
Corporal, 21st July 1815
446
JAVA
Thomas Jackson — continued.
2nd lieutenant, 16th August
Transferred to East Indies ; arrived
March ....
Placed by 18th Division, 11th April
1st lieutenant, 28th August
Captain, 26th January
Major, 5th October
Pensioned in Java, 8th March .
Fought in France .
Java war ....
. 1817
there in
1829
1829
1829
1834
1839
1842
1815
1829—1830
JoNKHEER Jan Herman van der Wyck,
Zutphen, Ist February
Cadet, 1st February
2nd lieutenant with engineers, 7th May
Adjutant to commandant in field, H. J
Wyck, 4th May ....
Arrived Batavia, 14th May
Captain, 17th December .
At Storming of Palembang, June
At Banca affair
At Palembang
Major, 9th January
At Boni affair
Java war
Lieutenant-colonel, 17th July
Colonel, 29th January
Major-general, 29th June
bom at
. 1797
. 1814
. 1814
van der
. 1815
. 1816
. 1817
. 1819
. 1820
. 1821
. 1825
. 1825
. 1825—1830
. 1828
. 1834
. 1842
Commander-in-chief of Indian army, 17th Decem-
ber 1847
Commanded at expedition to Bali . . . 1848
Resigned, 2nd February ..... 1849
Thanked by H.M. the King for valuable services.
Orders, M.W.O., Netherlands Lion. Adjutant to H.M.
the King. Java Medal. Frequently mentioned in
despatches.
His sons, who all distinguished themselves, were Jonkheers
Carel Herman Aart van der Wyck, Governor-General of Nether-
lands India, 1893 — 1899 ; Otto van der Wyck, Vice-President of
Council ; Ivan der Wyck, commander-in-chief Netherlands
Indian^Army ; H. L. van der Wyck, the well-known sugar
planter.
The son of the Governor-General is H. C. van der Wyck, and
lives in Jogjokarta, He was born at Solo whilst his father was
Resident there. He began life in Government service in Holland,
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 447
but left this to become superintendent of the numerous tobacco
and sugar estates the family own in Java, viz., Klattensche
Culture Company, Wedi Birit Company, Lanvoe Company,
Delangoe Sugar Company, Japara Sugar Company, and Poen-
doeng sugar estate.
There was also Jonkheer J. C. W. D. A. van der Wyck, at
Tasik Malaja, 1810.
Jan Baptist Cleerens, born at Antwerp, 27th August
Employed with army in Spain, administration
department, 8th November .
Returned to Holland ....
Placed in service at Brussels with mobile army
Waterloo ......
Employed at headquarters under Marshal Bliicher
in charge of commissariat of Prussian army
Arrived at Batavia, 30th August
Lieutenant-Colonel, A.D.C. to Governor-General
26th April
Commandant at Buitenzorg, 20th June
Java war
Chief of the staff
Returned to Holland
Formed a corps called
18th November .
Returned to Java .
Commandant of Sumatra
ruary
Pensioned, 31st October
Chamberlain to H.M
1785
1808
1814
1815
1815
1815
1817
1821
1821
1825—1830
1831
1831
Jagers van Cleerens,
1831
1835
west coast, 26th Feb-
1836
1837
the King, 1815. Orders,
M.W.O., 1828, Netherlands Lion, 1831, Java medal,
Metal cross.
DiEDRicH BoRNEMAN, born in Hanover, 25th June .
Hanover Hussars, 3rd April ....
Cornet, 8th September .....
1st heutenant, 12th December ....
Field operations in Germany, Brabant, and France
1813-
Arrived at Batavia, 26th April
With cavalry .......
With Bengal Lancers at Cheribon, 1st April, and
mentioned in despatches ....
Commandant of corps of Mounted Infantry
Volmiteers of Enghshmen formed at Samarang,
27th August
1794
1813
1813
1813
-1814
1816
[blank]
1818
1825
448
JAVA
Died RICH Borneman — continued.
Sounded retreat for Englishmen to retire at
Demak, but seven of them killed, 4th Septem-
ber ........ 1823
Java war ...... 1825 — 1830
Died at Samarang and buried on Gregardji Hill,
24th July 1833
Order M.W.O.
Andreas Victor Michiels, born at Maastricht, 30th
April .....
2nd lieutenant in French service
2nd lieutenant in Dutch service
Field operations, France .
1st lieutenant, 22nd May
Waterloo
Arrived at Batavia, 3rd July
Captain, 19th August
Cheribon affair, van Pahmanan
Major, 8th May
Java war
Sumatra west coast .
Lieutenant-colonel, 17th May
Expedition to Krawang .
Expedition to Djambi
Commandant, Sumatra west coast
Promoted colonel for capture of Bondjol,
October
Civil and military governor, Sumatra west
29th October ....
Major-General, 14th September
Field operations, Sumatra west coast
Commander-in-chief of army of Netherlands India
till arrival of Lieutenant-General the Duke
Bernhard van Saksen Weimar Eisenach, 20th
February .......
Died from wounds in leg, received at Kasoemba
Bah, 25th May
Orders : M.W.O. , 1828 ; Netherlands Lion,
Adjutant G.G. Honourably mentioned in despatches
for Sumatra, 8th May, 1832, and Padang, 1841. Java
medal. Adjutant to H.M. the King.
List of Officers who distinguished themselves not other-
wise mentioned (1825 — 1830).
P. la Bordes J. A. Hoorn H. M. de Kock
H. E. A. Carteret A. F. Kihan G. A. van Leeuwen
1797
1814
1814
1814
1815
1815
1817
1818
1818
1827
1825—1830
1831—1832
. 1832
. 1832
. 1833
. 1837
3rd
. 1837
coast,
. 1837
. 1843
1844—1845
1849
1849
1832.
JAVA UNDER DUTCH RULE FROM 1816 449
List of Officers — continued.
A. V. Michiels
J. W. J. Mossel
J. A. Phitzinger
B. SoUewyn
J. B. Theunissen
C. F. WilHch
J. P. de Montaign
J. J. A de Brabant
P. H. Barends
J. T. A. van der
Busch
H. V. van Ingen
W. Meulenhoff
L. van Meyer
C. de Munck
F. Beaufort
F. C. J. van Swicten
J. A. van der Spek
J. Moreau
— Wolf
H. J. J. Engelbert
Van Beevervoode
K. Rietveld
"H, de Bruin
J. Wentzel
P. van Dyk
S. P. du Moulin
J. P. Keyser
J. de Gelder
A. Paardekoper
F. Martin
J. A. Rombout
J. W. Muller
— Zaalberg
F. A. L. Jackson
J. Vermeer
A. V. Michiels
H. M. Lange
L. N. Blondeau
— CoUard
— Engelberts
C. F. Heine
T. de Jager
T. Lucassen
F. C. Nauman
K. C. Severyn
Taetsoon Amerangan
— Vogel
Van der Tak
Van der Veen
J. Le Bronde Vexela
Note. — These Usts were compiled from Major Louw's " History
of the Java War."
Note V. — Sarawak.
James Brooke was born at Benares on the 29th April, 1803,
where his father was a servant of the Enghsh East India Company.
Li 1815 he was sent to England for his education, but was back
in India in 1819 as lieutenant in the army, and took part in the
Burmah war of 1825, when he was wounded. In 1835 on his
father's death he began his cruises in the Eastern Archipelago.
The area of Sarawak is about 50,000 square miles, with a sea-
board of about 400 miles, and a population of some half a million.
Sago is its staple product. Pepper, gambler, tea and coffee are
also grown. The soil seems to be particularly adapted to rubber.
Land is almost free to the natives, so they are continually increas-
ing the area under cultivation. Pineapples and other fruits
flourish exceedingly, and gold, silver, antimony and coal are
worked successfully and exported in fair quantities. Sarawak
is a great country for woods, some of them being durable and
hard. Oil is being obtained daily, and is available for shipping.
The population, like all the trading centres in these seas, is a
mixed one. Its industries are many. It makes its own clothes
and weapons, the latter bemg often inlaid and of beautiful
design. The natives build their own boats, which can carry
J. — VOL. I. G «
450 JAVA
crews of up to eighty men. They rarely if ever suffer for want of
food. They grow rice, maize, and other crops, and work jungle
products, such as gutta. Cultivation and trade have increased.
The revenue and trade reports are steadily progressing.
In 1890 the revenue was |413,113 ; in 1911 it was $420,420.
In 1890 the expenditure was $362,779 ; in 1911 it was
$1,341,761.
In 1896 the imports were £227,000; in 1911 they were over
£1,000,000.
In 1896 the exports were £242,000 ; in 1911 they were over
£1,300,000.
There is no pubUc debt.
Sarawak and British North Borneo have an immense future
before them. A larger permanent, or semi-permanent, European
population, as in Java, is, however, still required. The importa-
tion of the natives in considerable numbers into the latter country
should be a matter for consideration by the Council.
CHAPTER XI
The Towns in Java and the Neighbouring Lands, with
A Note on the Batavia and Preanger Lands
Batavia — before the coming op the Dutch
CALLED JaCATRA.
The first English at Batavia. — The Englishman Sir Henry
Middleton paid a flying visit to Jacatra in 1604, which was
followed by a more formal call by William Keeling, of Cocos
Keeling fame, on the 8th January, 1609. This, according
to J. Hageman in his " De Engelschen of Java," was the
first time the English flag was shown here. Keeling appears
to have been well received by the Sultan, to whom he sold
some gunpowder, after which he left on the 10th January.
A year later David Middleton, the second of the three fear-
less brothers who spent their lives in Eastern Seas on behalf
of the Company, visited Jacatra. A factory was now estab-
lished here in order that a trade might be opened with the
inhabitants. It was quite a humble building, being built
of bamboo, with a thatched roof.^
The Dutch came to Jacatra the year following, and also
built a factory and their first small fort.^
There was a long struggle for supremacy at Jacatra
between the English and the Dutch, and as at Bantam, so
here, continual quarrels, everlasting bickerings, much
jealousy, and even bloody fights occurred. The English,
however, managed to hold their own, although with some
> I have seen it said that it was situated near where the Hong Kong and
Shanghai Bank now stands near the bridge of Passer Pisang.
2 It is said that this was built on the plain where now stands the premises
at present occupied by the British firm of John Pryce & Co.
G G 2
452 JAVA
difficulty, until 1616, when the Dutch burnt their factory.
This, of course, ruined the English prestige in the eyes of the
natives, and, owing to their inability to punish this act by
reprisals, their position was never hereafter the same and
the factory gradually languished.
In 1619 the Dutch called their fort " Batavia," and here-
with opened a new era.
In 1677, by one of those famous treaties of theirs with the
Emperor of Java, they secured the monopoly for all trade
at Jacatra, and this gave the English Company their death-
blow.^
In the chapter on " Travellers' Tales" (XII.) mention is
made from time to time of Batavia ; and the descriptions
given by Commodore Koggewein in 1722 and Captain Cook
in 1770 are so very complete that we may pass to the nine-
teenth century, to Batavia as it was found by Lord Minto
on his arrival here with Raffles in 1811. We learn from
this account a great deal about the Chinese, who were enor-
mously rich, and owned nearly the whole of the western
suburbs of Batavia. Every house was a shop ; the streets
were invariably crowded, exhibiting a constant scene of
noise and bustle. When it was known that Java had been
captured by the English, the Chinese increased their num-
bers immediately by five thousand adventurers, who
arrived in junks. The Chinese inhabitants gave great
feasts now and then, and many Europeans took part in
these festivities, enjoying the sumptuous tables, which
were filled with every luxury procurable. We are told that
the Dutch girls were fair, but had a sickly languor about
their countenances, and that at home they dressed in a
sarong and a loose, flowing gown called a " cabaya," their
black hair being plastered back and ornamented with dia-
mond pins, combs, and strong-scented flowers.
After the arrival, however, of the English officers these
^ See the Chronological Tables at the end of this section.
PANdKRAN ADIl'ATI SOERIODILOGO PKINS PAKOK-ALIM VII.
THE TOWXS IN JAVA, ETC. 4.53
same young ladies mixed much in their society, adopting
the fashionable habihment of the EngHsh officers' wives.
The state of society has been described as very different
to what it was in Em'ope and British India. At a Dutch
party, for instance, it was the custom for the men to assemble
in one room and there to smoke and drink, whilst the lady
of the house entertained her female friends in another room
with betel, spices, and coffee. The gentlemen also assem-
bled at a meeting place called the " Society," where they
smoked, drank, and played cards or bilHards every evening
from 7 till 9 o'clock, when they returned home for a hot
dinner. For the use of the " Society " an elegant building
was completed in the time of Raffles at the corner of Rys-
Avick, which was inscribed over the front entrance with the
large letters " DE HARMONIE." Convivial parties were
frequently given amongst the higher classes, the guests
being entertained with " sprightly dances and elegant
suppers." Balls at " De Harmonic " and Government
House were also given now and again. Lord Minto
describes one of them at the latter as follows : —
" Of the ball at Batavia Government House, it is impossible
to give you anything Hke an adequate notion of the total absence
of beauty in so crowded a hall. There never is a dozen of women
assembled in Europe without a few attractions amongst them.
Here there was no difference, except in some varieties of ugliness or
ordinariness of dress and manners. The Dutch did not encourage
nor indeed allow freely European women to go out to their colonies.
The consequence has been that the men hved with native women,
whose daughters, gradually borrowing something from the
father's side, are now the wives and ladies of rank in Java. The
young ladies have learnt the European fashions of dress, and their
carriage and manners are something like our own of an ordinary
class.
" In dancing, the young beauties seemed lame in English
country dances, but in their own dance, which was to a very
slow valse tune, the figure much the same as ours with a valse
embrace instead of an allemande, they were at home, and not
454 JAVA
without grace, while our English damsels and cavaliers were all
abroad. Mrs. Bunbury, the wife of an officer, a young pretty
Enghshwoman, stood up in the dance, but seemg when the first
couple reached her the Dutch gentleman take his arms and hug
her, it appeared to Jier as a bear does her prey, she fairly took to
her heels and could not be brought back again by any means
to see or share such horror."
In 1811 there were no places of public amusement in
Batavia, not even a single theatre of any kind.
The houses were mostly of brick, run up in a light, airy
manner with large windows. In style they were palatial,
and almost all built on one plan by Chinese. A description
of one is as follows. On entering the door there was a
narrow passage, and on one side a parlour ; then you came
into a large, long room, lighted from an inner court. This
was called the " gallery," and was the place where the
family ate. The floors were of large, square, dark red
stones ; the walls w^ere plastered and whitewashed. The
furniture consisted of armchairs, two or three bale-hales
(sofas), and many looking-glasses. Several chandeliers for
candles and some small open lamps for cocoanut oil along
the length of the gallery, and a few bric-a-brac from China,
almost completed the inventory. The crockery was all
kept in the dining gallery in cupboards especially made for
the purpose. The colour of the furniture was all black.
There were stairs leading to the upper rooms. Six or
seven stairs up was a room which stood over the storeroom,
or cellar, where the stock of wine, beer, butter, etc., was
kept. The bedrooms were poorly furnished, and contained
only absolute necessities.^ At the backs of the houses were
long corridors of small rooms running down each side of the
compound ; in these were the kitchens, bathrooms, stables
for horses, and the quarter for the slaves. Some of the
windows in the houses were closed with lattice work of
rattans, instead of being glazed, for the sake of air.
1 The less there was, the less trouble there was with mosquitoes.
THE TOWNS IX JAVA, ETC. 455
The city of Batavia or Jacatra, and especially that por-
tion now called " Kali Besar," was in 1811 practically
deserted, most of the business houses having then.- offices in
Molenoliet or in Rj^swdck ; before, however, the British left
most of the firms had hired or bought the old dwelling-
houses round about " Kali Besar " and turned them into
offices, finding it more convenient to be nearer the wharves.
Thus we see the old Governor-General's palace, which in
the seventeenth century was used as a country house, being
nowadays used as ofi&ces by the Borneo Company, Messrs.
Burt, Myrtle & Co., Messrs. Campbell, Macoll & Co., and
the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, besides
one or two Dutch firms. The official palace at the time this
fine building was used as a country house was down at the
end of the " Oude Boom " (Old Wharf), a little to the right
of where now stands a small earthen fort, used as a powder
magazine. The fortifications round about the " Oude Boom '*
and the great wall, which surrounded the old town, were
mostly pulled down, just before the arrival of the British, by
General Daendels, which improved the health of the old city
very much owing to the freer circulation of ak.
Churches Old and New. — The great church of Batavia,
described by Cook, and built in 1760, to the west of the
present town house, as also two other very old churches,
were likewise pulled down at tliis time owing to their
foundations giving way. There was still a Lutheran
church ^ near the old castle, where the Protestant community
attended divine service. The old Portuguese church which
still stands at the corner of the Jacatra road, built in 1695,
was, however, also frequented by Portuguese Chiistians ;
and to this day some of the old Portuguese descendants,
w^ith sadly mingled blood and scarcely recognisable as
Europeans at all, attend here in long black coats on Sunday.
Before the arrival of the Dutch and English at the beginning
1 Pulled down about 1830.
456 JAVA
of the seventeenth century another church stood where this
one now is, and the Portuguese pastor preached in Malay,
while trying in his spare time to drum into the Javan
*' Christians " (or such as he so called) a mixture of bastard
Portuguese which was thought suitable to them ; and there
can be no doubt, from the number of Portuguese words for
articles and things of general employ in daily use by the Malay
servants, that the Javans were very apt pupils. The first
very old church was, however, burnt down in 1628, and the
Dutch preacher Dr. Molineus, who preached in Portuguese
once in fourteen days, was then obliged to do this in a
bamboo shed. In 1652 the Dutch pastor had thirteen
teachers under him preaching the religion of Christ to the
natives, who proved willing proselytes. These teachers in
time, if they could pass their examinations, became preachers
in the church to the Europeans, and one of these thirteen
above mentioned became a local celebrity at that time,
despite the fact that he did not pass his examinations.
This was the Bandanees Cornells Seenen, who, buying a
piece of ground covered with forest on the river Tji Li Woeng,
cleared it and made a garden round the house he built.
This he called " Meester Cornells garden," and the long road
cut up to it was called " Seenen " ; here the natives later
held a weekly pasar or market.^ Where the old Java
Bank was built in 1828 stood in 1695 a large hospital, and
near by appears to have been another small church for the
sick, called the Hospital Church. When this church was
pulled down there is nothing to show, but it probably
occurred between 1812 and 1825. At the opening of the
Portuguese church in 1695 the Governor-General and his
lady, with his council and their wives, attended the service,
and the Dominie Jacobus preached in Portuguese, taking
as his text Psalm Ixxxiv., verses 2 and 3. The church, we
1 In 1706 there was a buffalo market with a few stalls at Cornells. In
1735 Paear Senen and Tanah-bang were oflQcial market places.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 457
learn, was full. When the first organ was placed in the
church is not clear, but the present one was presented by
the daughter of the then well-known Portuguese preacher,
Johan Maurits Mohr, in 1782, " as the old organ had given
out." Up till the year 1800 all Europeans of note were
buried round this church, but after that date at Tanah-bang
cemetery. Governor- General Swardecroon was buried here
on the 16th August, 1728.^ In 1713 there were four thousand
Portuguese who " on and off " attended the services, whilst
in 1749 the numbers reached five thousand. After this,
however, they fell off, until in 1766 there were not more
than sixty-two.
The present-day Europeans of the upper class attend the
cathedral which stands on the King's Plain at Weltevreden ;
but the English have a small church at Parapattau, where
an English service is held every Sunday. This church
was built about 1845.^ The first chaplain to the British
community was Mr. Drummond, a man who was highly
esteemed by both the Dutch and English, being highly
gifted. In those days half the expenses of the church and
chaplain were borne by the British Government, but when
Mr. Gladstone brought in his great retrenchment bill this
payment ceased, and the British community, a com-
paratively small one, had to look after itself.
Castle of Batavia. — The old Castle of Batavia in 1811 is
described as spacious ; it contained a number of buildings
and extensive warehouses, in the construction of which
prodigious labour and expense must have been incurred.
Some of these warehouses still exist.
Old Hospital.— The hospital between Newport and Diest-
poort, and nearly all the public buildings of old Batavia, in
the towns, in Great River Street (Kali Besar), as also on the
^ His fine tombstone may still be seen.
2 John Leith Bonhote and Donald Maclaine had a great deal to do with
its erection.
458 JAVA
Jacatra wharf (not to be confused with Oude Boom, or Old
Wharf, on the Great Kiver), not being required by the British
Government, they were sold, being built up mostly by mer-
chants. It is thus that the business houses of the present
generation happen to be the buildings formerly occupied
as dwelling-houses by the Dutch in the days of old Batavia.
Eiwirons oj Batavia, 1811. — In the early days of the nine-
teenth century there were two principal roads leading to the
environs and Weltevreden ; the one on the east was and
still is called the Jacatra road,^ and the other to the west
thi'ough MolenoHet was called " Milldrain," because part of
the water of the Great or Jacatra river was diverted into a
channel along this road for the purpose of turning a pow^der-
mill. This road led on to Eyswick, and from there to Tanah-
bang. The Jacatra road eventually led into a district called
Goenoeng Sari. On it is still to be seen the grave of the
first captain Chinaman at Batavia, So Bing Kong, who was
buried in 1631, and near it are several other Chinese graves
certainly as old, if not older. It is at Goenoeng Sari where
the old fort of Jacatra stood. Every evening in 1811,
between 5 and 7 o'clock, these main roads were filled with
carriages and riders.
The printing office was at Molenoliet, and a Masonic lodge
within the precincts of Jacatra, so also the old " Harmonie
Society " in Newpoort Street.
Governor-GeneraV s Palace. — Just before the present
Governor's palace in Noordwyck was built his Excellency's
residency was in Molenoliet (the tram passes it daily), and
before this it was at Goenoeng Sari. In the vestibule of the
palace at Molenoliet there were busts of all the Governor-
Generals, including even Lord Minto's. Baffles, however,
sent all these to grace the Government House at Calcutta.
Barracks. — At Eyswick there were good barracks, as
also on the road to Cornells at Pasar Senen.
^ The Jacatra road must be nearly 300 years old.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 459
Present-day Batavia. — Batavia at the present day is a
magnificently built city, comparing more than well with
any town in the East. Its dwelling-houses, its macadamised
roads, its institutions and its clubs (" Harmonic " and
*' Concordia " are the two principal) are second to none ;
while its theatres, shops, public gardens, and social recrea-
tion clubs are equal to those found anywhere in the East.
The present principal theatre was built about 1875.^
There is a Kace Club, started by the English in 1812, a
Society of Arts and Sciences, a museum, and a tram service
(electric and steam) all over the town and its environs.
The Dutch are to strangers an agreeable people, with
none of the faults so frequently and unjustly attributed to
them in Europe ; and it is the fact that all the Englishmen
in these countries marry into the high Dutch families
instead of marrying their own countrywomen.
The first Eesident here during the British period was
Thomas Macquoid, of whom more will be related in the
*' Commercial " chapter. His chief assistant was a Dutch-
man, van Heerdt.^
As a relic of the English period, there is, just behind the
Dutch post office at Weltevreden, the grave-stone of a
distinguished officer who fell at the battle of Meester
Cornells in 1811. The inscription reads : —
Here lie the remains of
LlEUTENANT-COLONEL WeLLIAM CaMPBELL
of His Britannic Majesty's 78th Regiment
who died on the
28th August, 1811
of womids received on the 26th of the month, while
bravely leading on his Regiment to attack the
strongly fortified Lines of Cornelis defended by a
gallant enemy.
To him who living was beloved by all for his
1 "W. T. Fraser was chiefly responsible for its erection.
* Reference should be made to the lists of British Residents in Java from
1812 to 1816 (see Appendix),
460 JAVA
gentle manners, and his many virtues — who
in Death received the applause of his country.
To him the Companion of many happy years and
the father of her children, this frail memor-
ial of imperishable regard is erected by his
afflicted widow.
Another relic is found on a window above one of the back
doors of the Borneo Company's office at Batavia (which, as
said, was once the Governor-General's country palace in the
days of the old East India Company). An inscription here
reads : —
Geo. Cunningham
May 4, 1798
was robbed of the Oreon
of Boston.
From this it would appear that George Cunningham, the
master of a ship called the Oreon, of Boston, and on the
4th May a prisoner, had for some reason or another had his
ship taken away from him by the Dutch East India Company
and been punished by imprisonment in the Governor-
General's palace.
List of the presidents of the English East India Company's
factory at Jacatra, or Batavia, as far as can be elicited from
old records : —
1604. Sir Henry Middleton.
1609. WiUiam Keeling.
1610. David Middleton (Hill, salesman).
1615 — 1619. John Jordan, or Jordayne^ (president).
1619. John Powell, President (Ufflet, salesman).
1620 — 1625. Thomas Brockedon,^^ president (Henry Hawley,
John Goning, Joseph Cockram, members of council ; Richard
Haselwood, secretary ; George Bray Hill, Hanson, Heyns, sales-
men).
1 Left Jacatra for Bantam, 26th January, 1619.
2 Left Batavia for Bantam en route for Europe, 10th February, 1625.
' In July, 1622, the ship Abigail, belonging to the English East India
Company, sailed from London for Bantam and Jacatra. On board was an
invoice marked " Contents of a Chest of Chirurgery for Jaccatra House
laden upon the Abigail.'" Of this. Sir G. Birdwood says, " A very interest-
ing Ust of Materia Medica." The English had always their own chirurgeon,
not trusting the Dutch one, who, however, was probably the cleverer of
the two.
THE TOWNS m JAVA, ETC. 461
1625 — 1628. Henry Hawley^^^ president (Joseph Cockram,
Richard Bicks, George Muschamps,* members of council ; Thomas
Robinson, secretary ; Richard Steele, John Short, John Cart-
wright, salesmen).
1628 — 1630. George Muschamps, president (Richard Bicks,
Richard Steele, members of council ; Thomas Robinson, secretary).
1630 — 1632. Thomas Burt,^ president (Barnaby,^ Richard
Steele, members of council ; Christopher Fleming,^ secretary and
salesman).
1 Took over charge on Monday, the 10th February, 1625.
^ Shortly after his appointment as president, Heniy Hawley addressed
the following letter to the Dutch Governor-General : —
" To the Right Worshipful, my muche respected and worthie vriend
Pieter de Carpentier Generall.
" These derected :
" Sir — If yew wilbe pleased to accept this small remembrance (as from a
honourable imploiers) it shal be the acknowledgment of your kind reUevinge
us at Lagundy receivinge us in Batavia, at all times to obligie us in the lyke
bandes of cortesies, not to fayle God Willinge.
" Youre vere loving friend,
" Batavia, the 11th June. " Henry Hawlet.
" Anno 1625."
s The English presidents as early as 1625 waited upon the Dutch Gover-
nor-General over every incident and trifle, as is inconti'overtibly proved by
the records, thus showing that they acknowledged the Dutch sovereignty
over the country, which the latter claimed in 1619. The Dutch Governor-
General appears to have treated them with "businesslike" courtesy and
civility.
■• For some time governor at the English factory at Amboyna.
® From 1632 until 1677 it would appear that although the English East
India Company had a factory at Batavia, it was under the control of the
Company's factory at Batavia and no longer independent. This factory
at Batavia was looked after by one or two English salesmen, the senior of
whom held the title amongst themselves of agent. This agent had goods
sent to him from time to time as required from Batavia, but owing to the
competition from the Dutch, their monopolies, and the " gentle pressure "
of sovereignty, well veiled, which they exerted, his indents grew less and
less, so that it was really no great loss to the Company when it was forced
to close its doors here in 1677.
There do not appear to have been any presidents after T. Burt, only
salesmen from Bantam. A certain Englishman called Captain Gatrman
established himself at Bantam (after having failed to do so at Batavia) as
a merchant in 1648. Later he moved, however, again to Batavia and sold
goods for the English East India Company. At this time another English-
man, Thomas Pinston, settled at Macassar and took charge of the English
factory there.
' These two men were sent in 1634 to the Enghsh factory at
462 JAVA
SOURABAYA.
Sourabaya was peopled by a few families of Javans at a
very early date, although the principal places at this end of
the island were until, comparatively speaking, a recent date
Grissee and Yortan.^
By Europeans the place was never apparently thought
much of, and in consequence it was not until late in the
eighteenth century that they went to live there. There
was never a Dutch governor here, as at Samarang, nor ever
a president, until quite late, but the chief man in the place
held the rank of " senior merchant " (opper koopman), and
the title of commander of the eastern district. In these
days the only export was rice.
No Englishmen were residing at Sourabaya before 1811,
when one of the British regiments was stationed there.
English vessels, however, under English commanders now
and again during the eighteenth century called in for water.
In 1796 a fairly strong military force was kept here, which
was commanded by Major Carol von Franquemont, a Ger-
man who arrived in Java in 1796, and a member of one of
those foreign families who became a few years later quite
a factor in Java, owning estates and business houses, and
even assisting the British Government in various offices.
Mention will be specially made of this family later on. The
troops under von Franquemont were one hundred Europeans
and a company of the old Wurtemberg Eegiment, besides
six companies of Maduran infantry and two of Maduran
artillery, under the command of European officers or of
Europeans born in Sourabaya. There was a military
hospital for one hundred and fifty sick, but " Surabaye," as
Jamby, Fleming becoming president there before the year was out. In
1632 wbilst at Batavia Fleming complained to the Dutch Governor- General
of having been beaten and hurt by Barnaby. The latter, when questioned,
promised to comport himself better in future, so he was let off with a
caution.
1 Yortan was the Chinese name for a town on the river Brantas, near
where BangU now is.
THE TOWNS m JAVA, ETC. 463
it was then called, was a " very healthy spot, with a dry
climate, so that the hospital was never full."
The town was, and still is, cut in two by the river Caliemas
(Kali Mas, or Eiver of Gold). The banks were full of
villages, inhabited two-thirds by Malays and the remainder
by Chinese. The soldiers were quartered in a brick fort
containing a small arsenal,^ and there were batteries at the
mouth of the river, which was generally full of coasters,
vessels drawing ten to twelve feet and carrying rice.
English and Spanish vessels from Europe, bound for Canton
and the Philippines, during the west monsoon invariably
called here in those days to refresh, procuring all they
required except vegetables, which had to be got from
" Passourouang." The native products included candle-
sticks, plates and goblets, made from a hard stone pro-
curable in the mountains ; combs and brushes of buffalo's
horn were also made.
Three and a half miles from Sourabaya, on the left
bank of the river, was a saltpetre house, owned by a
Chinaman and built at a cost of 15,000 rix dollars; the
Government, however, made him close it, and he sold it
for 600. The godowns or warehouses of this establishment
were the refuge of hundreds of thousands of bats, whose
manure realised a good sum yearly to the purchaser.
The Europeans used to keep large barges or houseboats,
splendidly fitted up, and in these made frequent trips to
Grissee and Madura. An account of one such boat is as
follows : —
" A cabin occupied the whole length, except that at either end,
where space was left for the master and some rowers, and a small
sail to hoist when the weather permitted. The cabin was very
well furnished ; the seats, which went all round, were covered
with good cushions ; a table up the middle, with small lockers for
provisions ; and, lastly, latticed casements with silk curtains
^ It still exists.
464 JAVA
completed the floating saloon. From Sourabaya to Grissee the
journey was easily performed in five hours."
When the English arrived here in 1811 we learn that the
fort at the mouth of the river was called " Fort Calamaas "
and mounted forty guns, and that the barracks in the town
of Sourabaya, built of bamboo, plastered over and white-
washed, were capable of accommodating eight hundred men.
Not far away there was a powerful fort on the island of
Madura, called " Lodewyck," and Daendels seriously
thought at one time of making a bamboo bridge or a way
across. The town when Daendels came made considerable
headway. Vessels were built and equipped ; an arsenal
and other extensive works were soon turning out guns and
carriages, and a mint issued a new silver and copper coinage.
Daendels started building a Government House here on
the same model as at Weltevreden, but owing to the
foundations of the front giving way the building was
abandoned ; but that part which stood firm was turned
by the English into warehouses.
The Europeans were on one side of the river, the Chinese
and natives on the other. A bridge with draw-chains to
raise it for the passage of vessels connected the two quarters.
The European houses were very good and roomy, and some
in the suburbs — the country seats of private individuals —
quite handsome. The house at Simpang, where the first
British Resident, Colonel Gibbs, of His Majesty's 78th
Pv,egiment, resided, was a rather fine building. It was
situated on the banks of the river.^ Near to it, also on the
banks of the river, was the general hospital, built on a very-
liberal plan. At this time there was no hospital in Java
more commodious than this one, and, seeing it is still in use,
the true foresight is seen of building well once for all.
The roads and avenues round about Sourabaya, as
^ It is still in use as the Resident's house.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 465
described by one of the English officers, were at this time
dehghtful, being shaded by trees on both sides ; and
mention is made that the De Noyo cantonment was the
quarters of the mihtary in the eastern division. In 1812
the land rental of Sourabaya exceeded that of any of the
other districts, for without reckoning the valuation of lands
provisionally assigned to native chiefs, which roughly
amounted to 73,302 rupees, the landed revenue under the
British Government was stated to be 667,178 rupees ; while
salt brought in 50,000 rupees, opium 100,000 rupees, and
town customs 50,000 rupees — making a grand total of
867,178 rupees.
It was not, however, until 1813 that the export and
mercantile business of the place took such proportions as to
attract English merchants. The first to come here were
two Englishmen, who at the beginning merely kept small
stores. This will, however, all be related in the " Com-
mercial " chapter. The first cemetery at Sourabaya was
at a place called Krambangan, but since 1848 at Penellay
(Peneleli).
Opposite to the British Eesident's house was the old
village of Tagassan, within a few yards of which place was
a huge figure called Djaka Dolok^ seated cross-legged. One
is naturally led at once to believe it to represent some
Buddhist deity, although the natives to this day insist that
it is the effigy of a Chinaman who suffered death for offending
one of the first Dutch commandants. Tliis, however, must
be wrong, for a close examination proves its Hindu origin.
It was placed where it now is in a.d. 1289, and is the life-
like ef&gy of the Hindu ruler of this district at that date,
called Kerta Nagara.
The tale of cruelty alluded to by the natives is of more
recent date ; it is worth relating.
The road from early days running before the Eesident's
1 Stm there.
J. — VOL. I. H H
466 JAVA
house was called Cobang (now Goebeng), and that which
branches off it went by the name of Simpang. All this
country and land around once belonged to a very rich
Chinaman, who resided in the middle of his park with his
family, in a house luxuriously fitted up in Chinese style.
The Dutch commandant at this time was a man called
Chojius.^ Deciding that this park would be the most
desirable place for a residency and hospital, he sent word
to the Chinaman that he was prepared to make a consider-
able offer for the land as the Government wanted it. The
Chinaman, however, replied that as he intended to live
there during his lifetime, and after his death to leave it to
his children, he would not part with it for any money.
Chojius now sent for the Chinaman and, explaining the
situation, warned him of the consequences. The Chinaman,
however, proved obdurate, and Chojius, at last becoming
irritated, drew from his pocket two cents and threw them
on the table, saying, " There ! as you will not take what I
have offered you and refuse to name a price, in the name of
the Dutch Government I give you a coban [goeheng] and I
will simpang [simpang, the Malay word which means keep]
your estates." Mortified and overwhelmed, the Chinaman
withdrew. It was the custom in those days when the
" senior merchant " or commandant went out for a ride or
drive that the native population sat down on the side of the
road (this was an old Hindu custom when the emperor
passed) ; the day when Chojius was passing the Chinaman
whose estates had been taken away from him refused to
bend down, saying, quivering with rage when told to do so,
that the commandant would have to kill him first before he
would do it. " Very well," said Chojius when he heard
this, and ordering the man to be seized, he had him beheaded
next morning. Such is the tale of how the sunbunds of
* I have not been able to find this name, but it may have been what he
was called by the Chinese.
THE TOWNS m JAVA, ETC. 467
Simpang and Goebeng came by their name. At a very
early date the hotel, or " heeren logement " as the Dutch
called it, was that which is now known as the Hotel des
Indes. It was considered a spacious building at the begin-
ning of the nineteenth century.
Sourabaya is now the most thriving town in Java, being
one of the centres of the sugar trade, and its export and
import trade has reached huge figures, as a reference to the
statistics will show. The restaurants, shops, and emporiums
vie with those of the capital ; one of the principal shops is
an English one known as " Hendersons."
There is also a splendid new club, which has replaced the
old one called the Simpang Club.
There is an old theatre that was built in 1851.^ A town
clock, erected by the British, headed by their vice-consul,
Mr. Warren, to commemorate the Queen of Holland's
coronation, stands as a prominent monument in the middle
of the town. A tramway runs through the town. There
are tennis, golf, cricket and football clubs, which are well
patronised by both the Dutch and English ; and for social
gaiety there is no town in Java equal to it.
Sourabaya is still expanding, and will go on expanding
for a long time yet to come.
In the old cemetery at Krambangan there is a stone to
the memory of Captain Edward Masquerier, of the " Country
Service," who died during the English period on the 30th
April, 1814, at the age of 42.
EUROPEAN SENIORS, CAPTAINS OR RESIDENTS OF
SOURABAYA, 1660—1912.
1. Dutch East India Company's Period.
1660. WiUem Bastinck, senior merchant.'^
1680. Johannes van Mecheleri, senior merchant, appointed
19th January,
1 Donald McLacMan and Thomas Bonhote were chiefly interested in
its erection.
2 Before this the Kesident of Sourabaya hved at Japara. On the 9th
HH2
468 JAVA
1683. Abraham Holscher, junior merchants, appointed 7th
September ; discharged in 1685 by Jeremias van Vhet when he
inspected the Sourabaya Settlement.
1685. On the 19th October the " Raad of India " considered
the question of transferring the headquarters of the Company
from Sourabaya to Grissee.
1686. Joan Struis.
1687. Jan Barvelt, captain-Ueutenant.
1690. Joan de Moor, captain.
1691. Jan Barvelt, captain.
1692. Michiel Ram, captain ; went 27th March, 1693, to Japara.
1698. Anthony Zas, captain-lieutenant, appointed 26th
August.
1700. Pieter Hogerhnde, captain, appointed 12th November ;
until he arrived Lieutenant Oelof Christiaanz was acting there.
1704. William Sergeant, captain, appointed 30th September.
1709. W. Boreel, captain, appointed 6th September.
1710. Jan van Westrenen, captain head of Sourabaya,
appointed 14th October.
1716. Stephanus van der Lely, heutenant, appointed captain
25th February, 1716 ; captain-heutenant of Sourabaya, 30th July,
1717 ; captain of Sourabaya, 22nd February, 1718.
1719. PhiHp Vogel, captain, appointed 28th April. In 1721
Van Alsem took over charge of the civil and commercial depart-
ments, which were now for the first time separated from the
mihtary.
1721. Thomas van Alsem, merchant, appointed 22nd July,
1721, for the prevention of the Company's interests receding
(under the mihtary captain in rank).
1725. Jan Sautijn, appointed 6th March.
1728. Rykloff Duyvens, merchant, appointed 27th February.
1732. Jacob Roman, appointed 8th July.
1733. Cornelis Anthony Lons, merchant, appointed 10th July.
1735. Bartholemeus Visscher, merchant, appointed 4th
October.
1739. Benjamin Blom, merchant, appointed 28th July.
1741. Vincent van Wingerden, merchant, appointed 14th July ;
died at Sourabaya.
1742. Reynier de Klerck, under merchant (provisional resi-
dent), appointed 30th July; on 11th November, 1743, by a
treaty, the Soesvehoenan ceded Sourabaya to the East India
Company under the article regarding " reconcihation," " peace,"
"friendship," and " alliance."
1743. Gillis Keyser, upper head, appointed 1st August ;
promoted 7th August to merchant.
June, 1705, the garrison at Sourabaya consisted of one hundred men.
They lived in a fort.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 469
1746. Reynier de Klerck, senior merchant, upper head of
east coast, appointed 1st June, 1746 ; second of Java, 24th March,
1747 ; promoted Governor of Banda, 30th December, 1748.
1748. Dirk Willem van der Brugghen, merchant with the
rank of senior merchant, upper head of Sourabaya, appointed
31st December, 1748.
1751. Meester Petrus Schik, upper head, appointed 29th June,
1751.
1754. Christiaan Benjamin Rhener, major, later senior
merchant, captain of Sourabaya, appointed 13th September.
1755. Abraham Christoffel Coertz, upper head, appointed
27th June, 1755 ; received the title of " Senior merchant, captain
of the east coast," 2nd September, 1756.
1763. Hendrik Breton, captain of the east coast and Second of
the Government of Java's north-east coast, appointed 1st
February.
1765. Meester Johan Everhard Coop a Groen, senior merchant,
captain of the east coast, appointed 30th July.
1769. Meester Pieter Lusac, upper head of Sourabaya, captain
of the east coast, appointed 15th September.
1775. Rudolph Florentinus van der Niepoort, senior merchant,
captain of the east coast, appointed 15th December ; discharged
at his own request, 20th April, 1784.
1784. Barend Willem Fockens, captain of Java's north-east
coast, appointed 20th April ; died at Sourabaya.
1784. Anthony Barkey, senior merchant, captain of the east
coast, appointed 18th June.
1794. Dirk van Hogendorp, senior merchant, captain of the
east coast, appointed 12th February,
1798. Wonter Hendrik van Ysseldyk, commissioner over
Java east coast, appointed 1st January.
2. Java a Crown Colony of Holland.
1799. Frederik Jacob Rothen-buhler, senior merchant, captain
of the east coast, appointed 6th September.
1809. Ridder J. A. van Middelkoop, captain, later prefect
and landrost of Java east coast, appointed 18th April.
1810. Petrus Adrianus Goldbach, landrost, appointed
September.
3. English Occupation of Java.
1811. Colonel Gibbs, Resident.
1812. Colonel Alexander Adams, His Majesty's 78th Regiment,
appointed Resident 25th July.
470 JAVA
1814. John Crawfurd,^ Resident of Sourabaya and Bangkalan,
appointed 27th October.
1815. Wilham Ainshe,^ Resident of Sourabaya and Bangkalan,
appointed 19th August.
4. Java again a Crown Colony of Holland,
1816. Pieter Overbeeck and Carel Rauws, appointed commis-
sioners to take over the Government of Sourabaya from the
EngUsh.
1816. Phihp Herbert, Baron van Lawick van Pabst, acting
Resident.
1817. Jonkheer Adriaan Maurits Theodorus, Baron de Sahs,
Resident, appointed 12th November.
1822. P. van der Poel, Resident, appointed in March.
1824. Meester Bernard Hendrik Alexander Besier, Resident,
appointed in January.
1827(?). Henry MacGillavry, Resident.
1827. B. W. Pinket van Hask, Resident, appointed in
September.
1830. Jonkheer Adriaan Maurits Theodorus, Baron de Sahs,
acting President, appointed 8th April.
1831. Hendrik Jacob Domis, Resident, appointed 5th March.
1834. Carel Jan Riesz, major-general, acting Resident,
appointed January.
1839. Meester Daniel Francois Willem Pietermaart,^ Resident,
appointed 9th March, 1839 ; died at Sourabaya, 30th November,
1848.
1848. Pierre Jean Baptiste de Perez, Resident, appointed
8th December.
1852(?). H. F. Buschkens, acting Resident.
1853. Gerardus CorneHs Schonck, acting Resident, appointed
5th January.
1853. Pieter Vreede Bik, Resident, appointed 4th April.
1857. Jean Jacques Modderman, acting Resident, appointed
1st December, 23rd March, 1858.
1858. Jonkheer Meester Herman Constantyn van der Wyck,
Resident, appointed 4th February.
1860. Otto van Rees, Resident, appointed 14th May.
1864. Carel Phihp Conrad Steinmetz, Resident, appointed
18th March.
1865. Henri Maximihaan Andree Wiltens, Resident, appointed
28th December.
> rormerly Resident of Djockja Karta, later Governor of Singapore.
"^ Brother of Dr. Ainalie, Resident of Djockja Karta, 1815.
' Grandfather of A. K. W. Prins, a partner of Maclaine, Watson & Co.,
and later head of the firm of Prins & Co., brokers, Samarang.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 471
1868. Salomon van Deventer, Resident, appointed 20th April.
1873. Philip Willem Abraham van Spall, Resident, appointed
3rd August.
1876. Frederick Beyerinck, Resident, appointed 11th
December.
1884. Jonkheer Carel Herman Aart van der Wyck, Resident,
appointed 29th May.
1888. Johan Cornelis Theodoras Kroesen, Resident, appointed
18th May.
1896. Hendrik Willem van Ravenswaay, Resident, appointed
20th July.
1901. L. C. A. F. Lange, Resident, appointed 16th September.
1905. R. H. Ebbinck, Resident, appointed 11th August.
1908 — 1912. J. Einthoven, Resident, appointed 29th May.
Samarang.
By an act or deed dated the 15th January, 1678, between
the Sultan of Mataram and the Dutch Admiral Speelman
the town of Samarang, together with all its neighbouring
villages and land, became the property of the East India
Company. From 1743 until the end of the Company's rule
this was the capital of Java's north coast, and from 1754 the
seat of a Governor. The first Governor was that splendid
statesman Nicolaas Hartingh, and the last was Nicolaas
Engelhard, who was such friends with the English and who
was later on the " Raad van Indie " (Viceroy's Council), and
still later owner of the estate " Poudok Gedeh." In 1816
Samarang was reduced to a Residency, after having already
been lowered in importance a few years before the great
Daendels.
Formerly the town of Japara was the capital of this part
of the island — a town which was inhabited in all probability
by Hindus two thousand years ago. The earliest mention
we have of Samarang is in 1719, when it appears to have
consisted of a small fort with a very insignificant number
of Europeans in it, and, outside, a few Chinese dealers.
Of this fort and its garrison all we know is that the former
had five sides, whilst the latter probably did not consist of
472 JAVA
above thirty or forty men. In 1741, however, Samarang
had risen in importance, and when the war of 1746, known
as the third Java War of Succession, broke out it had done
so still more. Nicolaas Hartingh was known as the " Director
and Governor of Java's North Coast," with headquarters at
Samarang ; he came and arranged matters when the war
was ended and split (1754) the empire of Mataram in two,
thus weakening it to the advantage of the Dutch.
In these days Samarang was considered the most lucrative
port for the Company's servants, and the Governor, Nicolaas
Hartingh, in 1754, although " he never did any business
outside what he was entitled to ! " left to his children more
than £100,000 sterling, one third of which he had made while
in Samarang.^ It was one of Hartingh's successors that kept
up such tremendous style at Bodjong in 1787 and onwards.
By this time a wall had been built round Samarang, and
all the Europeans lived inside ; only the Governor lived
outside in a large house, which was built in Boeijang about
1770 or earlier. Boeijang, we are told, was more than half
an hour from the town ; here a company of dragoons was
stationed Avhich turned out in full dress spick and span
every morning at 7 a.m., and stood at attention in the
blazing sun until his Excellency had the goodness to come
out in his pyjamas and thank the officer in command and
give his orders for the day. If the Governor visited Sama-
rang the dragoons followed him as a " life guard," and on
entering the town he was received with a salute of twenty-
one guns, a similar honour being paid him when departing.
His sumptuous dinners and balls to the " fifty qualified rank
and fashion " of Samarang in those days are worthy of a
book to themselves. Everything this gentleman did was
carried out in a style far exceeding that ever assumed by
any European emperor or king ; a good deal of this show,
however, was required by the East India Company on
^ See Chapter XX., " The Commercial History of Java."
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 473
account of the Governor's relations with the important
Javan princes, upon whom it was very necessary to impress
the great dignity of the Governor. In these early days
the chief export was rice and cotton-yarn. The principal
village then was Torabaya.
The old wall, bits of which can be still seen here and
there, began at Tawang, where the Government warehouses
still stand. Taking these all in and sweeping with a curve
up to Comedy Street (Comedie Straat), it ran down this
in a line from where the town hospital (Stadsverband) and
theatre are now situated, opposite a long line of very old
buildings still standing, which were the quarters of the
British officers and their wives in 1811. The wall continued
in a straight line, cutting through the place occupied by the
Samarang-Joana Steam Tram Company for a godown.
Here another sweep was taken to the right, and it continued
in a straight line until it came to the river, then turning
again sharp off to the right until it reached the warehouses
at Tawang, thus completing the square. There were four
openings of portways — one was at Tawang (this would lead
down to the sea), one at each end of the Heeren Straat, and
one at the end of the Kerk Straat (Church Street). The
part facing the sea was destroyed in 1809, the other three
parts in 1824.
Where the old church stood is not quite clear ; it has
been described, however, as " a small but fine church." At
the end of the eighteenth century the fashionable meeting-
place seems to have been Paradeplein. An old cemetery
was near where the office of Messrs. Mirandolle, Vonte & Co.
now^ stands, and one still older near the Weduwen Straat.
The centre of the town in early days was round about the
Paradeplein, and the breath of air to be here found must
have been welcome to the English officers in their cramped
houses with a high wall immediately opposite them prevent-
ing any circulation of air.
474 JAVA
Where now the Hotel Jansen stands^ are some old walled-
in military buildings carrying the date 1775. Here there
formerly stood a special gallows for the soldiers, who appear
to have been of a particularly low class, as executions and
strangulations were of almost daily occurrence in those days.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century the " society "
or club was in a building occupied now by Barendse, who
uses it for a " garage " and a shop in which to keep motor
cars.
In 1811, when the English took possession of Samarang,
Captain Robert Garnham, the first British Resident, took
up his abode in the magnificent palace which was immedi-
ately built in the place of the old one at the very end of
Bodjong. The first old Government house, formerly the
residence of the Governor, from about 1720 was near to and
faced the river. It was planted with shady trees and railed
round ; inside were several fine apartments, furnished in
European style. It must have stood where the gasworks
now are. We are told that the town had a neat appearance,
with a number of good houses ; it has also a fine, large
church, built in 1794, a new town house (in Paradeplein),
and a variety of other buildings, both elegant and com-
modious, not only within, but also without the city. There
was also a mihtary school.* The EngHsh found that the
" Dutch here showed a pleasing sociabiHty of disposition
and hilarity of behaviour which compared favourably with
the gloomy indolence of the Batavian families." The
principal families lived in Tawang, but in the environs
(that is Bodjong way) there were numerous villas.
The Chinese and native population was already consider-
able. Under the new system of ground rental brought into
use by Raffles the territorial revenue for Samarang in 1814
was 508,830 rupees, exclusive of land assessments provi-
* One of the best hotels in Mid Java.
' I believe the building which is now used as the hospital.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 475
sionally assigned to native chiefs. The salt revenue was
200,000, opium 24,080, and the town duties 200,000, making
a total of 1,032,910 rupees.
At the present day Samarang is a thriving town with an
increasing European population of eight thousand and nearly
twenty thousand Chinese, Arabs, and other varieties. The
present Government offices were built in 1854, the building
in use previously to this having been burnt down — it is said
on purpose — by some clerk to hide a deficiency in the cash.
On the hill below Djomblang some old Armenian graves are
to be seen, and in the Gegadjie Hills is the old private
cemetery of the families of Cranmer and Bornemann, who
were buried here early in the eighteenth century. There
are five pyramids ; one is to Lieutenant C. G. H. Bornemann,
the hero of the Demak fight in 1825, related in the last
chapter. On the road leading to Kendal is the private
graveyard of the Johannes family, an American family of
high standing, who came to Java at the time of the English
and did a large merchant's business at Samarang.
There is a very good club at Samarang called the "Har-
monic," built in 1909, some excellent shops (Meyer Hillers-
trom, Zikel Spiegel, etc.), and a restaurant or two (Sambers
Hoogvelt, etc.). There are two large churches, Protestant
and Koman Catholic, a handsome club or canteen for non-
commissioned officers, two or three good hotels, the
principal being called " Jansen's " and " Pavihon," and
a Protestant orphanage. This about completes the list of
important buildings. A tramway service runs through the
town into the suburbs, and the town is served, like every
other town in Java of any importance, with a local telephone,
as also a long land line communicating with Sourabaya,
Batavia, and other ports in Java. There is a race club here,
originally formed in 1826, but after a number of years of
inactivity re-formed and reconstituted in 1908.
All the British community, and some of the principal
476 JAVA
Dutch families, live at a place called Tjandi, a hill 300 feet
above Samarang. Here are some excellent golf, cricket,
hockey, and football clubs ; there is also a social club here
called the Tjandi Club.
The town of Samarang is increasing in importance.
On the Kesident's staff at Samarang in 1813 were Lieu-
tenant Cotes, who later on, in 1821, became a part owner
of the estate of " Getas " with Gillian Maclaine, of Maclaine,
Watson & Co. ; there was also a J. A. Doormick, detached
to Japara and Joana for the collection of customs, whose
name is still known to the present day in Middle Java.
Later on Alexander London,^ of the frigate Huzzar, w^orked
in the custom house at Samarang as a senior clerk, and even-
tually became collector.
A relic of the part is the old fort called " Prince Orange,"
still existing at Pontjol, near the race-course.
In the old cemetery at Samarang on the Padaplein there
were formerly the following grave-stones of well-known
Englishmen who died during the English period : —
Lieutenant J. H. Aspinwall, quartermaster of the 4th Bengal
Battalion ; died on the 11th July, 1814.
Lieutenant-Colonel Butler, His Majesty's Deputy- Adjutant-
General of the Forces of Java ; died on the 7th March, 1815.
Of later date there is one to James Crawfurd,^ a partner in
Deans, Scott & Co. (and brother to John Crawfurd, the Resident
of Djockjakarta and elsewhere, and later Governor of Singapore),
who died on the 22nd July, 1820. The grave-stones have now all
been removed. ^
The register containing these deaths was burnt in the fire
at the Eesident's of&ce in 1850. There are also graves as
follows : —
Very old grave, EngHsh style ; name indeUble : Javans say
an Englishman buried here.
1 See material to be hereafter published.
"^ Hie history will be given in material to be published later.
» No one knows where they are I
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC.
477
Very old grave, English style ; name indelible : Javans say
an Englishman buried here.
Grabschryft
EQer ruhed in Gott
Clara Louisia Hoff
Geborne om Friede,
aus Vagingen an der
Ens geburthig,
Gebohrenden 19 Jany., 1764.
Gestorbernden 26 July, 1817
hi der Ehe gelebt
28 Jahren.
Grabschrift
Hier ruhet in
Gote Den Heer
JoHANN Jacob Hoff
im leben Chirugien
Major von het Regiment
von Wurtemberg Stads
docter und Geburtshelfer
auf Samarang Gebohren zie.
Gelnhaussen au der Kuntz
anno 1762 den 28 April.
Gestooben den 15 Mei 1831.
Hier Rust
Onze gehefde Vaden
C. G. Remeus.
Geboren 6 October 1830.
Overleden 10 Januari 1877.
Hier Rust
Laurens Nagel
geboren 22 October 1883.
Overleden 10 September 1904.
Ambtenaar N. I. S.
(Old cemetery at Seteran, in Samarang ; in use in the
time of the EngHsh occupation of Java.)
Hier Rust Hier Rust
AuGUSTiNA Elisabeth Cramer Carl Friedich Cramer :
Weduwe van Wylen geboren den 28 October 1769 ;
C. G. H. D. Bornemann : gestowen den 23 January 1824.
geb. 1 Mei 1802. Denkt aan hem, met
Overleden 18 July 1856. een aan U.
Hier Rust
Ajstna Ruisenaar
weduve van Wylen
Carl Friedich Cramer
geb 10 April 1784.
Gewyd
aan den nagedachtenis
van myn gehejden broeder
H. P. Ch. HUYGEN DE RaAT
geb te 's Gravenhage 19 Mei 1822 ;
Overleden 25 Mei 1856. overleden to Samarang 9 Januari 1843.
Hier Rust
JoHAN Friedrich Bornemann :
geb te Hanover 27 October 1804 ;
overleden to Samarang 25 Mei 1856.
Old private burial ground at Gegadjie Hill, Samarang
The tombs are in the form of pyramids.
478 JAVA
Hier Rust
Johanna Petronella
VAN Son :
Gude niim 4 jaren ;
gestorven Mei 1836.
(Old grave of a daughter of Resident van Son behind
Sir Stamford Raffles's old palace at Bodjong,
Samarang.)
English Grave-stones in the Samarang Cemetery.
Grave-stone of the English Time still Standing.
1. Sacred to the memory of George Hofland, Esqr., Captain
of the Country Service ; departed this life 2nd December, 1818,
aged 54 years.
Grave-stones since the English Time.
2. Sacred to the memory of Joseph Bremner, who departed
this Ufe on the 14th May, 1830.
3. A la memoire du capitaine d'artillerie Jean Joseph Essers,
ne a Raadheim Limbourg le 2 Fevrier, 1794 ; decede a Oenarang
le 19 Avril, 1855. Sa femme et ses enfants, reconnaissants.
4. Sacred to the memory of James Craweord Gray, born
Sept. 6th, 1835 ; died Nov. 27th, 1865.
5. In memory of Eliza Symons, born in London 25th January,
1803 ; died at Samarang 17th December, 1872. " thou my
God save the servant, that trusted in thee."
6. Sacred to the memory of Mary Annie, infant daughter
of George and Annie Henderson, who departed this life
May 23rd, 1874.
7. Sacred to the memory of Robert, the beloved son of James
B. and Mary T. Clark, born at Batavia on the 17th January,
1875 ; died at Samarang on the 23rd August, 1876.
8. Richard Hutchinson, bom January 3rd, 1842 ; died
January 10th, 1876.
9. Sacred to the memory of Captain Salomon Nickerson, of
bark " Olustee," born September, 1813 ; died November 21st,
1877 ; native of Chatham, Mass., U.S. America.
10. Sacred to the memory of Henry Charles Do\vnie, born
9th Feb., 1847 ; died 25th Jan., 1886.
11. Sacred to the memory of Jane Young Smail, aged 28 years,
beloved wife of Captain William Smith, of the British ship
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 479
" Firth of Clyde," who departed this Ufe 13th August, 1887, on
the passage between Batavia and Samarang. Deeply regretted.
12. In loving memory of William Barlow, died 12th August,
1893, at Samarang, aged 65 years. Not lost but gone before.
13. In loving memory of James Munro Ryerell, R.N.R.,
Commander B. I. S. N. Co., who died on board his steamer, the
" Satara," at Samarang, September 29th, 1908, aged 44 years.
Deeply regretted. Erected by his brother and sisters.
14. In memory of Ernest Crawford Smith, late third
engineer A. S. N. Co. s.s. " Pasha " ; died September 6th, 1910,
aged 24 years. Erected by his brother officers.
EUROPEAN SENIORS, CAPTAINS, RESIDENTS, OR
GOVERNORS OF SAMARANG, 1708—1911.
1. Dutch East India Company's Period.
1708. WUlem Drost, merchant.
1709. Pieter Metzu, senior merchant.
1714. Komelis Jongbloed, senior merchant.
1715. Georg Frederik Beihvits, senior merchant.
1715. Gaspar de Hartog, senior merchant.
17 17^ — 1721. Johan Frederik Gobius, captain-general.
1717 — 1719. Pieter Wybers, merchant.
1722. Jacob Willem Dubbeldekop, captain-general.
1725 — 1726. Pieter Gysbert Noodt, captain-general.
1726. Willem Tersmitten, captain.
1730. Frederik JuUus Coyett, captain-general.
1733. Ryklof Duyvensz, captain-general.
1737, Nicolras Crul, captain-general.
1739. Bartholomeus Vissner, captain-general.
1741. Abraham Roos.
1741 — 1744, Hugo Veryssel, commissioner.
1742 — 1744. Joan Herman Theling, captain-general.
1744. Elso Sterrenberg, captain-general.
1747. Joan Andries Baron von Hohendorff, Governor (captain-
general, 1747 ; Governor and Director, 1748).
1754, Nicolaas Hartingh, Governor.
1761. Willem Hendrik van Offenberch, Governor.
1765, Johannes Vos, Governor,
1771, Johannes Robbert van der Burgh, Governor.
1780, Johannes Siberg, Governor.
1787. Jan Greeve, Governor.
1791, Pieter Gerardus van Overstraten, Governor.
1796, Johan Fredrik, Baron van Reede tot de Parkeler,
Governor.
1 This year until 1719 the power was divided.
480 JAVA
2. Java a Crown Colony of Holland.
1803. Nicolaas Engelhard, Governor.
1809. Veekens, acting Resident.
1810. P. A, Goldbach, Resident.
1811. J. H. Middel Koop, Resident.
3. English Occupation of Java.
1812. Captain R. C. Garnham, Resident.
1813. Colonel John Eales, Resident.
1814. William AinsUe, Resident and Magistrate.
1815. John Crawfurd, Resident and Magistrate.
4. Java again a Crown Colony of Holland.
1816. H. A. Parve, Appointed Commissioner to take over the
Government of Samarang from the EngUsh.
1816. J. de Bruin, Resident.
1819. M. N. Servatius, Resident.
1822. H. J. Dormis, Resident.
1826. P. H. Lawick van Pabst, Resident.
1830. P. le Clercq, Resident.
1834. H. J. van Son, Resident,
1838. G. L. Band, Resident.
1842. Mr. J. F. M. van Nes, Resident.
1842. Jonkheer J. W. H. Smissaert, Resident.
1846. A. A. Buylkes, Resident.
1850. H. D. Potter, Resident.
1857. Mr. D. C. A. Graaf van Hogendorp, Resident.
1862. Jonkheer Ch. van Capellen, Resident.
1864. A. A. M. N. Keuchenius, Resident.
1868. J. C. de Kock van Leeuwen, Resident.
1868. E. H. A. van de Poel, Resident.
1873. N. D. Lammers van Toorenburg, Resident.
1875. G. M. N. van der Kaa, Resident.
1877. N. H. van der Hell, Resident.
1881. P. F. Wegener, Resident.
1884. T. M. van Vlenten, Resident.
1885. P. F. Wegener, Resident.
1897. P. F. Sythoff, Resident.
1905. H. C. A. G. de Vogel, Resident.
Kendal.
Kendal is the so-called capital or head place of the
western division of the Residency of Samarang.
Round here are no less than three sugar fabricks and fifty-
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 481
two coffee, kina cocoa, or kopak estates,^ while there are also
rice, polowidjo, tobacco, and tea estates near.
In ancient days the Hindus had an establishment not far
from here, and during the old East India Company's time
it was always a place of fair importance, being on the main
road.
Marshal Daendels seems to have owned land in this part
of Java in 1810, which his family retained down to 1840.
Chbribon.
This port only came to be known after Demak had
become Mahometanised in 1477, and a " Sultan " of Cheri-
bon, a representative of the Sultan of Demak, came and
settled here. It is of course quite possible, and even prob-
able, that there was a small kampong or village here before
this dating from the Hindu period, as Cheribon was always
on the way from the Preanger to the Samarang and Japara
districts, which we know were peopled at a very early date.
Under the standard and protection of the sultan, however,
the place made headway and the population increased
rapidly.
The Dutch settled here in 1676 and built a fort. This the
English seized in 1811. Cheribon had by this time become
quite an important place, exporting rice, sugar, coffee,
pepper, cotton-yarn, edible birds' nests, etc. The splendour,
however, of its former sovereigns had already vanished. It
is true a sultan still ruled as a sort of honorary distinction,
but the Dutch had deprived him of all power and taken away
all liis possessions, merely giving him a pension.
The English after their conquest concluded an arrange-
ment \sith the sultan, who consented to the internal adminis-
tration of the country being exercised by the British Govern-
ment in consideration of his being secured in possession of
> Nearly all of wMch at one time belonged wholly or partly to the
Enghsh firm of McNeill & Co.
J. — VOL. I. II
482 JAVA
certain tracts of land belonging to his ancestors, with a con-
tinuation of the annual pension in money which he had
previously enjoyed. Accordingly the capitation tax was
abolished and a land rent introduced, calculated according
to the produce of the soil in Heu of all arbitrary contributions
formerly delivered to Government.
The feudal services of the inhabitants were now abolished,
and the British Government agreed to pay an equitable
price for the produce of the land or the labours of the people
when they were required for public service.
Under this arrangement the territorial revenues of
Cheribon, including the duties on salt, opium and the town
customs, are given for 1814 as being 255,306 rupees, exclu-
sive of the lands provisionally assigned to native chiefs, the
value of which amounted to 34,270 rupees. As a matter
of fact, when the English arrived there were four Arab-
Javans at Cheribon calling themselves " sultan," whose
ancestors at one time they said held all the country to the
east as far as Samarang and far into the interior to the south
and west to Bandoeng. Their claims even included Buiten-
zorg (the seat of the old empire of Pajajaran).
At the present day the town is of considerable importance,
doing a large business in sugar, which is shipped off for the
most part by Van Putten & Co., which firm does a large
business at Tegal and Pekalongan ; also Burt, Myrtle & Co.
have an agency here under their own name, but with this
exception all the merchant houses here are Dutch.
The ancient mosque and mausoleum erected to Sheik
Melana still exists, although it is sadly decayed.^
Cheribon, Tegal, and Pekalongan are joined, not only to
one another, but also to Samarang by rail.
From Cheribon to Samarang is eleven hours.
During the British occupation the first Kesident here was
Lieutenant-Colonel W. Eaban.
1 An account of it is given elsewhere.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 483
Copy of Deed of Assignivient issued by Sm Staiviford Raffles
TO THE SULTAJSr OP ChERIBON.
" Deed of Assignment to Sultan g^rj^oo Moohummed
Kummorood t-. i i • i •
Shemsood ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^'^ ^^''«-
" Whereas by an agreement between Sultan g^rjpoo ^^
Cheribon and the Government of Java in the month of July, 1813
His Highness the said Sultan did voluntarily transfer the
immediate management of the Revenue and Judicial Administra-
tion of that country (as recorded in the Proceedings of Govern-
ment in the Separate and Revenue Departments in July 1813
Copy of which is deposited in the office of the Resident of Cheribon)
for and in consideration of an annual fixed payment in money
and the assignment of certain Lands of which the said Sultan
should enjoy the Revenues. This is to certify that the said
Sultan gurinoo ^^^ ^^^ heirs are duly entitled to receive on this
account the annual sum of eight thousand rupees payable from
the Revenues of the said District of Cheribon and further to
enjoy the Revenues of the land assigned to him (as per Schedule
here-unto annexed) so long as the arrangement then and therein
agreed to shall continue to be maintained by the Government,
of Java.
" Thos. Raffles,
*' M. Nightingale.
" W. J. Cranssen.
" By order of the Honble.
Lieutenant-Governor in
Council.
" C. AssEY (Sec. to Govt.)
" Council Chamber, Batavia, the 21st April, 1815.
" Assessed value of Lands per annum as per schedule
10096—29
Rs.
9710—14 . "Thos. Raffles."
Tegal.
When the English arrived this town, which went under
the name of " Taggal," was of little importance. There was
a Resident and a few of the old Company's servants, who
received into the Company's warehouse the produce delivered
ii2
484 JAVA
under forced contract with the local pangeran or prince.
There were no military. A big kampong had, however, risen
at the foot of the mountain there, and a considerable number
of Chinamen, as elsewhere, had established themselves here.
Even, however, in those days there was a small church, and,
although there were no military, a fort, which still stands,
was there to retreat to in case of any rising by the natives.
The town was described as of neat appearance, the
Eesident's house being a handsome building and very com-
modious.^ Tegal was always a very fertile land, and was
looked upon as the granary for Batavia and the eastern
islands.
The net land rental when the new arrangement made by
KafEes came into force is given for the year 1814 as 245,653
rupees.
Since those days Tegal has grown, and the town is to-day
a busy and thriving one, the sugar shipped off reaching
large figures.
In 1811 the first British Eesident was Lieutenant- Colonel
J. R. Keasberry, the forerunner in Java of a well-known
family which later on had a great deal of influence in
Pasoeroean.^
There is at Tegal a stone to the memory of this Resident,
who died whilst in office on the 29th April, 1814.
Pekalongan.
Pekalongan, or as it was called at the time of the English
*' Paccalongang," is 282 miles from Batavia and of compara-
tively recent growth.
In 1810 there was a Dutch Resident here, and a numerous
native and Chinese population, but not many Dutch
families. In earlier days Pekalongan was governed by a
1 It still stands just outside the fort.
2 A descendant is at this day in the firm of Fraser, Eaton & Co., Soura-
baya.
kand.ien(i pangakax hark) adi soerio.
(son of the sultan by a secon-
dary WIFE.)
(iOESTI PANciAKAX HARlU TED.TO KOE-
SOEMO. (son of THE SULTAN AND
THE RATU,)
KANDJENG PANOARAN ARIO SOERIO DI
NIGRAT. (son of THE SULTAN.)
KANDJENG PANGARAN PAHOE NINGRAT.
(son OF THE SULTAN BY A SECON-
DARY WIFE.)
THE TOWNS m JAVA, ETC. 485
''junior merchant" (onder koopman), and produced rice
and sugar. The great miHtary road constructed by Daendels
with forced labour ran through Cheribon, Tegal and Peka-
longan, and near Batang. In the last-named province a
large number of natives are said to have perished whilst
making the road through the wild marshy forest. Daendels
insisted on its being carried through in a given time, and is
even said to have proceeded to the spot to hang the regent
if it was not ready.
Near Kendal is the river Bodri, which Daendels was able
to cross in his carriage, there not being much water in it ;
he, however, sent for the regent and threatened him with
dire consequences if there was not a bridge for him to cross
over on his return journey. The story goes that the regent,
being unable to carry this out, ordered several hundred
natives into the river when Daendels returned, and on their
heads placed broad and long planks, exhibiting a large even
surface of Avoodwork ; across this in his carriage and four
Daendels is said to have driven. The revenue in 1814 was
346,176 rupees. To-day Pekalongan is a fair-sized town,
with a large sugar export.
The first British Resident in 1811 was Mr. J. C. Lawrence.
Japara.
Japara is a place of great antiquity, having been inhabited
about two thousand years ago. It was the principal outlet
for the first and earliest empire of Mataram.^ It was also
one of the first Dutch and English establishments in the
Eastern Seas.
At the time of Raffles the town and the fort were on the
west side of the peninsula ; and there was an old Moorish
stone temple with some beautiful sculptures of images
and shrubs at least four hundred years old. The Chinese
1 Mendang Kamulan.
486 JAVA
inhabitants here in 1811 were numerous, but the town has
decUned, being to-day of no importance whatever.
Governor Hartingh visited this place about 1790, sending
his dragoons (mentioned under the heading of " Samarang ")
ahead of him to cheer him on his arrival. He left Samarang
at midnight, the forts saluting him with one hundred and
one guns and all the musketeers letting off their muskets as
he embarked. Something, however, occurred to prevent
his sailing, so he returned to his palace at Bodjong next
morning, again to a salute of one hundred and one guns and
musket fire, and attended by all the high authorities and
qualified ladies and gentlemen, etc. The following day he
found he could go after all, and once more re-embarked after
much hand-shaking from the said high authorities, etc., and
the same salute of one hundred and one guns and musket
fire.
Srondol (Serondel).
At the present day a small village between Samarang and
Oenarang goes by the name of Srondol. When the English
were in the island, however, Serondel was a rather important
place, being the headquarters of the 78th Eegiment under
Major D. Forbes. As there were eight hundred men in this
regiment it seemed that the camp, which was defended with
seven cannon, must have been a considerable one.
There are seven guns lying at Serondel on the right-hand
side of the main road, a very little distance past the village,
which some say are the same.
The house in which Major Forbes, who was " commandant
of Serondel," lived is also still standing, but is in a dilapi-
dated condition. It is on the left-hand side of the main
road when travelling from Samarang, and until recently was
used as a country house by a merchant and shopkeeper of
Samarang called Akoewan.
The country was described by an English officer who had
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 487
been at Serondel as *' delightful, populous and well
cultivated, yielding provisions, vegetables and supplies of
all kind, cheap and in great abundance."
Obnarang.
CThis is merely a small inland town with a fort built in
1746, and called " De Outmoeting " because it was the meet-
ing place of the Governor-General van Imluff and the
Emperor Paku Buvana II. It is on the main road to the
native capitals of Soeracarta and Djockjacarta^ ; a company
of the 78th Regiment was stationed there in the English
time. The country all round is pleasing and very healthy,
the town having been in fact chosen as a suitable spot for a
military hospital. It is also a spot chosen by several
wealthy brokers from Samarang (which is only about
fifteen miles distant) in which to build country villas ; these
are called villas by courtesy — in actual size and form they
are elegant and large pavilions.^ J
There is a stone here to the memory of Captain Norman
McLeod, of the 78th Regiment, who died on the 17th
February, 1814, aged 27 years, while his regiment was
stationed at Serondel.^
Salatiga.
[Salatiga* was the place chosen for the next fort after
Oenarang on the main road from Samarang to the courts of
' The fort was rebuilt and strengthened in 1786.
2 Among them those of Messrs. A. K. W. Prins, Monod de Froideville,
and B. Companyen are conspicuous.
^ Since writing the above I visited Serondel for the express purpose of
inspecting this stone. This I found to my regret had been stolen. The
place, however, where it stood was pointed out to me. It was in the garden
of the family Butin Bik. When this family came to the house a year or so
ago (1911) a mound was pointed out to them as the grave of an " English
general." There were bones sticking out of it. These the family collected
together, put into a box, and reverently sank deep into the ground, making
the ground flat. They know the place, however.
* A name derived from the Malay words sallah (a fault or crime) and
488 JAVA
the native princes ; this fort was built in 1746. There is a
fairly large Dutch garrison here nowadays, consisting of
cavalry and artillery in the main. Being 1,600 feet high,
the town is one of the health resorts of Middle Java ; a
military hospital has therefore been erected here.J The place
is known as that from which Governor- General Janssens
sent his dispatch to General Samuel Auchmuty capitulating
the island to the English in 1811. [The population, excluding
the military force, consists of about 100 Europeans, 7,500
Javans, 1,500 Chinese, and about 50 Arabs and other
Asiatics.}
In 1811 the British had stationed here the Java Light
Cavalry and the Horse Artillery, the commandant being
Major L. E. O'Brien,
fin 1812 the British started the Salatiga Eacing Club/]
BOJOLALI.
Bojolah, or as the English called it in 1811 " BoyolalHe,"
is another small inland to^vn which rose into significance in
1746 when the present fort called " De Veldwachter " was
built. It is on the main road to the native courts and
situated in a beautiful and fertile country. Not far off is
the volcano Merapi, which now- and again casts forth lava.
On some old lava is still to be seen the imprint of a human
foot and hand, probably of some unfortunate native who
was caught in a torrent during an eruption. The view from
the top of this mountain is sublime, and well repays the
fatigue of a troublesome journey. From here can be seen
the country for many miles around, and no one who has
not seen such a sight can imagine the beauty of the scene —
tiga (the numeral "three"), consequently meaning "third fault." This
pretty spot came by its name from three large stones outside the village
Tadjoeh on a side of the mountain Merbaboe, which lie in a smaU river.
The dates marked on these stones are 1360 and 1363 (probably the dates
are of the old Java chronology), and there is a legend wherein occurs a
curse by a high priest attached to them, too long, however, to relate here.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 489
forests, villages, the towns of Soeracarta and Djockjacarta,
even the sohtary mountains of Cheribon and Tegal, un-
rolling themselves one after the other to the naked eye as it
scans the landscape to the horizon.
Since 1878 this place, from a miUtary point of view, has
become of no importance Avhatever.
It is now connected with Soeracarta by rail, but as late
as 1908 the connection was only by a disgracefully dirty
and dilapidated and antiquated horse tram.
There is a good Dutch school here, and an apology for an
hotel.
Demak.
Demak is a large and populous towTi, having been the
capital of a kingdom that once existed of that name. There
is a canal running from Samarang to this place, navigable
for small vessels. It runs alongside the road, which is thus
sandwiched the whole way from Samarang, between the
river on the one side and the tramway on the other.
Since the time that the Prince of Demak turned Mahome-
tan in 1477 this place has been looked upon by the natives
as being more or less of a sacred city, and to visit at a
certain time of the year the celebrated Missigit or temple
built in 1478 by Raden Patah and rebuilt in 1845 is the
desire of all the people of mid Java, and to do this seven
times is supposed to be equal to a visit to Mecca.
Near the Missigit are the graves of the three well-known
princes of Demak — Panembahan Djimboen, PangeranI
Sabrang Lor, and Pangeran Trenggono. Of the original
palace there is nothing more to be seen. Demak is connected
by road with Japara on the one side and Serondel and
Oenarang on the other. This road, which runs from
Japara to Djockjacarta, is the oldest in the island, having
existed long before the Europeans appeared.^
1 See below.
490 JAVA
The road to the east passes through Koedoes and Pati,
both fairly large towns. At the former very fine wood- work
is cut by the natives, equal to anything to be found in
British India.
JOANA.
Joana is on the same road as Demak, this being in point
of fact the great military road which General Daendels was
mainly instrumental in constructing in 1808.
Joana is quite a pleasant little spot, and fairly healthy.
It is the shipping port of one or two sugar factories, but is
otherwise of no importance, having in fact only one business
house. There is a little fort here, which, however, is no
longer occupied. The river on the banks of which the town
has been built is here a very fine one, and fairly large vessels,
once they are over the bar, can sail up it for some distance.
It is spanned by a floating bridge fixed on boats, and is
sometimes very dangerous when in flood. There is a small
hotel, and, as is found everywhere else in Java where there
are one or two Europeans, there is a " society " or club.
During the time the English were in Java the territorial
revenue of Japara and Joana was 342,902 rupees.
In the eighteenth century Joana was under the control
of a " junior merchant," who looked after the export of rice,
timber, indigo, and cotton-yarn which this district supplied.
In these days (1750) Joana consisted of two rows of houses,
built along the river. The junior merchant first lived inside
the fort, but a special house was later on built for him by a
man called Haack, who was sent to Joana to rebuild the
fort, which was not considered strong enough. The descrip-
tion of this house in an old account is as follows.
The building consisted of two blocks opposite to each
other connected by a lofty dome fully 25 feet in diameter,
supported by four columns of the " Tuscan " order. Both
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 491
these blocks were of one storey only, and were 60 feet long
and 25 feet broad within the walls. One of them formed a
single hall of these dimensions, but the other was divided
into three apartments : the middle one, which was 25 feet
in depth and about 16 feet in breadth, was opposite to the
door of the " great hall " and to the " gi'eat dome," and was
fitted up as a chapel ; the entrance to it was through a
*' handsome arch " or portico ; on each side of it was a
large chamber of the same size. The walls of these apart-
ments were " beautifully stuccoed, adorned with sumptuous
gilt cornices, and the roofs were concave, wainscotted, and
curiously adorned with carved imagery."
Behind this pile stood a building of wood containing three
" handsome rooms," and above this was " one large apart-
ment for the unmarried female slaves, and which might
therefore be called the seraglio."
In front of this building stood a large saloon built close
to the river-side, with a balcony projecting towards the
river ; and we are told that the only inconvenience there
was in sitting here was the swarms of mosquitoes which
infested the place every evening.
The junior merchant used to make about 16,000 rix
dollars yearly in perquisites, say £3,500. This came from
over- weight in rice delivered by the native regents to the
Company and from the cheap rate at which this article was
purchased, not to mention what he bought up liimself and
resold to the natives at 100 per cent, profit. Shipbuilding
was also very profitable for the junior merchant or the
Resident, for the wood and labour cost him practically
nothing. In 1774 a vessel was built here on the model of
some Dutch vessel and was sold with a profit of 18,000 rix
dollars. But a chance like this was exceptional.
There w^ere also profits attached to the farming of the
duties which accrued nominally to the fanner, a Chinaman,
but these the Resident in olden days would seem to have
492 JAVA
appropriated for himself. It was all quite legitimate and
regular, as the Company's servants were expected to make
all they could while " at it." A few days before the new
year the regents and patehs, and also all those who had any
connection with the Company, came to make presents to
the Kesident, consisting of poultry, eggs, sugar, fruit, etc.
The Chinese captain brought rolls of valuable silks.
On the 1st January, 1775, the usual salute of twenty-one
guns was fired at sunrise from some small cannon stationed
before the junior merchant's house. On this occasion a
European, a strong and corpulent man, who acted as gunner,
" met with a terrible accident." Just as he was passing
before the muzzle of one of the guns, the priming of which
had flashed without discharging the piece, it went off, and
blew him six feet into the air. The loading, it appeared, had
fortunately, however, been rammed down without a wad,
" so that he was picked up still very much alive, and beyond
being badly burnt on his arms and leg was otherwise all
right."
On the 3rd January the Eesident would return the call on
the regent, spending the evening there in eating and drinking
and watching the dancing girls.
The account of this return visit on the 3rd January, 1775,
may be interesting.
The Kesident, in making his visit, did so in state and was
received in state to the music of the gamelans and other
instruments. The regent's favourite wife, his mother, and
his son joined the party and drank tea with them. In the
evening after supper, the dancing girls being introduced, the
regent's sons *' tandacked " ^ with them. The regent's wives
were not present at this, but as soon as the dancing girls had
disappeared they came in.
At the present day these old customs are still adhered to
in Java.
' Cut extravagant figures.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 493
Rembang.
Rembang is situated on the eastern part of the bay
formed by the Japara promontory. In former days the
Dutch built their principal vessels and gunboats here and
maintained a fairly considerable garrison. The old fort,
built originally about 1650, still exists in form, but a portion
of it was demolished when the house for the Resident was
built.
In olden days the sea washed the walls of the fort, but
since then it has receded, the fort being now some little
distance from the sea even at high tide. There is no doubt
from its general appearance and the fine houses which still
exist, although empt}^ that Rembang has seen better and
greater days. Even as late as the English time, when John
Davidson^ was the first Resident, it is described as large and
populous and with very good houses. It was also considered
then socially a cheerful and pleasant place to live in. To-day
it is one of the most miserable and doleful places in Java.
Formerly it was considered very healthy ; to-day it is just
the reverse. The result is that everything seems out of
place, the fine Resident's house and the large club appearing
incongi'uous in what is a veritable forgotten hole.^ The old
church here is about two hundred years old. In 1811 a con-
siderable quantity of sea salt was manufactm-ed here, and
the territorial revenue was 256,092 rupees. From here
there is a direct road to Solo.
Rembang is one of the oldest places in Java, and is where
the first Chinaman who visited Java (a.d. 413), F. A. Hien
by name, landed.^
^ See material to be hereafter published. A relation, another John
Davidson, was the founder of this firm.
2 Rembang has also seen two Residents who belonged to the w ell-known
Smissaert family, Jonkheer A. H. and J. W. H. ; and at the present time
there is Jonkheer J. "W. H. Smissaert, who is a pubhc notary there.
^ An account of F. A. Hien is given in Chapter III.
494 JAVA
Lassbm.
Nine miles from Rembang and 419 from Batavia we come
to Lassem, which is on the main road. For fifteen hundred
years Chinese have been residing in the stretch of coast land
reaching from Rembang to Gressie, and to-day the popula-
tion of Lassem is almost wholly Chinese. Formerly, that is
to say at the beginning of the nineteenth century, small
vessels from fifty to two hundred tons used to be constructed
here, wood being always procurable in any quantities from
the neighbouring teak forests, w^hich then, as now, are very
extensive.
Until quite recently a number of the Chinese here used to
go to Sourabaya, where plenty of work was always obtain-
able from the Chinese furniture-makers there. Of recent
years, however, they have ceased to do so, a good many of
them going in for local wood- work of a particularly fine kind.
TOEBAN.
The Hindu town of Tuban, or as now it is called Toeban
(called in the Enghsh time " Toubang "), is a large and
populous town with an ancient mosque. Chinese have been
residing here quite as long as at Lassem, but the place has
never become an important one. Extensive teak forests
stretch over these rocky and hilly tracts right up to Sedayoe,
which is situated at the entrance of the Sourabaya harbour.
Shipbuilding used formerly to be undertaken here.
Not far from Sedayoe is the Solo river, which was crossed
by a ferry in the days of Raffles and the passage defended
by a strong battery. This river, the largest in Java, is not
only very broad, but very deep, and in the rainy season,
once the bar is crossed, it is navigable for fairly large ships
right up to the town of Soeracarta. The Englishman
Captain Colebrooke, of the Royal Artillery, made a survey
of the river in 1813, and was of opinion that the impediments
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 495
which obstructed the passage in the dry season could with-
out much labour or expense be removed. The Dutch, how-
ever, have never much cared about improving the navigation
of this river.
Toeban has been known from time immemorial as the
" place of sweet waters " ; and it is quite true that there are
several fountains with water of a flavour not to be found
anywhere else. Special mention is made of them in a
Chinese work dated a.d. 1416.
Gressib (or Gresik).
Gressie during the period contemporaneous with the
empire of Majapahit was already a very important place,
having a large Chinese population, who sold the goods which
arrived yearly from China in nine junks. When the Portu-
guese arrived the head of the place was a Chinaman. A
want of good water and the general unhealthiness of the
place may be taken to be in a great measure the chief causes
of its decline ; but in proportion as Gressie fell into decay
so the comparatively new town of Sourabaya rose rapidly
in population and prosperity. It was at Gressie that the
founder of the Mahometan religion in Java (Sheik den Islam
Maulana Malik Ibrahim) landed, preached, and died. His
tomb is still to be seen, and is situated on the hills behind
Gressie.
The first and only Kesident here during the British occu-
pation was C. van Naerssen (a Dutchman) — this w^as in
1814 ; before then he had only carried the title of " collec-
tor " under the Resident of Sourabaya.
The families of de Graaf and Lotti had considerable
influence here towards the end of the eighteenth century,
and on reference to the list of Dutch Residents in 1818 it
will be seen that they were fairly numerous then.
In a translation of the Chinese book of Tung Hsi Yang
496 JAVA
K'an of the year 1618 by W. Groeneveldt, the following
extract regarding Gressie is interesting : —
" Sukitan is a dependency of Java, and has many different
settlements, of which Grisse is the chief place. At Grisse there
is a king ^ more than a hundred years old and can predict future
events. The people of this country go to Yortan ^ in order to
trade with the Chinese. The anchorage of the Chinese ships is
at Yortan, which is a flat country with a fortress built of stones.
When the chief of this place goes out, he rides in a carriage
drawn by four or eight horses or by oxen, and is accompanied
by more than a hundred attendants, with arms and insignia of
his dignity. When the natives see their king they conceal
themselves ; only the women fold their hands, and squat down
at the side of the road ; for the rest their customs are similar
to those of Ha Kang [Bantam]. The neighbouring countries
are Sourabaya and Yuban. In Tuban there are many robbers,
and therefore the Chinese will not Uve there. They have there
the second son of the king, whose body weighed some hundreds
of catties when he was only about ten years old ; he was once
stolen by robbers, but they could not Uft him, and now he has
been made a Datu.^ Behind Yortan are the moim.tains Kim Ho
[Tengger], which are covered with Bamboo forests and where
the melati grows without cultivation. The inhabitants all go
naked, and only wear a piece of paper to cover the lower part of
their body ; they plant beans for food, and the able-bodied
amongst them are good hunters, chasing bucks, deer, apes,
monkeys, which they eat, after sHghtly roasting them ; when
thirsty they drink the blood, to which they take wine made from
a tree. They never come down from their mountains.
" Grisse is subject to Java, but rules over Yortan, Sourabaya,
and other countries. When our vessels [Chinese] arrive in these
parts, the different dependent places all come to Yortan to trade
with the Chinese, and though it is an out of the way place it still
is very prosperous. Formerly the transactions were made on
board the ships, but lately the number of traders having increased,
they have gradually made shops on shore."
1 An Arab.
2 A trading port on the river Brantas, near the present town of
Bangil.
Batu.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 497
Pasoeroean.
Pasoeroean, or as it was formerly spelt " Passarouang,"
is an old town dating probably back to a.d. 1294. In the
Chapter (XII.) on travellers' accounts of Java we read the
description given by the Portuguese traveller Mendez Pinto
of the Prince of Demak attacking this town with the assist-
ance of the Sultan of Bantam. He also tells us of the strength
of the city then and the number of the population. It was,
however, only in 1707 that the Dutch East India Company
sent a representative here, De Wilde by name, who im-
mediately built a fort. Even, however, in the time of the
English the European population was very small, and what
there was of it were mostly pensioners and half-caste families.
An English officer described Pasoeroean as a delightful
place with a very healthy climate ; and this is true.
The Resident's house and several other buildings were
described in 1811 as quite handsome.
The Protestant church w^as rebuilt in 1857, and a Roman
Catholic one was erected in 1895.
In the fifties and sixties the principal hotel here was
*' Booth's Hotel," which was kept by an Englishman and
his wife, Captain and Mrs. Booth.^
Probolingo.^
Twenty-four miles from Pasoeroean is Probolingo, which
was the old capital of the whole of these two Residencies
and of Bezoeki. In 1812 it was administered by the British
Resident Dr. David Hopkins, in 1813 by Captain R. C.
^ Captain Booth arrived in Java in the fifties in a sailing ship, and found
land employment with the well-known Etty family of Probolingo (his
father had probably been in their service), but falling out with one of them
he set up a hotel. He died in the nineties at a great age.
The first British Resident here was Lieutenant Henry George Jourdan in
1814 ; before this he had carried the title of " collector," and was under
the Resident of Probolingo.
- Sometimes spelt Probolinggo.
J. — VOL. I. K K
498 JAVA
Garnham, and in 1814 by M. D. Ainslie, when the latter
went to Djockjacarta to replace Crawfurd. In 1815 the
Eesident was Mr. John Davidson, a daughter of whose
married Jonkheer Smissaert, a son of M. A. P. Smissaert,
who was Eesident at Palembang after the departure of the
English and later on at Probolingo. In 1790 the whole of
the Kesidencies of Probolingo and Panoeroekau, under which
were Pasoeroean, and Bezoekie as well, were hired to a
Chinaman, who held sovereign rights of every kind over the
country. In 1808, however, when Daendels arrived, he
required more money, and amongst the lands he sold were
the above-named to the same Chinaman for ten milhons of
rix dollars payable by instalments. In 1813, however, after
the trouble at Probolingo, Baffles bought back all these
lands ; when the Chinaman, who now received the title of
" major," took over the lands they were wild forests, but
so hard did he turn the natives on to the soil that in ten
years he cleared the purchase price and made this one of the
richest provinces in Java ; while such was the equity and
justness of his rule in the beginning that it became also
one oi the most populous. Later on his lieutenants ruled
more or less for him, and their conduct was altogether
different.
The major Chinaman was living in great splendour when
the English arrived, with a staff, pomp, and retinue fit for
any Eastern emperor, and being waited upon by the highest
natives with cringing servility. This person was almost as
sacred as that of the Emperor of Solo. With every enjoy-
ment that riches could afford, and with a sway over millions,
the clemency, restraint, and fairness of this Chinaman was
quite marvellous. He was unfortunately cut oiT in the
prime of his life, whilst on duty in his province. The story,
seeing that two valuable English officers lost their lives at
the same time, is a tragical one and is worth repeating. On
the 18th May, 1813, a small party consisting of Lieutenant-
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KANDJENG PANGARAN HARIO SOERIO
WIDJOJO. (son of the SULTAN
BY A SECONDARY WIFE.)
KANDJENG PANGARAN HARIO SOERIO
BRONTO. (son of THE SULTAN BY
A SECONDARY WIFE.)
GOESTI PANGA1>A.\ AUIO POEGER.
(brother TO THE SULT.\N. M.\.IOR
ON THE GENERAL ST.A.FF.)
GOESTI PANtiAKAX ARIO MANGKOE
KOESOMO. (son OF THE SULTAN.)
THE TOWNS IX JAVA, ETC. 499
Colonel and Mrs. Fraser, Captains McPherson and Cameron,
and Lieutenants Robertson and Cameron, of the 78th Regi-
ment, had gone down to Probolingo for a change of air and
scene, and whilst there received a report that a band of
brigands had come down from the momitains and intended
robbing the town. Colonel Fraser went to the major China-
man and proceeded with him to the scene of the trouble
accompanied by all the officers above named, thinking it
was merely a gang of robbers, who on a little display of
force would decamp. In this, however, he was mistaken,
for the ruffians, seeing the Englishmen coming on horse-
back, hid themselves in ambush, rushing out and surround-
ing them when they came up. The English officers fought
desperately, firing off their pistols, and those that had them
their fowling-pieces. Exhausted with fatigue. Colonel Fraser
endeavoured to step into his carriage, but fell down, and
Captain McPherson, being also in a weak state of health,
was easily overtaken and seized and bound by the robbers.
The major Chinaman was also seized, and all of them were
basely murdered. The other officers succeeded in regaining
the major Chinaman's quarters, and roused the inmates to
defend the house (which had a large wall round it) and make
a stand, but during the night the place was gradually
deserted.
Mrs. Fraser was in an agonised state of mind, and, getting
into a boat lying on the sea-shore with the remaining
officers, stood out to sea as soon as it was daylight. They
had hardly left the shore when the insurgents appeared in
sight, rending the air with their shouts. The disconsolate
Mrs. Fraser lay exposed to the burning sun in the open boat
until they reached Pasoeroean.
As soon as the news of this catastrophe reached Sourabaya
Major Forbes, with a party of the 78th Regiment, setoff for
Probolingo, with his men mounted on any horses he could
borrow in the town, and was joined whilst passing Pasoeroean
kk2
500 JAVA
by Captain Cameron and the other officers. On the 21st
June they fell in with the insurgents, who were marching
to Pasoeroean to destroy it, the small band having now been
swollen to thousands and being equipped with guns. They
flew a yellow flag, which was the standard of the Emperor
of Solo.
Major Forbes forced their advanced position, and then
drew up his men so as to bring a cross-fire into the main body
of the rebels ; while in the rear he placed a body of Diyang
Secars (provincial horsemen), who were armed with swords
and pistols, and a small party of irregulars (volunteers) from
Pasoeroean. He now awaited an attack, and when the
enemy was a few yards distant gave the orders to fire. The
fire being well directed, numbers fell, which threw the enemy
into confusion ; but the chief, furiously irritated and at the
head of a desperate party, rushed on through the lines to
the rear, where, wounded in four places, he was secured,
but very shortly afterwards breathed his last. Of the
robbers one hundred and fifty were killed, the rest being
dispersed and the guns taken. It was a very meritorious
Httle affair, and great credit was due to Major Forbes for
his management of it.
The bodies of Colonel Fraser and Captain McPherson were
found tied up in sacks, that of the latter much mangled and
pierced through and through with a number of wounds.
Their remains were buried with all honours in the Probolingo
cemetery, where the monuments erected to their memory
are still to be seen in a good state of preservation, being kept
up by the thoughtful Dutch Government.
Besides the chief who fell several others were discovered,
and steps were taken by the British authorities to find out
the cause of this rebellion. Probolingo, it was now found,
had been sacked by the insurgents.
The chief who was killed had proclaimed himself a repre-
sentative of Mahomet, who was ordained to make conquests
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 501
in his name (it is always the same old story) ; the band was
therefore merely one of rehgious fanatics.
The Chinese lieutenants here had, in consequence of their
exactions as their chief grew older, always been hated by
the Javans, and a new settlement of the land revenue was
therefore applied to suit this particular case. The family
of the deceased received compensation, while the Javans
were relieved of their accumulations of debt to the Chinese,
which it had always been the custon to hold over them as
an incentive to work harder for the benefit of the " major."
Naturally this system led to a perpetual oppression and
abuse of the Javans by the Chinese underlings, who had not
the same hberal and humane qualities as the " major."
The principle of his administration was a fairly good one,
but the methods employed in carrying it out were un-
doubtedly abominable. This the English put an end to,
and the Javans from being veritable slaves were once more
free men.
The newly regulated province, which included Pasoeroean,
Probolingo, Panoeroekau, Bezoekie, and Banjoewangie, gave
a revenue in 1814 of 1,246,000 rupees. The major Chinaman
out of his district alone probably made nearly ten times this
amount. To-day Pasoeroean and Probolingo are the centre
of about twenty-five sugar fabricks, and the exports are
considerable from both places.
With the town of Probolingo has been closely bound up
the Etty family, whose progenitor was a Captain Charles
Etty, an Englishman, who was cruising about in the English
time in a small sailing ship of his own trading from one
island to the other. In 1818 he settled on shore at Soura-
baya, but shortly after found his way to Probolingo, and
began grooving sugar and manufacturing it in the native way
with buffalos moving the crusher. From this small beginning
great things came, which wiH be related when certain
further material is published. About 1750 or a little later an
502 JAVA
English traveller passed through Pasoeroean, and the
follomng is his account : —
" The escort reached Passarouang at noon and was well
received by the Dutch commandant Hesselaar, a captain of foot.
He was many years a lieutenant in the European cavahy which
acts as guard of honour to the Emperor of Solo, and the appoint-
ment of Passarouang was given to him to retire to. He has
with him two officers, some subalterns and European soldiers,
and some companies of Malays to guard a small fort of masonry,
rather intended against the natives in case of revolt than against
an external foe. He also has the management of several con-
siderable plantations of coffee and pepper belonging to the
Company, and which are in the environs ; likewise the direction
of a yard for building the coasting vessels necessary for the
transport of those productions. The hill and a mountain two
leagues inland are cultivated almost to the summit with all
kinds of European garden stuff, which never degenerate, whether
from the situation or from the soil in which they grow, and
which supply a great part of the civil and military administra-
tions of iSourabaya, whose environs produce httle produce in
this way.
" This appointment is very lucrative to Mr. Hesselaar, being
estimated to bring in 15,000 rix dollars a year. His household
consists of thirty Malay slaves from Baly and Macassar, ten of
whom are musicians. A Chinese belonging to the chief has
taught them music, having learnt it himself from a German in
the Company's service who lived many years at Passarouang.
He has also four elegantly gilt carriages, and a one-horse chaise,
with twenty-five horses richly caparisoned. His wife is a native,
by whom he has several children.
" He always keeps a most splendid table. He introduced us
to the prince, with whom we took tea, smoked and ate some
preserved fruits. The prince afterwards showed us in one of
his yards two immense tigers, in an enclosure of thick paUsades.
Three had been taken in traps by several of his subjects. They
are very common in Passourouang. We also visited the Chinese
company, and their chief set before us pipes and tea.
" Passourouang is crossed by a river which is navigable many
leagues. A fine wooden bridge communicates from one side
to the other. The commandant's house backs the fort on the
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 503
right bank facing the bridge. This is a very extensive and
commodious residence with many offices.
" Monsieur Gauffe, the surgeon-major, was there, but had
gone to Bangell ^ to propagate a vaccination among the natives.
The Prince of Bangell is 70 years old, and he abstains from wine.
The old prince is the elder brother of the Prince of Besouki, and
consequently originally from China. He speaks all the Oriental
languages, and has some knowledge of geography. His eldest
son, a fine man, is almost white, and speaks Dutch fluently, and
is well acquainted with civil architecture."
Inscriptions on English Tojebstones in the Probolingo
Cemetery.
Sacred
to the memory of
Lieutenant-Colonel James Fraser and Captain
James McPherson, of his Majesty's 78th
Highland Regiment, who were barbarously
murdered by a band of insurgents near
Probolingo on the night of the 18th of
May, 1813. This monument is erected over
their remains by their brother officers as
a mark of the high esteem in which they
held their worth and virtues.
M. S.
David HopkinsI, Medici Qui Aberstnithae in
comitatu Cardegariensi natus 1770
Obiit Probolingo Decembris 29 1813 vir doctus
sincerus acri judicio praeditus ob praeclara
officia ia his Insulis
OrientaUbus praestita
A praefectis merito landatus cum sui commodi
omnino immemor nimio Lahore vires comellarat
Animam ad altiora aspirantem placide
Efflavit
anno aetat 44
Hoc marmor in consobrini gratam
Memoriam
Et in Mocroris Testimonium ponere
curavit
T. Williams.
^ Bangil.
504 JAVA
The following names appear on the four sides of the tomb of
the EngUsh family Grant : —
Grant.
A. E. Grant.
T. Etty.
T. Grant.
E. Etty.
M. B. Etty.
A. Etty.
G. Hardey.
E. Hardey.
Underneath rest the remains of
Richard Symons,
born at St. Austell's
in the county of Cornwall, England
on the twelfth of June 1797 ;
died at Probolingo
on the twenty-fifth of April 1859.
This stone is erected by his sister
Eliza Symons
in affectionate remembrance.
" After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well.'*
Here rests
the remains of
Charles Etty, Esquire,
born at York, England,
on the 1st of May 1793 ;
died at Probolingo
on the 4th of December 1856 :
A kind husband
affectionate father
and a
faithful friend.
May he rest in peace.
This tablet
is erected to his memory
by his family.
To the memory of
Anna Maria Etty
wife of Charles Etty Junior.
Bom at Dassoon 15th November 1824 ;
died at Wonolangan 4th May 1867.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 505
Also Elizabeth Etty
relict of Charles Etty Senior
and mother of the above.
Bom in Calcutta 31st December 1782 ;
died at Wonolangan 8th September 1868.
Also Matthew Walter Etty
Son of the above Elizabeth Etty.
Bom in Calcutta 31st August 1815 ;
died on board the steamer Rangoon
in the Red Sea 11th July 1870
and was buried at sea. In the midst
of life we are in death.
Banjoewangie.
The Old East India Company had a station here early in
the seventeenth century, and about 1750 when an English-
man (the visitor to Pasoeroean just mentioned) visited the
place he found a fort called " Utrecht " with a little garrison
here. His account is interesting : —
" At the fort at Bagnouwangie an invahd introduced himself ;
he was a Frenchman from Amiens originally, was 65 years of
age, and had been thirty years in the Company's service. We
now examined the fort. The sergeant commandant is 85 years
old, though he did not seem 60, and the youngest of the detach-
ment is 55. The fort is unimportant ; it is square built with
palisades and planks which are falling down from age, mounts
four two pounders, and is surrounded by a wide ditch full of
water. It has two entrances with a good drawbridge ; the
principal entrance fronts the coast. It stands on a marshy plain
three quarters of a mile from the coast. The Dutch flag is planted
opposite the fort. Within is a small barrack house, the rooms
of which are tolerably comfortable. The sergeant's apartments
are at the entrance and isolated ; they consist of three compart-
ments and a kitchen on the side of the guardhouse. These old
soldiers, although their pay is but moderate, live tolerably well,
and make no complaints, as provisions are cheap, and their food
consists of fish, poultry and rice, with which the vicinity abounds. ".
During the English period we learn that Banjoewangie
had a numerous population of natives, and a few Dutch
506 JAVA
half-caste families. Balambouang Bay, further south, was
visited by David Middleton early in the seventeenth century.
Formerly there was an estabHshment here of the East
India Company for the convenience of ships calling there, but
it had to be abandoned on account of its unhealthiness, six
European commandants dying here one after the other from
dropsy, owing to bad water.
Bound up with the early history of Banjoewangie are the
Trouerbach and VoU families, and a reference to the list of
Dutch residents of Banjoewangie in 1818 will show they
were still fairly numerous then.
This place is the station of the Eastern Extension Tele-
graph Company, which used to be worked in its first days
by Mr. Pownall. On his retirement from this company he
opened his own business house here.
The British Eesident in 1812 and 1813 was Lieutenant
Davies, and from 1814 to 1816 Lieutenant A. McLeod.
SUMENAP.
From Banjowangie to Sumenap is about a hundred-mile
sea journey. In the English time it is described as a large
and populous town and the residence of a prince. There
were very few European and Dutch settlers here in those
days. The bay was very much frequented by the merchant
vessels trading to the Eastern Archipelago and China. In
1811 the old Dutch fort was greatly out of repair. On the
other hand, the British Resident's house and a few others
have been described as " fine buildings." The British
Resident in 1814, 1815, and 1816 was Captain J. Clarke.
When the English arrived at Sumenap they found the
old panembahan worn out with age, and they made him
hand over the reins of his government to his son Nata
Koesoema, a young man with as mild a character as his
father's was harsh. The heinous character and ferocious
THE TOWNS m JAVA, ETC. 507
temper of this old scoundrel was well known, and could be
read by a glance at his countenance.
The magnificent graves are still to be seen here of the
panembahans of Sumenap, also of this Nata Koesoema, who
assisted the English later on so materially at the battle of
Djockjacarta in 1812. This is the man that Baffles described
** as not only distinguished among the Javans for his eminent
erudition and information, but who from the superior
endoTvments of his mind could command a high degree of
respect among the more civilised people of Europe."
Bangkalan.
Proceeding from Sumenap and taking a direct course
straight across the island of Madura through Pamekasan,
we came to Bangkalan. These towns of Madura used in
olden days to be much frequented by Arabs. The town at
quite an early date, therefore, was fairly well populated.
There is an old Dutch fort here ; the country is very pretty,
and the road which runs along the beach west of the town
and opposite the famous fort LudoT\yk (built by Daendels
"with forced labour at a cost, it is said, of fifteen thousand
lives) is a good one.
The inhabitants of Madura are an untrustworthy, revenge-
ful race. In the time of the English the Resident at
Sourabaya had Bangkalan under his jurisdiction. In these
days he used to cross the straits in the sultan's barge in two
hours.
Banjermassin (Borneo).
Banjermassin, in Borneo, was a place that the English
East India Company traded with as early as 1614. The
trade, however, was fitful, and it was not until 1703 that
they built a factory here, appointing Mr. Allen Catchpole as
the agent. In 1706 a fort was built to protect it. Banjer-
508 JAVA
massin was at this time subject to the King of Cochin China,
and it is probable he objected to the English being here^ ;
in any case the Chinese rose in 1707, and Catchpole barely-
escaped with his life. This put an end temporarily to the
English Company's trade here. It was, however, started
again in 1737, and English ships called in here now and then
for a cargo of pepper. From 1733 to 1809 the Dutch had a
factory and a fort here called " Fort Tatar," but after a
great deal of trouble with the sultan and Chinese, who
found their ancient trade being interfered with and conse-
quently caused the Dutch all the annoyance they could, the
factory was sold to the sultan for 50,000 rupees.^ The
Chinese had been doing business at Banjermassin certainly
as early as 1368, if not in 618 during the Tang dynasty, for
their history of the latter date speaks of the coast of Borneo.
It is not, however, until the former date, which was during
the Ming dynasty, that the town of Banjermassin is actually
mentioned. A long account given by the Chinese chronicle
in 1368 of this place is as follows : —
" At Banjermassin they have a city with walls of wood, one
side of which lies against the mountain. The chief of this
country keeps several hundreds of finely dressed girls, and when
he goes out he rides on an elephant and is followed by these
girls carrying his clothes, shoes, knives, sword, and betel tray ;
if he goes in a boat, he sits cross-legged on a couch, and these
girls sit on both sides with their faces turned towards him, or
are employed in poHng the boat : his state is always very greats
" Many of the people make rafts of trees bound together,
and build houses on the water in which they Hve, just as is done
at Palembang. Men and women use a piece of cloth with many
colours for wrapping round their head ; their back and breast
are generally bare, but sometimes they have a jacket with short
sleeves, which they put on over their heads. The lower part of
their body is surrounded with a piece of cloth. Formerly they
used plantain leaves as plates, but since they trade with the
J See chronological tables.
2 It is said the Chinese gave the sultan the money to pay this.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 509
Chinese they have gradually begun to use earthenware. They
also like very much earthen jars with dragons outside ; when they
die they are put into such a jar, and buried in this way.
" Far in the interior there is a village called Wu-lung-li-tan,
where the people all have tails ; when they see other men, they
cover their face with their hands and run away : their country
is rich in gold dust, and when merchants carry goods there to
trade with them, they give a sign by beating a small copper
gong,i lay their goods down upon the ground, and step back
about ten feet. These people then come forward, and when they
see something which suits their fancy they put some gold at the
side of it : if the owner tells them from his distance that he is
prepared to sell it at that price they take up the article and go
away, if not, they collect their gold again, and go home, without
talking any further with each other.
" The products of the country are rhinoceros horn, peacocks,
parrots, gold dust, crane nests, wax, rattan mats, chillies, dragon's
blood, nutmegs, deer hides and so on. In the neighbourhood
are the Beadjoos,^ who are of a ferocious disposition, and go out
in the middle of the night to cut o£E people's heads, which they
carry away and adorn with gold ; therefore the traders fear
them very much, and at night carefully mount guard to await
them. The last King of Banjermassin was a good man who
treated the merchants very favourably ; he had thirty-one sons,
and fearing that they might molest the merchant vessels he did
not allow them to go out. His wife was a daughter of a Beadjoo
chieftain, and a son of hers succeeded his father. This man
listened to the words of his mother's relatives, began to oppress
the trade, and owed much money to the traders, which he did
never pay ; after this the number of those who visited the
country gradually diminished. The women of this country
come in small sampans to the ships in order to sell articles of
food, but the trade is carried on by the men."
When the English took Java in 1811 Eaffles sent Alexander
Hare, a man known for his great eccentricities, to Banjer-
massin as Resident. The country was then noted for its
gold, which is still to be found there in great quantities if
1 This is perhaps the origin of a gong being beaten at auctions in Java.
2 Dyaks.
510 JAVA
only capital could be found for working the concessions.
Pearls were also discovered, while diamonds, it seems, in
those days abounded. The country round this part of
Borneo is still rich beyond the dreams of avarice, though
practically nothing is being done to develop it.
SOERAKARTA (of SoLO).
If reference is made to Chapter I. it will be seen that
whilst the present Emperor of Java or Solo is the scion of
the old and ancient family of Matarem, whose genealogical
table, although broken here and there, can be more or less
traced for two thousand years, it is a question how far the
present Emperor is not a parvenu, the princely rank of the
family being of a far more recent date. However old he
may be in his ancestry, the court at Soerakarta only counts
back to 1743, which is the date when the susuhunan was
obliged to find a new spot for his kraton, owing to the
Chinese destroying and sacking that at Kartasoera, parti-
culars of which event were given in a former chapter.
The present kraton is spacious and contains a number of
buildings within its walls, packed, so to say, full with the
fifteen thousand souls that are living there, of which number
two-thirds are women. The kraton has quite a feudal
aspect with its moat, thick high walls, battlements, and old
cannon ; two of the latter have the following inscription on
them : " Conraet Antoniz me fecit Hacoe 1599." Above
the trunnions are two eagles and a castle, and below these
figures the words " Middleburg " and " Jacob Beurel,
Burgomeister."
Despite all this outward show^ however, the inward
appearance of the Solo court gives one the idea of a gaudy,
noisy, and rather cheap vulgarity, which the jewelled gar-
ments, golden ornaments, and richly gilded furniture
increase rather than lessen. The court is, to modern ideas.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 511
a sordid one, with a monarch unfortunately trained in
Europe instead of in his own country. He entertains,
however, Hberally and royally, giving parties at his kraton,
to which several hundreds of Europeans usually come. On
these occasions he introduces the srivipis, or com't ballet-girls,
who go through a series of extravagant figures which are
highly interesting. When the Emperor drives out on an
official visit to the Kesident, who by a wise provision of the
Dutch Government is his " eldest brother," he sits in a
gold-painted coach, highly decorated ^vith a European
coachman in a gaudy suit of livery. He is attended on
these occasions by a large body of native horsemen, likewise
by his Dutch lifeguards, who watch him night and day.
The magnificent crowTi jewels and various heirlooms
handed down from the ancient court of Majapalut are also
sometimes taken.
The Emperor of Solo is allowed to have a small military
force of his own numbering some six hundred men, subject
more or less to a discipHne and equipment like that of the
Dutch army and with Dutch as well as native officers
attached.
The fort was begun in 1746, and completed in 1765, by
Frans Haack, and received the name of " De Groot moedig-
heid." It had a British garrison in it in 1811, and is quite
near the Kesident's house and the kraton.
The country around is rich and healthy, being in fact one
huge plain unrivalled even in Java.
During the whole of the British occupation of Java
Major J. M. Johnson was the British Eesident here.
Djoejakerta.
Jogyakerta, to give the early spelling of its name, is the
seat of the most ancient empire in Java, namely, that of
Mataram or Matarem : for when it was founded the reader
512 JAVA
is referred to Chapter I. Here one can see the real aris-
tocracy of Java, and the difference to the educated observer
between the real Javans and the Malays is evident.
The present kraton is a fine building built within massive
and high walls ; the inside seems a honeycomb of passages
running intricately between walls of great thickness.
Citadel after citadel is passed before the actual holy of
hoHes is reached. The name of Djoejakerta will ever
remain in the minds of Englishmen associated with that
brave little band who, when the diplomacy of Raffles and
his Resident John Crawfurd had failed, attacked the kraton
with the utmost heroism and took it despite its strong line
of fortifications bristling with cannon, seizing the sultan and
crown prince, and overcoming the eight thousand men in
the kraton itself and nearly one hundred thousand in the
suburbs outside.
It was here that Lieutenant McLean, of His Majesty's
14th Rifle Company, whilst bravely leading his men in the
assault was so severely wounded, subsequently dying amidst
the shouts of the victorious British troops returning to
camp at the end of the day.
His tombstone lies in the kraton cemetery to-day, and has
been well cared for by the Dutch authorities. The inscrip-
tion is as follows : —
In memory
of Lieutenant Hector Maclean of His M.'s 14th
Regt. of foot, this column has been erected.
It is a votive emblem of esteem to military
ardour and early worth by officers who served
with him. He commanded the Rifle Company of
his corps in the successful assault of the
Cratton on the 20th June 1812 : toward the close
of that conflict he received a wound which
proved mortal. In his twentieth year thus
fell a youth. His memory survives in that
of his brother officers.
This kraton, like that at Solo, harbours fifteen thousand
THE TOAVNS IX JAVA, ETC. 513
souls, and the show and gaudy paraphernaha from a great
past is allowed to the Sultan by the Dutch. The Sultan of
Djoekjakerta looks dow^n on his neighbour at Solo with
considerable contempt, counting him as a parvenu of
doubtful extraction.^ The result is that there is a con-
siderable amount of petty jealousy and animosity between
the two sovereigns.
The Dutch, from a political point of view, do, of course,
nothing to alleviate the tension between the two monarchs.
It must, however, be admitted that the general impression
one gets in the kraton at Djoekjakerta is quite different to
that which one has in the susuhunan's palace at Soera
Kerta.
There does not seem to be at the former the gaudy,
noisy, and vulgar show of a rich parvenu, but there is every-
triing suggestive of an ancient court with a highly educated
and aristocratic monarch, whose breeding and bearing is of
a higher kind, and whose personality is that of the man of
culture ; and this has undoubtedly a far-reaching effect on
his whole court.
The etiquette, moreover, at the kraton at Djoekjakerta is
stricter than at Soera Kerta, and it is clear to all that it is
not a thing of mushroom growth. The features of all the
vengarans or princes at Djoekja are clear, well cut, and
aristocratic-looking, and their gait and carriage, as also
those of their ratus or Tvives, is graceful and courtly ; these
are all marks of their common ancient ancestry and their
high-bred aristocratic stock. At Soera Kerta, although the
etiquette is rigid, there is a laxness in its use, while the class
of pengarans seems not to be so well bred, nor do their
appearance and gait seem to betoken such high birth. The
reason for all this, perhaps, is not far to seek ; it lies to a
certain degree in the personalities of the sovereigns. The
1 The compliment is, however, fully reciprocated by the Susuhunan of
Solo.
J. — VOL. I. L L
514 JAVA
one at Djoekjakerta loathes and detests everything Western,
while his colleague or superior at Soera Kerta is just the
opposite, and has his palace filled with Western as well as
Eastern articles of furniture and so forth, and introduces
European ways which clash with the Javan. Furthermore,
the Sultan of Djoekjakerta has never been out of the country
and is a pure Javan, while the susuhunan was taken awaj^
young from his unmanageable and brutal father and sent
to Europe by the Dutch Government, which has somewhat
spoilt him. In addition to this it is said he is not a pure
Javan but has Chinese blood in him, which there seems little
doubt is the case, even were it not for the fact that his
features show a strong Mongolian cast.
Of the fifteen thousand mentioned as living in the kraton
fully ten thousand are women. Their days are spent for
the greater part in idleness and pleasure. They are the
hereditary retainers and hangers-on of the court. Some
attend to the kitchen department, others attend to the
royal apartments, others to the training of the dancing
girls, who are all princesses ; others are players on the lute,
others again act as pipe, betel-box, foot-stool, fan or heir-
loom bearers, and so on. Each has her hereditary duties
to perform, however trifling these may appear to be. It is
all part of the patriarchal system of an ancient monarchy.
As it now is at the court of Djoekjakerta, so it was in the
days of " Majapahit," and so it was probably at the court
of Matarem (Mendang Kamulan) before Majapahit was ever
thought of.
The etiquette of this system is very respectful. It is an
etiquette of absolute politeness for one's seniors or superiors
in rank.^ There is, however, in it a good deal suggestive of
heartlessness, and a sHght tinge of barbarity, in the cringing
servility which is shown to a monarch whose ancestors, and
^ See Miscellaneous Chapter ("Ceremonies of the Court").
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 516
that not so far back, were absolute despots — one might even
go further and say despotic and ferocious monsters — who
visited a sHght dereUction of duty or a trivial neglect in the
observance of some custom with the direst and cruellest of
punishments.
The sultan keeps up a great state, and when he goes out
is accompanied by cavalry both native and Dutch. The
fayung or umbrella is a token of superiority, and is always
carried. These are of different colours — yellow, green, blue,
white, red, pink, black, purple, etc. Some have a little
gold, increasing in amount according to the importance or
rank of the person. The payung shows immediately the
status of a person. The sultan's head is protected with a
jpayung that is all gold, the queen's with a yellow one, and
the crown prince's with a payung ornamented with a thick
gold border ^ ; the sultan's children have their heads pro-
tected with a white payung, and so on. There is thus a
complete system of heraldry.^
The mendopo or throne-room in the kraton is decorated
entirely with gilt ; attached hereto is the dining-hall.
capable of accommodating one thousand guests. There is a
yellow house, the residence of the sultan ; opposite this
stand the house of his first lawful wife, the house of the
Eesident when he lives inside the kraton,^ the dwellings of
the concubines and of the bodyguard, and the stables of
the elephants and horses, which buildings completely fill
the grounds.
There is, it is said, a block of stone in the kraton which
was formerly the throne. It is credited with the age of
several hundreds of years, and there is a story connected
with it that it once belonged to one of the Hindu kings of
India. Two very old waringen trees, always a sign of
' A later innovation.
2 See Miscellaneous Chapter ("Titles and Rank").
^ On the death of a sultan.
L L 2
516 JAVA
majesty, stand in the big plain before the kraton, with their
drooping branches and colossal trunks.
Part of the regalia^ from Majapahit is here, including the
ancient gamelan,^ which is said to be as old as the stone
throne.
At the wedding of the crown prince in 1908 the author
had the opportunity of hearing it, when the hereditary
players played it for all they were worth, at a command
from the sultan, who was doing his best to show all honour
to the Dutch Eesident. Once having heard such a perform-
ance, and on such a gamelan, one remembers it for a lifetime.
The performance, to a lover of music, was majestic and
perfect, but the beauty and symmetry of it all is neither to
be imagined nor described. In Java one can, of course,
hear the gamelan played daily if one will, but not such a
gamelan as this, and never one played as this was on such
an occasion. It was in fact a full band, with the finest
hereditary performers.
The old kraton used to be at Parsar Gede, some little
distance away. Little now remains of tliis famous old
palace except the walls and the kohooran, or royal cemetery,
which consists of several courts surrounded by turreted
walls. The gateways leading to each of these courts still
bear some of their old carvings. In the third court is a large
house where most of the kraton princes have been interred.
From this the passage leads to a smaller court, where one
sees tombs rising on terraces like a series of steps. Descend-
ing from these you reach a square tank of crystal clear water
containing the sacred fisb,^ which have a venomous sting,
1 See Miscellaneous Chapter (" Regalia ").
2 Set of native instruments.
s One cannot help observing in Djoekjakertaand in various customs and
habits of the Javans a touch of old Babylon. For instance, the sacred fish.
Professor Pinches, in his work entitled " The Old Testament in a new Light,"
on page 192 writes : " Pocock in his description of the East states that it
is the universal opinion of the Jews that Orfa, or Edessa, was the ancient
Ur of the Chaldees," and this is supported by local tradition, the chief place
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 517
and a sacred white turtle, for which the natives have a
wonderful veneration. There are about three hundred
royal personages interred here, and their faces are all turned
towards Mecca.
Under the shade of one of the large waringen trees,
planted four hundred and fifty years ago near where the
old kraton stood, is a slab of black stone, raised about a foot
from the ground and about a yard and a half long by one
broad. It has a faint inscription in European letters on
it. The natives say that a European sailor who was ship-
wrecked on the south coast several hundred years ago was
chained to tliis stone by order of the then Sultan of Pajang.
The reasons given for this poor man's punishments are
numerous ; but from the curious inscription in several
languages it would appear he was a linguist, and, therefore,
possibly some missionary whose religious zeal had excited
the hostihty and suspicion of the higher Javan authorities.
From the impression on the slab, the European, whoever he
was, must have found a sedentary position the most com-
fortable — or possibly this was the only one possible, as the
length of chain allowed him, according to all appearance,
must have been very short. Some of the stories related by
the natives about this victim, although vague and uncertain,
are worth repeating. One is to the effect that when the
sailor was brought before the sultan he refused to humble
himself by bending his knees and paying homage to him, an
act which so incensed the tyrannical monarch that he at once
ordered him to leave his presence and afterwards condemned
him to be chained for life to this stone. Another account
is that three hundred and fifty years ago a vessel was wrecked
off the coast of Djoekjakerta, and that the whole crew except
this one man, who was picked up by some fisherman half-
of worship there being called the " Mosque of Abraham," and the pond in
which the sacred fish are is called Bahr Ibrahim-el-Halil, the Lake of
Abraham the Beloved.
518 JAVA
dead, were drowned. The fisherman restored him to Hfe,
and the story soon reached Mataram that a white man had
appeared, and the curiosity of the natives was aroused. The
sultan, however, being of a very suspicious nature, with
despotic and cruel ideas, and fearing the influence of the
stranger, had him hurried before him, and no sooner had
he seen him than he ordered him to be chained to the black
stone for life, giving out that he was a sea spirit of ill omen,
who had come to deceive them in the form of a white man.
The story says he was soon resigned to his fate, and that
after a long time, through the help of a native woman,
he managed to escape and reach Bantam, where the sultan
allowed him to live peaceably. Another record, however,
says he died on the very slab in question, which is probably
the truer tale of the two, if, indeed, any credence can be
given to the tale at all. The Dutch professor Dr. J. Grone-
man, whose knowledge of Djoekjakerta is second to none,
seems to believe that the European in question, although
possibly a shipwrecked sailor, was never actually chained
to the stone, but enjoyed the hospitality of the Javans and
spent his leisure time sitting on it.
Near the kraton is the " Water Kasteel," or Taman Sarie.
It was formerly a veritable garden of paradise, but now it
is scarcely worth a visit. The spacious grounds, however,
containing the ruins of a large palace with swimming baths,
orchards, pleasure grounds, flower gardens, and fountains,
give one some idea of what it was like in 1758 when it was
built. The whole stood formerly in the middle of a lake,
and the only entrance to this building was by an under-
water passage, of which nothing was seen above water except
the tops of some detached turrets with windows, by means
of which light was communicated to the vaults below.
Here the old Sultan Hamangku Buvano and his harem were
whiling away their hours when Daendels with his army was
thundering outside.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 519
The story, which is undoubtedly true, is that Daendels,
who had come to Djoekja (as has been related in another
chapter) to bring the sultan to reason, was kept waiting in
an outer court an hour beyond the time appointed for the
interview. Hearing the gamelan playing, and knowing that
the sounds which reverberated through the galleries betokened
merriment, and weary of waiting, he pushed through the
retainers to the mouth of the tunnel and appeared before
the sultan in the Water Castle without being announced or
any further ceremony. He seized the sultan unceremo-
niously by the arm and carried him back to the Dutch head-
quarters, where the interview took place. The earthquake
of 1867 made the castle uninhabitable.
At the present day the chief interest of Djoekjakerta is
that it is a centre from which the Buddhist temples of
Mendoet and Boro Boedoer^ and the superb Brahminical
ruins of the Brambanan temples can be visited. Near the
Kesident's house is a collection of old and ancient Hindu
carvings of great interest to the archaeologist.
Djoekja is a very healthy place, with a temperate climate,
broad roads, a fine club, and two or three good hotels —
" Mataram," " Toegoe," and the new one, the " Grand
Hotel."
The British Resident at Djoekjakerta in 1811 was for a
short time Captain Robinson, but he was merely a locum
tenens with the Dutch Resident Pieter Engelhard until the
arrival of John Crawfurd" on the 15th November, 1811.
Crawfurd was replaced by Captain R. C. Garnham in 1814,
who was in turn replaced by Dr. Ainslie, who remained at
this post until the evacuation.
Tjilatjap.
Tjilatjap is the largest port on the south coast, both from
a commercial and a military point of view. During the
' Dutch, spelling.
2 John Crawfurd was the first civil Governor of Singapore in 1822.
520 JAVA
Hindu period there was a settlement here, and a few remains
are still visible. Until, however, late in the nineteenth
century it remained, for Europeans, a port of small import-
ance. One of the first assistant Residents at Tjilatjap
conceived great ideas of the place, which it is very likely
will still be reahsed. He laid out the town in a very sym-
metrical maimer, with wide and shady avenues. Un-
fortunately the climate and the soil are both bad, and when
Europeans first went there the place became a graveyard.
Tjilatjap is laid on a partially dried-up swamp and the
coast is covered with rotting coral — all unhealthy elements.
Besides this, however, an unhealthy and poisonous exhala-
tion is conveyed across the Java inland sea (called Kinder
Zee) from the swamps behind it, which breed a deadly
malaria. The curious aspect of this malaria is that its
worst effects are only felt after the person leaves the place,
but the former resident's constitution having been under-
mined (although he has not known it), he soon succumbs to
his enemy when it attacks him openly.
The houses are built in the ordinary Java style, and there
is an excellent club here.
The harbour is fairly large and capacious, and the wharf,
alongside which the railway runs, can berth five or six
steamers at a time, and it is very seldom empty.
There are three very good hotels here, the "Belle Vue "
being about the best.
BuiTENZORG.
\While Batoetoelis (Batu Tulis), which is near to the
present town of Buitenzorg, was the capital of the empire
of Pajajaran, which went on existing after Majapahit had
fallen, Buitenzorg itself only came into existence in 1745,
when the Governor-General, van Imhoff, purchased the
whole of Bogoh for a song and built a house here which was
called the " Heerenhuis of Bogoh." This seat was passed
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 521
on from one Governor- General to the other, and the building
from being modest in style developed as time went on into a
palace, which Raffles made into the beautiful structure that
now stands.
Daendels, who had to fill a depleted treasury, is responsible
for having divided Bogoh up into lots and put them up to
auction, selling them with great profit.
Buitenzorg (the Dutch for " outside care ") stands about
700 feet high at the foot of the mountain Salak, and is
connected by rail with Batavia, only thirty-six miles away.
The climate is very healthy and cool, but it rains almost
every day. In the EngHsh time Raffles lived here per-
petually, and even in his time there was a large passar here,
and a number of well-built European houses ; while barracks
for the soldiers and numerous batteries built by the French
were visible everywhere.
Buitenzorg is a beautiful spot — more so now probably
than formerly, owing to the buildings lying hidden beneath a
mass of dark foliage — with broad avenues and great waringen
trees planted everywhere fifty or sixty years ago. There
is a Protestant church here, a club, a race-course, and an
entrancing bathing retreat at Soekadingin.
The jewel, however, of Buitenzorg is of course the
Botanical Gardens, which are world-renowned. They were
begim in quite a humble way in 1754, when special care was
taken of the gardens immediately surrounding the " Heeren-
huis." The gardens, however, were never taken properly
in hand until 1817^ when Reinwardt raised them from
ordinary gardens into scientific horticultural gardens of the
first order. The Dutch, as is well known, are the best
horticulturists the world has ever seen, and the late super-
intendent of these gardens, Professor Treub, a man of
extraordinary energj^ combined with exceptional ability,
brought the gardens to a state which makes them the
wonder of all horticultural scientists. A tropical sun,
522 JAVA
daily showers, a century's hard work, clever professors, and
an interested Government have not only made these gardens
the first in the world, but have made the efforts of the
English at Hongkong, Singapore, Calcutta, and in the West
Indies, as also those of the French at Saigon, to sink into
insignificance beside them. There is a herbarium, museum
and library, and botanical, zoological, agricultural, chemical
and pharmacological laboratories, also the museum of the
Forest Department and the photozincographical studio, all
of which can be visited.
The plants are, as a rule, arranged according to the natural
system ; every species is represented by two specimens, one
of which bears a label. Entering the gardens through the
old stone gate by the Chinese passar, one comes to the
celebrated canary-tree avenue, which was laid out by the
well-known horticulturist Teysmann eighty years ago. To
the right behind the porter's house is the largest of all the
lianas represented in the gardens {entada monostachya) .
In this section is to be seen the monument erected to the
wife of Sir Stamford Raffles, who died at Buitenzorg on the
26th November, 1814, and was buried at Tanahbang.
The record of her death made at the time reads as follows :
" At Buitenzorg on the 26th November (1814) Olivia Marianne^
the Lady of the Honourable Thomas Stamford Raffles, Esquire,
Lieutenant-Governor of this Colony. The numerous assemblage
of persons of both sexes to assist at the mournful ceremony of
paying the last duties and honours to the deceased, and the
general and marked expression of grief which was there evinced,
is the best proof of the respect and regard which her benevolence
and manners had acquired among a-ll classes of society in Java r
and her more immediate friends will justly say that possessed
in life of a heart glowing with the most generous affection.s, and
of a mind guided by the purest principles of friendship and
kindness, she lived beloved by all who knew her, and carries to
the grave the certainty of being ever remembered by them with
a fond, devoted and faithful attachment. Her remains were
interred at Batavia by the side of the late Dr. Leyden."
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 523
There is also the gi-ave here of Madame Rochussen, nee
Vincent, wife of the Governor-General of that name and
grand-aunt of the author.
Against the trunks of the canary trees are all sorts of
climbing plants, grown chiefly from the aroideal genus, and
their branches are covered with epiphytic plants. There is
also here that gigantic orchid Grammatophyllum speciosum,
which sometimes bears as many as three thousand flowers
at one time, and the Monstera deliciosa, with its perforated
leaves. Then you have the Amherstia nohilis, with its red
branches of blossom, and the Saracca, with its yellow
bouquet of flowers. There are also the yellow flowers of
the towering Pithecolohrium ; and plants of the shade tree
{Schizolobium excelsum). Then there is the XantJwphyllum
vitellinum, of the genus of the PolygalecB, to which in tem-
perate zones only herbs and plants belong. The Plu7niera
acutifolia of the Javanese churchyard is also to be seen
here ; it is peculiar for its finger-shaped fantastic branches
and the fact that there are very few leaves. It is continually
in bloom. On another side of the Djalan Besar (great way)
is the collection of palms — the lofty Oncosperma filamentosa,
the red pinang {Cyrtostachys rendali), the upright emperor
palm (Oreodoxa), indigenous to Brazil, different species of
phoenix, among which are the date palm {Phidactylifera) , a
number of varieties of the coconut-palm (Cocos Jiucifera),
the oil-palm {Elceis Guinensis) from New Guinea, the sago-
palm (Metroxylon) , and finally the cocoa de mer {Lodoicea
Seychellarum) , with its enormous and apparently double
fruit and its large fan-shaped leaves, the stems of which are
as hard as iron. To the left of the palm section, which is so
representative, one passes the resinous-smelling section of
the Gymnospermce, in which arauc arias and damonars grow
luxuriantly. Near here the botanist can also study the
Bhizophorce, or mangroves, which cover the mudbanks of
the waste everywhere in the archipelago. Here also is the
524 JAVA
Sonneratia acida, a giant tree from the marshes ; and, if
one will, one can search out the Cyperus papyrus, the plant
from which the Egyptians collected papyrus.
There are strange ant plants {Myrmecodia) , whose
swollen, spongy, perforated stems swarm with ants. A
botanist, however, has discovered that these plants are not
designedly so made, although the ants take advantage of
the opportunity Nature gives them for a comfortable abode.
Crotons {Codiceuvi), sweet cassava (Manihot utilissima), and
the Ceara rubber tree, iron-wood trees, the Sterculiacece,
with its orange-red fruit leaves and velvet-black seeds, grow
wildly in a corner. Further on in the gardens, in another
department, flourish species of ElcBcarpus, the Para nut-
yielding hertholletia excelsa, elegant blooming barringtonias,
and the Melania, producing the famous kajonpoetih oil, the
cure for cold and relief for influenzas. There are also the
zuurzak, hoea nonna, and sirikaya, all well-known fruit trees
in Java of the family Anonacece ; there is also in this patch
the Magnoliacece.
The sweet-smelling Myristica Horsfieldii (Dr. Horsfield
was the English botanist here in Kaffles's time, 1811 to 1816)
shows its presence by casting its odour far abroad. The
Stelechocarpus hurahol finds also a place, bearing fruit and
flowers on its trunk. Mention must also be made of the
ebony, kaki fruit, styrax, benzoin and getah pertsja
trees, belonging to the Diospyros species. In a portion
of the gardens reserved for the Governor- General, which,
however, his Excellency is always willing to give per-
mission to important visitors to look at, is to be found
the Victoria regia floating on the small lake, also the
Urostigma rumphii and Kigelia pinnata, with its sausage-
shaped fruit.
Past here, between the Sapindacece and Sapindus rarak,
from which soap can be made with the help of water in a
minute or two, we perceive the Filicium decipiens, which is
THE TOWNS IN JAV^A, ETC. 525
indigenous to Ceylon. Here is also the Ficus elastica, which,
according to the Dutch, is the best rubber tree for Java/
Then there is a pond with its NymjpJima species ; the family
of the Meliacece, to w^hich belongs the mahogany-tree, the
coca-yielding Erythroxylon coca. In another division chahce-
bearing plants climb the trees, and here stands the Par-
mentiera cerifera, with its fruit like wax candles.
Along by the lotus at the end of the large lake are the
fan-shaped banana trees, called the " traveller's tree "
{Bavenala madagascariensis) , the ginger tree, cardamom,
and curcuma. There is a rose garden in which is a monu-
ment to Teysmann. The poisonous upas tree too is here,
of which more later on. The orchid house must also be
seen, as well as the conservatory, with Passiflora, Fuchsonia,
Maranta, Calaihea, the Bromeliacece, growing on coral, and a
group of Anthurium and Diffenhacliia.
From this cursory description it can be readily perceived
that the gardens are of a highly scientific order. However,
to give a full description needs greater knowledge than
mine.
At Batoetoelis is the stone which commemorates the
founding of the empire of Pajajarcm.
Near here are still a few Hindu remains. There are two
hotels at Buitenzorg, the " Chemin de Fer " and " Hotel
Belle Vue." From the mountain rooms in the latter a
magnificent view is obtainable over the face of the volcano
Salak and the valley beneath. Two hundred feet below
runs the river, through gi'oves of palms, here and there
broken by the toy houses of the Javans, who seem to spend
their day gambolling in the running water.^
Thomas Macquoid was the British Resident of the
** Buitenzorg and Batavia Regencies," as the district was
^ The author does not agree. Eevea is probably the best.
» The " Guide to the Dutch East Indies," in EngUsh, by J. F. van
Bemmelen and G. B. Hooyer, should be procured.
526 JAVA
called in 1812, and remained as such until 1814, when the
title became " Buitenzorg and Batavia-Preanger Regencies."
In 1815 F. E. Hardy was Resident of Buitenzorg and van
Doorninck assistant Resident, Macquoid being Resident of
the " Preanger Regencies."
These positions were retained until the Dutch reassumed
charge of the country again.
SOEKABOEMI.
The name Soekaboemi, which really sprang into existence
for Europeans during Raffles' time, means " the desire of
the world." The place lies in the district known as the
Preanger. It is on the railway and two hours beyond
Buitenzorg. Lying 1,600 feet high, it has an equable
temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and thus has a
dehghtful climate, and is one of the best places in Java in
which permanently to reside. An excellent club and some
first-rate hotels make it a place worth visiting in order to
get a glimpse of the surrounding country, which is beautiful
in the extreme. The hotels " Victoria," " Selabatoe," and
" Ploem " are the best. From here visits can be made to
Selabintana, or to some of the well-known tea estates
near here — Goalpara and Perbawatie, etc.
From one of the latter the Telaga Warna, or " the un-
fathomable lake," inside an old volcano, can be reached.
Soekaboemi was the land bought by Sir Stamford Raffles,
Thomas Macquoid (the old Governor of Java's east coast),
Nicolaus Engelhard, and A. de Wilde, a purchase which
caused such wide-spread dissatisfaction, the price having
been only 58,000 Spanish dollars. Long after Raffles had
left Java the land was sold for 800,000 rupees. To-day the
same land would fetch millions.
Bandoeng.
Bandoeng was founded by Sultan Agoeng of Cheribon in
1641, when he sent three hundred tjatjahs (families) here.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 527
His successor increased this number to one thousand. It
is now the fourth largest town in Java, and is still growing ;
it is in the Preanger district, in the centre of a plain fifty
miles each way and surrounded by mountains. During the
morning there is generally a mist, but by 7 o'clock this has
entirely disappeared, and the mountain air blows over the
place the whole day. There is a large missigit here, a park
around the Kesident's house, and a race-course. Beautiful
drives can be obtained in every direction. Near here
are many well-known tea estates, and not far off are
Tjiwangie, formerly managed by the well-known Preanger
Englishman Noel Bingley,^ and Goenoeng Malang, until
recently managed by a Dutchman named Halewyn.
There is a well-known bathing place near Bandoeng called
Tjiampelas Snidanglya, where there is a well-known sana-
torium 5,000 feet up, and Soemedang may also be reached
from here. Then there is the waterfall Penganten, the
crater of the Patoeha, the Telaga Patengah, 5,550 feet high,
and surrounded by Peruvian bark plantations. The volcano
Tangkoeban Prahoe near is a wonderful sight and is easily
visited.
Nowadays Bandoeng has nothing to complain of in the
way of hotels, the " Preanger " and " Homann's " being
quite first class, while the " Hotel Phoenix " is also well
patronised.
Near to Bandoeng is the mihtary station of Mid Java
called " Tjimahi." This is the place also where all the sick
soldiers of West Java are sent to recuperate.
Garoet.
Garoet is an ideal health resort, peaceful and quiet, clean
and pretty, amidst lofty mountains, whose cool breezes
soon restore the invalid seeking a renewal of health and
^ This gentleman married Mejonkvrouwe Roell, a daughter of the dis-
tinguished Dutch admiral of that name.
528 JAVA
strength. There are several interesting places near to visit.
There is Tjipanas, where there are five warm springs, each
of a different temperature, in which for a few cents a bath
can be taken. The Papandajan, a volcanic mountain
5,000 feet high, can be approached to the mouth and a peep
taken into the seething, snorting bottom of the crater,
which every now and then, as it were, shakes itself. A
guide is here to steer you through the mud springs, the
sulphur pillars, the deafening noise of the self-building
sulphur columns, the hot vapours, and the water-spouting
mud eruptions. From the top of the Papandayan an un-
paralleled view is procurable over the Preanger. Near also
is Tjisoeroepan (where there is an hotel), lying in a cup facing
three mountain tops.
At Garoet three first-class hotels provide for visitors ; the
*' Van Horck," the " Villa Dolce," and the " Hotel Rupert "
are all equally good.
Bantam.
Bantam was the first European capital of Java.
We have already told of Drake's visit here in 1579, of
Bobert Cavendish's in 1587, and of the first Dutchman's
(Cornelius Houtman) arrival in 1596. We saw also how the
English were worried by the Dutch East India Company, at
first mildly and latterly more severely, from 1635 until tha
seizure of their factory in 1663. We also know that by
1682 Bantam was entirely under the control of the Dutch.
There is no use pondering on the " might have been " if the-
English had only kept a larger force here from the beginning,
when Lancaster, who followed up Drake and Cavendish
with Queen Elizabeth's charter in his pocket, established a
factory here in 1602, placing a man named Starkie or
Starckey in charge as governor or factor. The Dutch
slowly but gradually increased their power here, until in
1767 they had the right to appoint a successor to the
deceased sultan. In 1776 their estabhshment consisted of
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 529
20 civil servants, 1 clergyman, 5 surgeons and assistants,
17 of the artillery, 30 seamen, 199 soldiers, and 10 mechanics
— in all 282 Europeans. Its population was considerable,
but the composition was bad ; madmen, slaves, criminal
deserters, Chinese bankrupts of low degree, and even
murderers took refuge here. The capital was built wholly
of bamboo near the sea-shore, at the mouth of the large
river which empties itself into the bay. The sultan resided
in a palace built in European style, within a ruinous old
fort containing eighty cannon of various descriptions. The
Dutch had a very powerful fort at this time which com-
manded that of the sultan. The sultan assumed European
costume on great public days ; otherwise he was dressed as
a Malay. His seraglio contained about four hundred women.
The kingdom of Bantam at the end of the eighteenth century
exported immense quantities of pepper and rice, besides tin.
From being, however, a town of very great importance it
has to-day sunk into comparative insignificance.
During the English period Major Yule was the British
Kesident. In 1814, on account of his meritorious services,
he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
It was at Bantam that the Kesident Dupuy was wantonly
killed after a visit to the sultan, a deed necessitating Daendels'
proceeding there in person and deposing the sultan.
The following old descriptions of Java and Bantam may
here be given :
" An Account of Java and the First Settlement of the
English at Bantam. With a Journal of Occurrences
there ; particularly in regard to what passed between
them and the Dutch, as well as the Natives, from
1602 TO 1605, inclusively." (From the Journal Department,
by Edmund Scot, Governor of the English Factory at
Bantam from 1602 to 1605.)
" Extent and Soil of Java. Chief Places of Trade. Bantam
Described. Chinese Town. King's Authority. Mamiers of the
J. — VOL. I. M M
530 JAVA
Javans : Their Arms ; Dress ; Religion ; have no Genius for
Industry ; or Government. Chinese : Their Rehgion ; Sacri-
fices ; extreme Perfuming ; fond of Plays and Singing ; their
Soothsayers ; Habits.
" Extent and Soil. Java Major is an island, the middle part
of which lies in the ninth degree of latitude. It is about an
hundred and forty-six leagues long, from east to west ; and
ninety broad, from south to north. The middle part is mostly
all mountains ; which are not so steep, but that the natives
ascend them, both on horseback and on foot. Some people
dwell upon the hills which are next to the sea. But the very
middle of the land so far as ever the Author could learn is inhabited
by nothing but wild beasts. They are of divers sorts ; and often
descending into the valleys near the shore, devour many people.
The land towards the sea, for the most part, is low marshy
ground ; and there stand their principal towns of trade ; these
lie on the north and north east side of the Island as Chiringin,
Bantam, Jakkatra and Jortan or Greesy.
" Chief Places of Trade. These low lands are very
unliealthy, breeding many diseases (especially among strangers)
and yielding no merchandize worth speaking of, but pepper ;
which formerly was brought from all parts of the Island, to
Bantam as being the chief mart of the country. It was Uke-
wise imported from divers other countries ; but of late years
that custom has ceased, the Dutch having bought it up every-
where.
" Bantam Described. Bantam for trade far exceeds Achin
or any port in those parts. It is about three English miles in
length and very populous. There are three markets kept every
day, one in the forenoon and two in the afternoon, where the
throng is as great, especially to the first, as at fairs in England.
Yet Mr. Scot never saw any kind of cattle to sell, by reason there
are very few tame in the country. Their food is rice, with some
hens, and a little fish. The houses of the Javans are aU made of
great canes, and some small timber, being sHght buildings ; yet
in many of the principal men's houses, good workmanship is seen,
as carving etc. Some have a square brick room for the sole
use of securing their furniture in case of fire. Many small streams
run through the town, which hath also a good road for ships,
so that if they were people who had any genius, it might be made
a very handsome city. It is surrounded with a brick wall, and
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 531
well fortified with flankers and towers, scouring the country
every way. The Author was told, that it was first built by the
Chinese, but in many places it is fallen to decay for want of
repairing.
" Chinese Town. At one end of this city is the Chinese
town, a narrow river parting them, which runs from thence to
the King's palace, and so through the great town, to the middle
of which at high water, both galleys and junks, of great burthen,
may sail up. This Chinese town is for the most part built with
brick. The houses are square, and flat at top ; some of them
having boards and small pieces of timber, or spht canes laid
across, on which are placed bricks and sand, to defend them from
fire. Over these brick warehouses there is a shed, raised with
great canes, and thatched. Some are built with small timber
but the greatest number with canes only. Since the English
came hither many of the richer sort have built their houses to
the top, all fireproof, whereas before there was none of that sort
to be met with, except the Shah Bandar's and the rich China
Merchant's house ; which nevertheless by means of their windows
and the sheds that surround them, have been consumed. In
this town the EngHsh and Dutch have their houses, which are
built in the same manner only they are a great deal bigger, and
higher than ordinary houses. The Dutch have lately at great
expense and trouble built one of their houses of brick up to the
top, proof as they suppose against fire.
" King's Authority. The king of this place is absolute ; and
since the deposing and death of the late Emperor of Damak, is
held the principal king of all that Island. He punisheth offenders
always according to martial law. If any private man's wife
be convicted of adultery, she is presently put to death, as well as
the gallant. They may execute their slaves for any small fault.
The Javans are hmited to three wives, and for every wife a free-
man marries, he is obhged to keep ten women slaves, and some
purchase forty or more, whom they make use of at will.
" jManners of the Javans. The Javans are generally
exceeding proud, although extremely poor, by reason that not
one in a hundred will work. The gentlemen are reduced by the
number of slaves they keep, who eat faster than their pepper or
rice grows. The Chinese both plant dress and gather pepper
and also sow their rice, living as slaves under them, but they
gain by their masters laziness ; draining in effect all the wealth
M M 2
532 JAVA
of the land to themselves. A Javan is so proud that he will not
endure an equal to sit an inch higher than himself. They are a
very blood-thirsty revengeful people, yet when they have a
quarrel against any one, either of their own, or another nation,
seldom decide it by fair fighting but murder the party cowardly,
although they are for the most part large-bodied men. Their
law for murder is to pay a fine to the king, which is but small,
so that the friends of the deceased will be sure to revenge his
death on the murderer, or his kindred ; while the King's revenue
increases the more assassinations there are committed.
" Their Arms. Their ordinary weapon is called a crise and
about two feet in length, the blade is scallopped (like a flaming
sword) and withal exceeding sharp. The metal of most of them,
is poisoned in the tempering ; so that not one in five hundred,
who is wounded with them, escapeth with his hfe. The handles
of these weapons, are either of horn, or wood curiously carved in
the likeness of a devil, which many of them worship. In their
wars they fight with pikes, darts and targets. Of late a few of
them have learned to use muskets, but they handle them very
awkwardly.
" Their Dress. The apparel of the better sort, is a turban
on their heads and about their loins, a fine piece of cahco, all
the rest of their body is naked. Now-and-then on extraordinary
occasions only they wear a close coat, somewhat hke a cassock
of velvet or other kind of silk. The common sort wear on their
head, a flat cap of velvet taffata or calico consisting of many
pieces neatly sewed together to make them fit tight. A piece
of two colours is tied about their waist, in manner of a girdle,
but at least one yard broad. This is a kind of cahco, made at
Clyn, from whence come many sorts ; which they dye, paint and
gild according to the fashion of that country. They hkewise may
have a kind of striped stuff made of either cotton or rinds of
trees, but they are so lazy, that there is very httle of it worn.
Most of the men have very thick curled hair, in which they take
great pride, often going bareheaded to show it. The women
also go with their heads and their hair tied up, like the tails of
horses in England. About their middles they wear the same
covering as the men ; always having a fair girdle, or pintado of
their country fashion, thrown over their shoulders which hangeth
down loose behind.
" Religion. The principal men among them are most religious.
THE TOWNS m JAVA, ETC. 533
but they seldom go to church. They acknowledge Christ for a
Prophet, whom they call Nabi Ifa, and some of them keep
Mohamedan priests in their houses, but the common people have
very little notion of any rehgion only they say there is a God,
who made heaven and earth, and them also, that he is good and
will not hurt them, but that there is a devil who being of a
malevolent disposition, is incHned to afflict them, wherefore,
many pray to him, merely for fear. Both sexes are very lasci-
viously given. All those who are in authority are guilty of taking
bribes, and the Javans in general are bad paymasters, notwith-
standing their laws for debt are so strict, that the creditor may
take his debtor, his wives, children, slaves and all that he hath,
and sell them for his debt.
" No Genius for Industry. They are also much addicted to
steahng from the highest to the lowest, and without doubt
formerly they were man eaters, before the Chinese traded with
them, which as the Author was told, was not above one hundred
years thence. They delight much in ease and musick, and for
the most part, spend the day sitting cross-legged like a taylor,
whittling a stick, whereby many of them become very good
carvers, and indeed all the work that most of them covet to do is
to carve the handle of their crise. They are very great eaters,
but the gentlemen allow their slaves nothing but rice boiled in
water, with some roots and herbs. Among the latter is one
called bettaile, which they usually have carried with them in
boxes or wrapped up in a cloth, like a sugar loaf, also a nut called
pinango, these are both of a very hot quality and they eat them
continually to warm their stomachs and keep them from the
flux. They hkewise are great takers of tobacco and opium.
" Or Government. The Javans having no genius for govern-
ment or managing affairs of state, many of those who come from
the country of Clyn, to settle there, grow very rich and rise to
great offices and dignity amongst them, such as that of Shar
Bandar, Laytamougon, etc. But most of all the Chinese, who
like Jews live crouching under them, yet fleece them of their
wealth and send it to China.
" Chestese : — Their Religion. The Chinese are very crafty
in trading, using all kinds of couzening, and tricks that can be
devised. They have no pride in them nor will refuse any labour,
except they turn Javans (as many of them do, when they have
committed a murder or some other villainy) and then they become
534 JAVA
every whit as proud, and as lazy. For their religion they are
of divers sects, but most of them are Atheists. Many of them
believe, that when they die, if they were good livers, they shall
be born agam to great riches, and be made governors ; but if
wicked men, they shall be turned into some vile animal, as a
frog or a toad. They burn sacrifices every new moon, mumbling
prayers over them with a kind of singing voice, and as they sing
they tinkle a little bell which at the end of every prayer they
ring out as loud as they can. This ceremony they also observe
when any amongst them of any account He a djdng. The manner
of their sacrifice is this ; they furnish their altars with goats,
hens, ducks, and divers sorts of fruits, which flesh is sometimes
ready dressed for eating and sometimes raw, but is afterwards
dressed and eaten. All that they burn is only papers painted,
and cut out in figures which are valued by them at a certain
price. The Author many times asked them, to whom they burned
their sacrifice ? and they answered to God ; but the Guzerats,
and Turks, who are there, said they burned it to the Devil ; if
they do so they are ashamed to confess it.
" Many of them are well skilled in astronomy, and keep an
exact account of time. They observe no Sabbath, nor one day
more than other, except when they lay the foundation of a house,
or begin some other great work ; which day they ever after keep
as a hohday. When any of the wealthy sort die in Bantam, their
bodies are burnt and the ashes carried in jars close stopped up,
to their friends in China. When some of them have lain a dymg,
Mr. Scot hath observed them to burn seven perfumes, four of
them being large and casting great light, were set upon a cane,
which rested upon two supports about six feet from the ground,
and the other three which were very small and burnt dim, were
placed on the ground directly under them. He often enquired
the meaning of this ceremony but could never get any other
answer than that it was the fashion of China, which is all the
grounds they have for many other customs.
" Fond of Plays and Singi7ig. They delight much in plays and
singing but have the worst voices in the world. These plays or
interludes a,re performed as service to their Gods, and often
introduced with a burnt sacrifice, the priests kneehng down
frequently and kissing the ground three times successively.
These plays are acted commonly when they think their junks
or shipping are set out from China, hkewise when they arrive
THE TOWNS m JAVA, ETC. 535
at Bantam, and set out from thence towards China. They
sometimes begin at noon and do not end till next morning, being
for the general exhibited in the open street on stages set up for
the purpose.
" Their Soothsayers. These people have their soothsayers who
sometimes run raging up and down the streets like madmen,
with drawn swords in their hands, tearing their hair and throwing
themselves against the ground. They affirm that when they
are in these frantic fits, they can tell what shall come to pass.
Many Chinese believe this, and when they send a jmik to sea,
apply to them, to know whether they shall speed well or not,
and by their report, things have fallen out just as the diviner had
predicted.
" Their Habit. The Chinese wear long gowns with cassocks
under them, hanging something lower. Mr. Scot was persuaded
they were the most effeminate and cowardly people in the world.
On their heads they wear a caul, some made of silk and others
of hair. The hair of their heads is very long which they bind
up in a knot, just over the crown. Their nobility and governors
wear hoods of sundry fashions, some of them are of an odd make,
one half being like a hat, and the other like a french hood, others
again are of net-work with a high crown and no brims. These
people are tall and strong with very small black eyes, and generally
without any hair on their faces. They will steal and do any kind
of villainy to get wealth. Their manner at Bantam is to buy
women slaves (for they bring no women out of China), by whom,
they have many children, and when they go back to their own
country with an intention to return no more to Bantam, they
sell their women but carry their children with them. As for their
goods, they leave an order for some to be sent after them with
every fleet that sails, for if they die in Bantam, all the effects
they have there belong to the King, and if once they cut their
hair, tliey must never return to China, however their children
may, provided they do not cut their hair.
" Factory at Bantam. When the general departed from
Bantam the tweiity-first of February 1602, he left nine persons
to reside there, over whom he appointed Mr. William Starkey
to be chief commander, he likewise left his pinnace with thirteen
more to go for Banda, under the command of Thomas Tudde,
merchant, and for master one Thomas Keith. As his orders
were that the pinnace should be sent away with all speed, she
536 JAVA
was forthwith laden with fifty six chests and packs of goods, and
on the sixth of March, at night set sail, but by reason of contrary
winds she was forced to return, after she had spent near two
months, beating up and down at sea. The general left the
English two houses full of goods (besides some which lay in the
house of the Dutch) but their number was too few to manage
one well.
" Quarrel with the Javans. Before the ships departed, a
quarrel arose betwixt the English and the Javans who fought
by all means they could to be revenged, in so much that presently
after the pinnace set sail, they attempted to fire their principal
house with darts and arrows in the night, and if in the day, they
brought out any goods to air, they were sure to have the town
fired not far to windward. Had not those fire-arrows been
discovered by some of them, in all probabiUty both house and
goods had been consumed, as plainly appeared by the top,
when they went to repair it. This mahce of the rascally sort
of people continued for the space of two years before it was
quashed.
" So soon as the pinnace was dispatched they began to lay
the foundation of their house, which was seventy-two foot long
and thirty-six broad, but just at that time a new protector
(of the king) happening to be chosen, they were put to some
trouble and cost, before they could be permitted to go through
with it. They Hkewise aired their prize goods, and ]Mr. Starkey
■ caused the leathers of most of the packs to be stripped off, after
which these goods did not keep their colours any-thing so well as
the rest.
" The Town Fired. The twenty first of March, the town was
set on fire by a gun shot off by the Chinese captain, which con-
sumed many houses full of merchandize. Amongst others the
Dutch house was burnt to the ground where the English had
sixty five bales of goods besides some pepper. They had also
some pepper lying at a Chinese house, which for the most part was
burned and spoiled, so that they lost one hundred and ninety
sacks, besides the damage the rest received. Their loss by this
fire was great but it was well it proved no greater considering
how near the flame came to both their houses then in no condition
to withstand it, especially one of them which the fire approached
within three yards, insomuch that the jams of the windows were
so hot, that a man could hardly suffer his hand to touch them,
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 537
and yet the old and dry thatch took no fire to the great surprise
of people of several nations.
" English Factory est Danger. All the villains in the country
were gathered about this house, so that the English durst take
no rest that night, for fear they should throw some firebrands
upon it. In the evening as some of them stood at the door there
came Javans whom they knew to be notorious thieves and asked
what number of them lay in that house ? They were asked
again, what business was that of theirs ? And told, that if they
would know they should come at midnight and see. At this
answer they went away ver}'- much disgruntled, but they were so
very bold, that in the day time they would come and before the
faces of the English look to see how their doors were hung, and
what fastening they had within. They were often informed by
some, who wished them well, that if they did not keep good
watch there was a crew who designed to break in suddenly upon
them, and cut their throats, insomuch that there being but four
in that house (of whom the author was one) what with over-
watching and what with the flux, which reigneth much in that
country they were grown so very weak, that two of them never
recovered it.
" Van Warwick Arrives. The nineteenth of April 1603,
there came into the road nine sail of Hollanders under the com-
mand of Wyborne van Warwick who shortly after sent two of
them for China and two for the Molukkos, two landed at Bantam,
and one went to Jortan. He likewise dispatched a pinnace to
Achen to order certain ships (that went from thence by Captain
Spilberg's directions to Zeilon to take a small fort from the
Portugueze) to come to Bantam, he waiting there with one ship
for their arrival. The English were very much beholden to this
general, for wine and bread besides many other necessaries and
courtesies received at his hands. He would often tell tliem how
Sir Richard Luson reheved him at sea when he was likely to
perish, and that for the same reason he was bound to be kind
to the Englishmen, wherever he met with them. To speak the
truth says j\'Ir. Scot, there was not anything in his ships for the
relief of the sick men, but they might have commanded it as
freely as if it had been their own. He likewise expressed himself
with great respect always of the queen, but there were some of
the baser sort of his fleet who spoke very unbecoming things of
her in discourse with the Javans.
538 JAVA
" The English Disturbed by the Court. The twenty fifth
of April Thomas Morgan their second factor died, who had been
sickly a long time, Mr. Starkey also began to grow very weak.
The twenty eighth the pinnace returned from Banda having lost
one of her factors Wilham Chase, and the rest were but weak and
sickly. About this time some of the king's officers came to forbid
them to go forward with their house, probably because the new
protector had not as yet received a present. The Shah Bandar
and he being at that time at varience they complained to Kay
Tomongone Gobay, the admiral ; who indeed was the father
of all strangers in that place. He presently made a great feast
and inviting all the principal persons of the court took an oppor-
tmiity to talk of this affair to the Enghsh, telling them what a
shame it was, that the king and they should not keep their words
to the general and merchants, and that rather than he would
break his word, he would go and dwell in a small cottage himself,
and let them have his house. After much ado he brought them
to consent, that they should go forward with their house, which
in a short time after, was finished.
" Their principal merchant fearing pepper would be dear,
by reason of the Flemish ships that were there or daily expected,
bought up as much as he could, and because the house was not
yet ready he dispursed his money before the goods were weighed.
Now the Flemmings not being curious about their pepper when
the Enghsh came to take theirs, they were forced to receive it as
the others did or else they should have had neither money nor
pepper so that they had in that parcel much sour and bad pepper.
" On the last of June Mr. Starkey ended his days whose burial
General Warwick caused to be honoured with a company of
shot and pikes the colours being trailed according to the order
of soldiers' burial.
" The Town Fired Twice. The fourth of July, the great
market on the east side of the river was set on fire by villainy of
certain Javans, in order to get some spoil out of the Chinese
effects. By this also the English were losers, some Chinese who
were indebted to them having lost all that they were M'orth in
the world. The seventeenth, Thomas Dobson one of the factors
for Banda, died ; the twenty seventh, the town was burnt again
on the east side of the river,
" The Protector's Threats. The fifth of August, at ten
o'clock at night, there came to the Enghsh house, Captain Spil-
THE TOWNS IX JAVA, ETC. 539
berg, Captain John Powlson, and some other Dutch captains,
who told them they had been that day with the protector about
some business and that he asked them, if they would take the
parts of the EngUsh, in case he should do them any violence ?
to which they answered that the EngHsh and they were near
neighbours, and therefore they could not see them wronged ;
but yet had he strictly charged them not to be offended with him,
or aid them, whatsoever way he proceeded with them. Hereupon
IVIr. Scot went presently to the protector and gave him a small
present and also thanks for his men, whom, four or five days
before, he had sent to help the Enghsh in their building. He
received the present but his countenance showed he was angry ;
he told Scot that he was then going about business to the king,
but would send for him next morning ; for that he wanted to
speak to him. The same day the admiral sent his son to him,
to know what his meaning was to use such threatning speeches
against the English, but he denied them.
" Next morning he sent for Scot, and asked him who had
informed him, that he designed to hurt the Enghsh ? Upon his
answering the Hollanders, he asked whether they were slaves or
captains ? And being told they were captains, he bad Scot
shew his Scrivano those captains. He added that if any Javana
or Chinese had done it, he would have sent for him, and cut his
throat before the Enghsh, Then he began to find fault with
them, because they did not come to him when they had any suit
to make, but went to the Shah Bandar or the admiral. ]\Ir. Scot
by way of apology, answered that he was but newly come into
this place and that the Enghsh as yet were not acquainted with
him, but that for the future he would apply to his honour ; then
he promised to befriend them all in his power, but it was pure
dissimulation only to borrow money from them. About this
time the Flemmings spread a rumour through their own fleet,
that the king would force the English to lend him five thousand
rials of eight, or cause their house to be plucked down again,
but that report was false, for neither the king nor the protector
had at that time sent to them for any, nor did in four months
after.
"Danger from Fire. The seventeenth of August, Captain
Spilberg having sold all his commodities (which he shared in the
Enghsh prize) and laden his ships and pinnace with pepper,
departed thence with two ships more of Warwick's fleet in his
540 JAVA
company. The nineteenth of August, having brought out
certain packs of goods to air, a Javan who was a slave to one of
the principals of the country, threw some fire-works upon a
thatched house, a little to windward of the factory ; the English
espying it, pursued, took him and carried him before Kay Tomon-
gone the admiral who put him in irons. Within an hour after,
there came several of his comrades who would have taken him
away by force ; hereupon the admiral's men and they fell together
by the ears, and many were hurt on both sides. The admiral,
so soon as his men had beaten the others off, sent him to the king,
but because his master was one of the king's favourites, he was
not put to death, although by the law of the country he should have
died, nor did the English greatly seek it, because his master was
their friend also. It may farther be observed that the Javans
are so wicked and bloody a people that although they commit
crimes, they take the punishment as injuries never to be put up,
but by the death of their masters ; so that if any slave offend,
he is either quite forgiven, or else put to death. But then they
are very obedient and seldom offend their masters, because they
are for the most part as wicked as themselves.
" Insults from the Javans. The twenty second of August
at night certain Javans having gotten into a great yard hard by
the English quarters, while they were singing a psalm (which
was their custom when they set their watch) threw stones at the
windows as if they would have beaten down the house, some of
which coming in, very narrowly missed them. However they
took some of the rogues whom yet upon submission they spared.
" Disorders of the Dutch. About this time a quarrel
arising between the Flemmings and the Chinese, some were hurt
and slain on both sides. This was owing to the misbehaviour
of the Flemmings ; who in that place carry themselves very
rude and disorderly, to such a degree that they are a scandal to
the name of Christians. This is to be understood only of the
vulgar sort over whom when they are ashore and in drink their
officers have no command. They came off with the worst
however at last ; not that they were chastised by the Chinese,
or vanquished by the manliood of the Javans, but some who were
slaves to certain turncoat Chinese, would steal behind the Flem-
mings in the evening and stab them unawares.
" They come off with the Worst. One day being very
clamourous about one of their men, who was slain, the protector
M» t
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. .541
asked them whether when they came to any country to trade,
they brought laws with them or whether they were governed by
the laws of the country they were in ? To which they answered
that when they were aboard their ships, they were governed by
their own laws, but when they were ashore they were subject to
the laws of the country they were in. ' Well,' said the protector,
* I will tell you the law of the country which is this. If one kill
a slave, they must pay twenty rials of eight, if a freeman, fifty,
and if a gentleman, a hundred.' The Flemmings requested to
have that under his own hand, which was granted, and this was
all the amends they had for their man being killed, yet if they
would have taken fifty rials of eight they might have had it.
" Lampoxs AssASsms. About the fifth of September there
arrived a junk full of men from the island of Lampon, in the
streights of Sunda ; the natives are sworn enemies to all who
inhabit Bantam, as well as the Javans, from whom however they
are not to be distinguished, many Javans hkewise associate with
them. These Lampons being in all respects, so like the Javans,
would boldly come into the town not only in the evenings and
nights, but even at noon day, and entering peoples houses, cut
off their heads ; so that for a month the Enghsh could take Uttle
rest for the lamentations of the people. One day while they were
sitting at dimier these villauis came and took a woman who hved
in the next house to theirs ; and mussling her so with a sack,
that she could not cry out, carried her into a tuft of bushes in
the backside belonging to the factory, and there cut her throat
but had no time to cut off her head, for her husband missing her,
looked out and seeing them carry her away cried aloud. The
Enghsh hearing the noise, rose from dinner and pursued them ;
but it was too late to save her life.
" Not easily taken. They were so swift, that there was no
coming up with them and for any tiling the people of the factory
knew, they might be amongst those, who gathered on the occasion,
for it was thought by some, that they lay hid in the bushes till
the Javans came up, and then stealing out mixed with them.
There were some Java women, who cut off their husband's heads
in the night, and sold them to the Lampons. They hankered
much about the house, and I\Ir. Scot beheves that if they had not
kept good watch, they would have attempted to cut their throats
if not for their heads, yet for their goods. But after awhile
many of them being known, were taken and executed. They
542 JAVA
were men of very goodly stature. Their reason for undertaking
these desperate adventures is, that the King gives them a woman
for every stranger's head they bring him, wherefore they would
often dig up such as were new buried, and so impose upon their
king.
" Designs of the Javans Defeated. At this time some
persons of note, who wished well to the English, of whom the
admiral was one, advised them to be constantly on their guard ;
for that some of the principal men of the land for birth, though
not for wealth or office, who had many slaves, and but little to
maintain them, had laid a plot to murder them in the night, in
order to plunder their goods (which they took to be ten times
more than they were) and after to have given out, that the
Lampons had done it. Whereupon they were forced to keep
lights burning all night round their house for otherwise being
so black, they might have come upon them in the dark
before they were aware ; for all the upper work of their houses,
by reason of the heat was open. They were also built with
canes ; the fence round them being of the same materials, was
but a weak building, which might have been easily beaten down.
The conspirators came two or three times, thinking to have
executed their bloody design ; but as soon as they came within
sight of their Hghts, and heard the drum beat at the end of every
watch, their hearts failed them ; concluding the Enghsh were
prepared to receive them with their muskets and blunderbusses,
as in reality they were.
" The Pltjndee, of Chinese. Having thus long waited for
an opportunity without ever findmg one, they at length fell out
among themselves and so were dispersed. Divers others made
bold attempts, but miscarrying hkewise, they next fell to work
with the Chinese ; whose houses at this time were full of English
goods, which they had bought from the factors ; insomuch that
every night, for a long time, they heard grievous outcries, and
expected every hour to have been assaulted, so that they durst
not sleep. Many of their Chinese neighbours were slain, and
many more would have suffered if they had not defended them
with their shot, but the whizzing of a bullet is as terrible to a
Javan, as the cry of hounds is to a hare ; for they cannot stand
the report of a gun. These continual alarms, and grievous
outcries of men, women, and children, had such an effect at last
upon the Enghsh, that they would often dream of pursuing the
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 543
Javans ; and suddenly leaping out of their beds, lay hold of their
weapons ; one man hearing the noise his next fellow made, would
start up likewise ; and thus scuffling together in their sleep,
have wounded one another, before those on the watch could
come to part them. This mischief might have been in good
measure prevented, by laying their arms farther from them, but
then they would not have been ready in case of an attack,
which they looked for every moment. Their number being but
few Mr. Scot took his turn to watch like the rest, in which post
he often stood more in fear of his own men, than the Javans,
and whenever he heard them bustling together, he used to catch
up a target, for fear they should fall upon him.
" On the Author. But all their fear on this account was
nothing in comparison of that which arose from the apprehension
of fire. O this word Fire ! (says the Author) had it been spoken
near me, either in English, Mallayan, Javanese or Chinese ;
although I had been found asleep, yet I should have leaped out
of my bed, as I have sometimes done, when our men on the watch
have but whispered one to another of fire ; insomuch that I
was forced to warn them, not to mention fire in the night, except
they had extraordinary occasion.
" And the other Factors. Not only ]\Ir. Scot himself but
the other factors, Thomas Tudd, and Gabriel Towerson, after
their watches had been out, and they were fallen so fast asleep
that the beating of a drum at their chamber doors could not
awaken them ; yet presently after, when they have but whispered
the word fire, they have all started up, and ran out of their rooms.
These panics however may be excused when it is considered that
then they were strangers ; but in two or three years, they got
several friends there, and the people were become more orderly,
and the government growing better, as the young king advanced
in age. In three months space, the town on the east side of
the river was burnt five times, but the wind always favoured the
English, and although the Javans often fired it on their side,
yet as there blew but little wind the flames were quenched before
they reached them.
" Dutch Pass for English. About the same juncture, great
disputes arose between the natives and the Flemmings on account
of the rude behaviour of the latter many of whom were stabbed
in the evenings. At that time the common people knew not the
Enghsh from the others, for both went by the name of English-
544 JAVA
men, the Dutch having assumed it at their first coming thither
to trade, much to the injury of the true owners, for as they passed
along the street, they could hear the people in the market
exclaiming against the EngHsh, although they meant the
Hollanders ; wherefore fearmg some of their men might be slain
instead of them, they began to think how to make themselves
distinguished from the Flemmings.
" Method taken. The seventeenth of November drawing
near which they kept as coronation-day (for neither then nor the
year following they knew nothing to the contrary) they put on
new suits of silks and wore scarfs of white and red taffata ;
they also made a flag with a red cross in the middle ; and because
the merchants would be known from their servants they edged
their scarfs with deep gold fringe. The day being come, they
set up the banner of St. George on the top of their house ; and
marched up and down within their own ground with drums and
muskets. Being but fourteen in number they could march but
single one after another and so shot off their pieces casting
themselves in rings and esses. The Shah Bandar and several
other prime officers hearing the fire, came to see and to enquire
into the cause of their rejoicing ; they were told that being the
day on which their Queen was crowned seven and forty years
before, all Englishmen in what country soever they were, observed
it with marks of honour. The Shah Bandar greatly commended
them for having their prince in remembrance at such a distance.
" Undeceive the Javans. Many asked them why the
Enf^hshmen at the other house did not express the same zeal ?
Being answered that they were not Enghshmen but Hollanders ;
and their country was not governed by a king ; some rephed that
they called themselves Enghshmen at first, and therefore they
took them to be such. Those of the factory told them, that
thev were of another country near England, and spake another
language ; and that if they talked with them, they should find
they were of a different nation. The multitude admired to see
so many discharges made by such a small number of men for the
Javans and Chinese are no good shot. In the afternoon Mr. Scot
caused his men to walk about the town and the market for the
people to take notice of them. On this occasion their red and
white scarfs and hatbands made such a shew, that the inhabitants
of those parts had never seen the like before, so that ever after
they were known from the Hollanders, and often the children
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 545
in the streets would run after them, crying ' Oran Engrees bagh,
oran Hollanda jahad,' that is, the EngHshmen are good, the
Hollanders are naught. General Warwick went for Patania, and
from thence to China.
'" Carak taken by the Dutch. The sixth of December, there
came in two ships which six months before he had sent tliither.
At the island of Makau they fomid a Carak at anchor, laden with
raw silks, musk and divers other rich wares, ready to depart.
Most of her men happening to be on shore, they took her with
little or no resistance. Having laden their two ships, they
set the rest on fire, so that by their own report, twice as much
was burnt as they brought away. On their voyage back they
met with a great junk of Siam which they fought with and took,
killing three score and four men. Some of their own also were
slain and hurt, but when they found she belonged to Siam, they
let her go again ; because they either had sent, or shortly intended
to send factors there. The captain of the junk was slain, who
when hailed (as they alledged) would not tell them whence he
was, and when they bad him strike, answered that he would not
do it for any ship that ever sailed the ocean. The Flemmings
not knowing what musk was, sold a great quantity of it to certain
Japanese, whom they met with at sea, for little or nothing.
" Adventure of a Dutch Ship. They stayed about forty
days in Bantam, in which time the sailors had squandered all
their pillage, which was very great. On the seventeenth of
January they departed, with two more in company. One had
landed at Bantam, the other came from China two months before,
and had been four years from home ; of which time they had spent
fourteen months in Cochinchina, where at their arrival, they were
betrayed. Their captains being taken prisoners, were made to
kneel on their knees four and twenty hours, with their necks bare,
and one standing over them with a sword ready to strike ofE their
heads, when the order should be given. The Cochinchma would
not beheve but they were spies, and men of war, instead of
merchants. These Dutchmen happening to be papists, the
Portugueze friers at length saved their hves ; and afterwards
they were kindly used, but their ransom cost them dear.
" The Protector Sends to Borrow Money. About this
time the protector sent to the Author several times to lend him
two thousand pieces of eight, and if he could not spare so much,
one thousand ; but Mr. Scot put him off, telling him they were
J. VOL. I. N N
546 JAVA
left there with goods, but no money, that the inhabitants owed
them much, which they could not get in ; and that as yet they
had bought but Httle pepper, towards the stock that was to be
provided against the arrival of their ships. The Flemming who
came in so rich from Makau, had so bribed him, that now he began
to hearken to his notion for building a handsome house.
" Effects of Pepper. The sixth of February the lost Robert
WalHs, and many more of the men were sick and lame ; which
was owing to the heat of the pepper in milhng and shooting
it, so that for the future they were forced to hire Chinese to do
that work, under the inspection of their servants. The sixteenth
there came in a great ship of Zeilan from Pattany. Five or six
days before her arrival, she sent in a small sloop or pinnace ;
ordering their factors to buy up all the pepper they could, which
made the EngHsh imagine, that General Warwick with his whole
fleet was coming to land there ; they bought up all that they
found to be good and merchantable, for the Chinese spoiled
abundance, by mixing water and dirt with it, because the Flem-
mings refused none. This is certain, that the Chinese bought
one of another and sold to the Flemmings again, at the same price
they bought, and yet gained ten rials of eight in a hundred sacks,
by increasing as above mentioned ; for was it ever so bad they
knew their chapmen, and let the wind blow which way it would,
they had shipping to come thither either from the East or from
the West, insomuch that one would have thought they intended
to carry away the pepper growing on the trees, mountains and
all. The Javans hearing, that the country inhabited by the
English was cold, asked them if they beat the pepper in a mortar
with which they plaistered the walls of their houses, to make them
warm. This ship had taken a great deal of rich plmider, but they
swore to the Enghsh they had with them, and charged them,
on pain of losing their wages, not to discover anything, which
their countrymen took very unkindly.
" The Flemmings at this time had three houses on account
of different merchants and each bought up as much pepper as
could be gotten. The fifth of March, the protector sent, in the
king's name, to borrow a thousand rials of eight of ]\Ir. Scot,
who to prevent their falhng out with him, which the Flemmings
would have been glad of, lent them five hundred.
" About this time there came in a junk from Jore, aboard which
were certain Flemmings, who stole away with their goods ;
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 547
because Jore had been for a long time very straitly besieged by
the Portugueze of Malalika, who (as they said) offered the king
peace, on condition he would dehver up or kill the Flemmings
who were in the city ; to which he answered that he would sooner
lose his kingdom. The beginning of this month there were two
great fires on the other side of the water, which did much mischief ;
but the wind still favoured the English.
" Dutch Officer Slai^. The year 1604 affords Httle else to
speak of but murder, theft, wars, fire and treason. To begin with
a tragedy. The English had in their house a Mulatto of Pegu,
brought by their ships from Achin, and m the great ship that
came lately from Pattania there was one of his countrymen, who
on Sunday the eighth of April having gotten a bottle of wine,
brought it ashore to make merry with the other. Walking
abroad in the afternoon, they met with the provost of the ship,
who bid the Mulatto get him aboard. The fellow answered
he would not go yet ; whereupon the provost struck him. The
companion seeing his countryman misused, and being somewhat
elevated with a liquor which he seldom used to drink, resolved
to revenge his quarrel. He presently returned home, and as
soon as it was evening took a rapier and a target, and with his
krise at his back, went forth. There being at that time much
dissension between the Javans and Flemmings, jVIr. Scot had
charged his men, that whenever they went out in the evening
about any business, they should take their weapons with them,
for fear any Javans, who did not know them, should do them a
mischief in the dark. The rest thinking the cook had sent the
peguan to market for herbs, or the Uke, mistrusted nothing.
There went out with him also a slave of the Shah Bandar who was
bom and brought up among the Spaniards at the Manillas. In
short, meeting the provost and the other Mulatto together, he
began a quarrel and presently drawing his krise stabbed him.
Then fearing his countryman would discover the murder, stabbed
him also, and would even have slain the slave who went with
him, had he not got away, by rimning through a ditch. After
this meeting with a poor Javan, he stabbed him likewise.
" Murderer Executed. When a Javan of any account is
put to death, although there be a common executioner, yet the
nearest of kin does the office ; and this is held the greatest favour
they can do them. The protector would have twenty rials of
eight for the Javan who was slain and the Hollanders the Ufe
N N 2
548 JAVA
of the murderer. Accordingly they came with a guard of shot
the sixteenth of April to see his execution ; which was performed
with the quickest dispatch.
" Deaths op Englishmen. The same evening their vice
admiral with another ship in company, set sail for Holland. The
fourteenth Thomas Tudd, before-mentioned who had been long
sick, departed this life ; so that of seven factors left for this
place and Banda, there were now but two hving. The Enghsh
had lost in all since the departure of their ships, eight men,
besides the Mulatto who was executed ; there remaining now but
ten men and one boy. The twentieth, died Jasper Gensberg who
was admiral of the two ships that were betrayed at Cochinchina.
" State of Trade. The two and twentieth of April, there
arrived a great junk from China, which was thought to be cast
away, because she stayed so late, for they usually come in
February and March ; but her coming made cashis very cheap
all the years. This was a great hinderance to the Enghsh, in
the sale of their price goods ; for when cashis were cheap, and
rials dear, they could not sell a piece of stuff for half the value
they could at first ; besides the Chinese had sent all the rials
they could procure for China ; so that the factory was forced to
give them credit or else must have lost the principal time of the
year for their sales. As for pepper the Flemmings had left none,
but what was in the hands of Mr. Scot, and the Shah Bandar
who would not sell for any reasonable price. Moreover, their
goods began to grow old, and the colours to fade ; for the ware-
houses in that place are so hot and moist, that how much soever
pains is taken in airing and turning the wares, yet they will spoil
any sort of cloth that Hes long in them.
" Attempts of the Chinese. A Chinese who turned Javan,
was next neighbour to the factory. He kept a victualhng house,
and brewed arrack (a kind of hot hquor used in most of these parts
of the world instead of wine) ; he had two outhouses where his
guests used to sit, in one of them which joined to the pales on
the south side of the factory, he used to brew. But now he set
up another trade and became an engineer, having gotten eight
firebrands of Hell more, to assist him only in the work of setting
the Enghsh house on fire. These nine dug a well in one of the
victualler's houses from the bottom of which they carried a mine
quite under the foundation of the factory. But before they
could make this mine, they were forced to dig a very deep well
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 549
in their yard to drain off the water and to prevent suspicion
planted tobacco, and other herbs, near the well which they watered
every day. The English could hear them boiUng of water daily
but because they were brewers and had many tubs to wash and
to fill, they had no mistrust.
" To Rob the Factory. When they came to the planks of
the warehouse, they durst not cut them, for some of the factory
were continually walking over them both night and day. After
they had waited two months, without finding an opportunity to
cut the boards, they began to contrive some other method of
breaking through them ; but they went the wrong way to work,
for if they had continued their mine till they had gotten but cross
the warehouse, they had found thirty thousand rials of eight,
buried in jars, for fear of fire. Besides that room was not
boarded at all ; so that they might have come into the warehouse
without any difficulty and had what they sought for. Well,
one of these wicked instruments being a smith, and brought up
always to work with fire, told his associates, that he would take
out the planks so that the Enghsh should neither hear nor see
him. Accordingly on the twenty eighth of May, about ten at
night they put a candle, and burnt a round hole through the
boards. So soon as the fire had vent, it caught hold of the mats
that covered the packs and presently spread.
" They Set Fire to it. All this while the English had no
suspicion nor could perceive anything, by reason of the closeness
of the warehouse, for all the windows were plaistered up, for fear
of the fire overhead. The first watch being out, on which Mr. Scot
himself was, and the second set, they smelt a strong funk of fire,
which was by that time much increased ; but could not find
where it was, although they searched every room and corner.
At length one remembered a rat hole behind his trunk ; where
going to examine he could plainly perceive the smoke issuing
out. Upon this discovery, he hastened into Mr. Scot's chamber
and called out, that the cloth warehouse was on fire. That
piercing word, fire, was enough to awaken the factor, although
he was fast asleep. He presently started up, sHpped on his
cloaths in a trice and running down, opened the doors, out of
which there rushed such a violent smoak, that it had almost
choked them. For want of vent it was so thick, that they could
not perceive where the fire came from ; and at that time there
were two great jars of powder in the warehouse, which put them
550 JAVA
in great fear of being blown up ; yet setting fear aside, they
plucked the things off the jars which felt very hot, and removed
them into the yard.
"It is Stopped with Difficulty. After this they went
boldly to search for the fire ; the thickness of the smoke having
put out their candles, they tied twelve great wax tapers together
which kept lighted. Then they plucked out packs as fast as
they could ; but being almost stifled with the heat and smoke,
and so few, they could do but little good, therefore they let in the
Chinese to help them ; with whom those who had done the
mischief came, hoping to get some plunder. When Mr. Scot saw,
that these damned Chinois (as he calls them) did them rather
harm than good, he was almost in despair, and having had in
his chest above stairs, a thousand pound in gold, which he received
of General Hymskerke, for pepper, he ran up with a design to
throw it into a pond behind the house, but when he was at the
chamber door his mind changed and he went down again to try
once more what might be done. As he passed through the hall,
he chanced to cast his eye into the dining room, which was right
over the place where the fire was ; and there he perceived
Chinois (among whom their unkind neighbour, the principal
actor was one) who had removed the table and were breaking up
the bricks of the ceihng. He bad them give over, and get down.
But they would do neither till he was forced to drive them down
before him. He then desired some merchants they dealt with,
who were standing by, to urge the rest of the Chinese to help out
packs, whereof sixteen were in a flame. Thus by their help
the fire was quenched, which they perceiving, would work no
more. Next day they were paid for their labour, besides what
they stole.
" A Discovery Made. The English wondered much how this
fire should happen suspecting the Portugueze had hired Maiayes
to kindle it ; but in the morning a Chinese bricklayer, who
wrought at the Dutch house, told a Flemming that some of his
own nation were the authors, and that they were since fled ;
but that if the room was well searched, it might be discovered
in what manner the thing was done. The Dutchman told an
English surgeon what he had heard, and desired him to go and
tell the factors, saying, that as he could speak the language he
would go himself and inquire after the fugitives. The surgeon
coming to Mr. Scot and desiring he might see the room where
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 551
the fire was, the other called for a candle and shewed him. Going
to one corner, he found a little round hole, which was burned
through the floor. Down the author thrust a long stick, but
could feel no ground. Then calling for an axe, they wrenched
up the planks as softly as they could and underneath found a
passage large enough to hold the greatest pack or chest in the
house. Upon this discovery, Mr. Scot called three of his men,
and went with them armed, as secretly as he could, to the house
from whence the mine came ; leaving one at the door, with a
charge to let none go out. He went in himself with the other
two, where in one room he found three men and in another two
more, who forthwith fled out at the back door, which he knew
not of before. Those three they brought away after giving them
two or three knocks. One was a lodger in the house, but the other
two they could prove nothing against. Mr. Scot having laid them
fast in irons, sent Mr. Towrson to the protector to inform him
how the case stood, and desire that the offenders might be sought
for, and having justice done upon them, which he promised should
be done, but was very slack in performance.
" One Confesses the Fact. The Dutch merchants hearing
they had taken some, and apprehending the Chinese would rise
against them, came very kindly with their weapons and sware
they would hve and die in their quarrel. After they had laid
out those goods, which had received some water, to air, they
examined the party who dwelt in the next house ; he told them
the names of six, who were fled ; but said, he knew not where,
and would not own that he was concerned with them, he likewise
said the other two were innocent. But threatening him with a
hot iron, he confessed the whole, and that he was an accomplice ;
he said those two out-houses were built for that very purpose
although they put them to other use, to take off suspicion ; and
that the mine had been made two months before ; in which time
they had been often very busy in it, striving to get into the house
but could not. After this they tortured him, because as soon as
they had laid down the iron, he denied all again ; but being
tortured made a second confession. Next morning Scot sent
him to execution. As he went out of the factory, the Javans
(who rejoice when they see a Chinese go to suffer, as the Chinese
do, when it is the Javans case) reviled him ; but he would reply,
the English were rich and the Chinese poor ; therefore, why should
not they steal from them if they could.
552 JAVA
" Prodigious Cruel. Next day the admiral took another of
the gang, and sent him to the factor. He was found hidden in
a privy ; and this was he who fired the house. He was a gold-
smith by trade, and confessed to the admiral, that he had chpped
many ryals and also coined others. Some things he confessed
to him, concerning what he was charged with, although not
much, but he would tell the Enghsh nothing. Because of his
suUenness and that he was a principal offender, Scot ordered
sharp hot irons to be thrust under the nails of his thumbs, fingers
and toes, and the nails wrenched off ; yet he never flinched all
the while, which made them think that his hands and legs were
numbed with tying, wherefore they burned him in the hands, arms,
shoulders and neck ; but it was all the same with him. Then
they burned him quite through the hands, and with iron rasps
tore out the flesh and sinews. After that (says the Author)
I caused them to knock the edges of his shinbones with hot
searing irons, then I caused cold iron screws to be screwed into
the bones of his arms, and suddenly snatched off ; after that all
the bones of his fingers and toes to be broken with pincers ; yet
for all this he never so much as shed a tear, nor once turned his
head aside, or stirred either hand or foot ; but when we demanded
any question, he would put his tongue between his teeth and
strike his chin upon his knees to bite it off.
" Another Execution. When all the cruelty that could be
used was to no purpose the factor caused him to be put in irons
again ; where the emmets or ants which greatly abound there,
got into his wounds, and tormented him worse than the Enghsh
had done, as might be discovered by his cresture. The king's
officers desired of Scot, that he might be shot, he told them that
was too good a death for such a villain, adding that in his country
none but a gentleman, or soldier who committed a capital crime,
was shot, and then was befriended, but in Java it is looked upon
to be the most cruel and ignominious death that is. However
they being very importunate, in the evening those of the factory
led him into the fields, and binduig him to a stake, the first ball
carried away a piece of his arm, bone and all ; they next struck
him through the breast up near the shoulder, then holding down
his head, he looked upon the woimd. The third shot was made
with a bullet cut in three parts, which hitting him on the breast
triangle wise, he fell down as low as the stake would permit.
After which between them and the Elemmings he was shot
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 553
almost to pieces before they left him. On this occasion the admiral
and Shah Bandar sent them a guard of men every night for fear
the Chinese should rise against them, but although they were
in no fear, yet they kept four of their men to be witnesses, that in
case of such a rising they should do nothing but what was purely
in their own defence.
" Names of the Incendiaries. By a bribe Scot got hold of
Boyboy, another of them who confessed his associates, viz.,
Uniete the chief ; Sawman his partner (who dwelt in the house
with him) ; Hinting, Omigpayo, Hewsamkow, Utee (who was
shortly after crised for lying with a woman), Irrow and Sakkow ;
these were fled to Jakkatra the two last of which he had never
heard of before. He used all the means in his power to get them
into his hands, but could not succeed, without being at excessive
charges. There were others also, who taking shelter in the houses
of some considerable Javans, could not be come at. However
some were offered to sale by their patrons, and the English beat
the price as one would do about an ox or a calf ; but they
held them so dear, that Scot durst not deal with them. He
proffered as much for each as would purchase another slave in
his room, and put something in their purses besides ; but the
criminals were such fit instruments for their purposes as being
practised in all kinds of villany that they would not part with
them under a great sum. For (the Author says) all the Javans
and Chinese from the highest to the lowest, are great villains
and have not one spark of virtue in them ; and that if it was
not for the Shah Bandar the admiral and one or two more, who
were natives of Clyn, there would have been no Hving for a Chris-
tian amongst them, without a fort, or very strong houses of brick
or stone. Boyboy above mentioned they tortured not, because
of his confession, but crised (or stabbed) him.
" Mandelikko's IVIalice. Sometime after a relation of the
king's called Pangran man Delike, a mere limb of the devil, who
kept one of those nine villains in his house, coming to the factory
to buy cloth, they desired he would dehver the fellow into their
hands, telhng him, their general should give him thanks ; and
representing how much it would conduce to the good of the
country, to root out such villains. His answer was that they
should tell those so, vv^ho had the good of the country at heart,
for that he had not. Three or four days after, he came again,
and was very earnest with Scot, to give him credit for six or seven
554 JAVA
hundred ryals of eight in cloth ; but because he was not to be
trusted, the factor excused the matter : under pretence of
expecting the ships every day, and that he could dehver no goods,
without pepper for loading. When he saw he could not prevail,
he went out very angry and at the gate, looking back upon the
house, said it was pity but it should be burnt again.
" Discovered by a Chinese. This same person tampered
with a Chinese who had some deaUngs with the Enghsh, to help
him to some of his nation, dwelling near the factory, to undertake
firing it again ; but having been generally hated for all his
cruelties, the Chinese told them what he said. Scot upon this,
would have presently gone to court to complain of him, but many
advised him against it, sajdng that he was a desperate villain
and cared neither for king nor protector ; so that if they exposed
him, he would do them a mischief, whatsoever came of it ; Scot
was sensible of this ; for though both the king and governor had
sent to him often, to dehver to the EngHsh the fellow he harboured,
yet he never regarded them. Shortly after, many attempts were
made to burn their house ; for the town was fired in three places
at the same time, in one night, a httle to windward of it, and
twice another night.
" A Merry Accident. Now to season these melancholy
stories with a diverting one. During this interval it happened
that a Chinese who dwelt close to the factory, stole away the wife
of another ; and being hardly pursued by her husband, knew
not how to conceal her, but by lifting her over the pales : the
English having newly shot much pepper into their warehouses it
was at that time so extremely hot, that they were forced to keep
the door open continually day and night. This being a fit place
for her to hide in, she got within the door as far as she could for
the heat, and there was no danger of her husband coming there
to look for her. After the watch was set one of the company
returning from the yard, which they often visited both day and
night, saw the woman (it being a little starhght) standing at the
pepper-house door, she having come forth to take breath ; for
she had better have been in a hot bath so long. He presently
cried out, a woman, upon which Scot running down in haste,
caused her to be searched and examined. Her defence was, that
her husband would have beaten her ; and that therefore she was
forced to chmb over their pales, to hide herself. It is usual for
the Chinese to beat their wives, especially if they be of another
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 555
countrj^, and this woman was a Cochin Chinese, who had no
friends in Bantam ; for the Javans will rarely suffer them to
beat their women. Wherefore jVIt. Scot having searched and
secured every place, concluded this matter would prove some such
jest. Accordingly next morning her husband came and falling
down on his marrow-bones, desired he would be good to him ; for
having so lately tortured some Chinese (says Scot) he imagined
I would torture him also, but on my conscience he needed no
more plague or punishment than such a wife, wherefore I presently
dismissed them both.
" They Enlarge their Factory. The ninth of September
the protector sent out a proclamation that no Chinese should
weigh any pepper to the strangers, meaning the EngHsh and the
Hollanders ; which last had procured it. The same day they
dined with the Enghsh and told them, that the protector owed
them ten thousand sacks of pepper ; Scot replied that was not
so, for they would never be such fools to trust him so much.
Next morning he went to the old woman who commands the
protector and all the rest ; and indeed is called the queen of the
land, by the Shah Bandar, and divers others ; although she is
not of the royal blood ; but on account of her wisdom, is held in
such esteem by people of all ranks, that she rules as if she were
absolute queen of the country. As soon as the Enghsh had
acquainted her with the grievance, she sent for the protector
desiring them to talk with him before her. WTien he came, Scot
asked, for what reason he had forbidden them to trade ? His
answer was that he must buy ten thousand sacks of pepper for
the king ; the factor rephed, that the Elemmings themselves
had told him, that the pepper was for them, and that he owed
them so many sacks. The statesman had recourse to several
evasions, but the queen their constant friend, said she should
not hurt them. For the Hollanders when they saw they could
not get the people to trade for pepper, bribed the protector to act
as he did, and if the Enghsh had but been masters of ten thousand
ryals of eight, more than they were, the Flemmings should have
procured little pepper that year in Bantam.
" Their Early Power by Sea. It is most certain, they are
much hated there ; and whatever is done in their favour is for
fear of their shipping, which is very numerous all over those
parts. The twelfth of September, the protector sent ryals up
and down in the king's name, amongst the dealers in pepper
556 JAVA
requiring some to furnish an hundred sacks, some fifty, some ten,
some five, as if he was begging ; and indeed he took it up at
the king's price, which was half a ryal in a sack less than the
Enghsh paid. The Chinese, with much grudging, served him.
A while after he set a tax upon them, to serve him with so much
more. Upon this they railed both at him, and the Hollanders.
Many of them would not receive their money, but the officers
would throw it down in their houses, and take their names.
" The Factory Fired again. The fifteenth of September by
means of an old trot who was making candles, the town was set
on fire ; by which all the upper work of the three houses of the
English was burned and the whole greatly endangered. The
Shah Bandar came to them in the tumult, and the admiral (who
had charge of the court, in the absence of king or governors, then
on a progress) sent them a great train of his principal men.
One of the king's uncles and the rich Chinese came to them like-
wise with a great number. All these came to see that no body
offered them any violence ; knowing that they had enemies of
great power, on account of their goods, and now lay exposed to
them all ; for their fence was almost burned to the ground, so
that they had not a place to dress their victials in. Yet by
good luck they had a httle shed in the middle of their yard,
which was their court of guard that escaped where they encamped
by night. The Dutch house escaped though but narrowly ;
wherefore the Enghsh borrowed some of their men. For it is
to be noted that though they were mortal enemies in point of
trade, yet in all other matters they were friends, and would have
lived and died one for the other. Also the admiral and Shah
Bandar sent them men every night, so that with their drum,
shot and pikes, they lived a soldiers' hfe, till their fence was made
up, and afterwards too ; for they looked every hour when it
should be burnt down again, or beat down by those who wanted
to have the cutting of their throats.
" Mandelikko's Rapeste. The Pangran Mandelikko, before
mentioned, in the end of September fell to robbing junks, one
of which was of Jore, laden with rice, men and women. Being
assisted with a great crew of villains, his slaves he seized on the
junli in the night, and carried away all the rice, with the men and
women, as his prisoners. This was the sure way to starve the
town, by banishing the junks, which used to furnish it with
provisions, the country not being able to supply one quarter of
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 557
the inhabitants. The king and his protector, sent to command
him to deUver the people and goods which he had taken ; but
he refused, and presently fortified himself. He was supported
by the rest of the Pangrans, who were the king's relations as well
as his ; yet being all traitors the king's officers durst not meddle
with him. The protector Shah Bandar, and admiral, sent to
them to be upon their guard. The rebels grew every day stronger,
so that both Javans and strangers began to be in great fear.
Scot borrowed some small ordnance of the Chinese merchants
his friends and fortified the factory with chains and bushes.
He caused also a great quantity of chain, langral and crossbar
shot to be made. A stop was put to all trade at this time, nobody
minding either to buy or sell anything. Every day the spies
of the rebels would come into the yard of the English factory
and be very inquisitive to know, what the men were so hard at
work upon. They plainly told them that they looked every
night for such a man's coming, and therefore made provision for
his entertainment.
" King of Jakatra's Quarrel. About the twentieth of
October, the King of Jakkatra came into Bantam, with fifteen
hundred fighting men, besides stragglers, and had a thousand
more following him. He challenged both the rebels and Pangrans
to fight ; but the former would not venture out of their fortifica-
tions. He had indeed a great quarrel against them all ; for
but a httle while before, they sought to drive him out of his
kingdom.
" The six and twentieth, the King of Jakkatra, and the admiral,
sent for the English, to know if means could not be found to
fire them at a distance out of the reach of their bases, of which
they had a great number. Scot told them if there had been a
ship in the road, it might easily have been done ; but that for
their parts, they wanted some of the most necessary materials
such as camphire, saltpetre and brimstone. The admiral said
he would help them to these things ; and had a long bow, and
arrows fit for such a purpose ; although a musket had been
better.
" Mandelikko Banished. The Enghsh intented to have had
the king's ordnance planted to advantage, and shot red hot
bullets, which would have made terrible havock among them and
their cane fortifications. The principal rebel had endeavoured
all he could to fire them ; now they resolved to see if they could
558 JAVA
not fire him . But whether it was for fear of the King of Jakkatra
or that thej'' were apprised of the factor's design, the Pangrans
and rebels came to an agreement within two days after ; which
was this, that the principal rebel should within six days, depart
out of the King of Bantam's dominions, taking with him only
thirty of his domestics, which he accordingly did. For ten days
together the Enghsh expected every hour both night and day
that the king's forces and the Pangrans would come to a battle ;
for they were drawn up on both sides ; but the Javans are very
loth to fight if they can avoid it ; the reason it is said, is that
if their slaves be killed, wherein all their wealth lies, they will be
beggared.
" The seventeenth of November, which was the coronation
day, they invited the Flemmings to dinner ; in the middle of
which they drank the Queen's health and shot off all their
ordnance which had lain loaded ever since the late trouble.
' ' English Adjured . There resort to Bantam people of various
nations, several of which have factories there. These foreigners
having heard of the Enghsh in times past long before they ever
saw any of them, were very curious to observe their carriage and
behaviour. It was the subject of their admiration that being so
few, they should yet render themselves so considerable ; never
putting up the least injury that was offered by either the Javans
or Chinese but always righting themselves ; and when the
protector wronged them, it was well known they did not spare to
tell him of it roundly, and to such purpose that he fell short of
having his will. It was no less notorious that when at the first
arrival of their ships, the Javans purloined their goods ; so
many as they took were either slain, wounded or soundly beaten
by them. They thought the Enghsh durst not do so, when their
ships were gone, and so made it their practice to steal from them
both by day and night ; but they found it all the same, which
they wondered at. And I have heard, says the Author, many
strangers declare, who happened to be present, when we have
been beating some Javans, that they never laiew or heard of any
nation, who were liegers there, but ours, that durst once strike a
Javan in Bantam ; and it was a common talk among strangers
as well as the natives, how we stood at defiance with those who
hated us for our goods, and how little we cared for them. Like-
wise how we never offered any wrong to the meanest in the town,
and were generally beloved by aU the better sort, they would
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 559
say it was not so with the Flemmings, nor with any other nation.
All the while I was there (continues he) I never heard that ever
the Flemmings gave a Javan so much as a box on the ear ; but
many times have fallen foul on the Chinese, who will very seldom
make any resistance ; yet for all this it is certain, that they are
mortally hated, as well by all sorts of Javans as the Chinese.
" English Loved, Dutch Hated. Now every day the
Hollanders looked for their shipping, and yet had but little
pepper, nor loiew where to buy any ; for the Chinese would sell
them none, so long as the English would give as much as they.
More than that, when they had laid out all their ryals, some of
those merchants sold them pepper, to be paid when their ships
came, although they could not tell themselves when they would
arrive. If they would have gone to the Flemmings, they might
have had ready money, and great thanks. The Dutch therefore
bought what they could by retail in the markets, sending it to a
Chinese house bj'' boat in the evening ; but the charge consumed
the gain.
" About this time the Emperor of Damak, who not many
years before, for tyranny had been deposed by the kings there-
abouts, going by sea from Bantam to another town upon the
coast, was stabbed in bed by one of his sons, when he was
asleep.
" Chinese Fraud. The Chinese would usually mix their
pepper in the night if it was left with them ; or else put in dust
or may be remove to another place. If the English disliked the
spice which they saw at one man's house to-day they would be
sure to find the same in another house a good distance off
to-morrow ; and the night after at a third house, that they
might pass for different parcels, and the warehouse where it
lay first should be shut, or a quantity of better pepper lodged
in room of the bad.
" In November and the beginning of December, the English
were busied not only in building but also in getting in, and
cleaning pepper. The fourteenth of December, they were informed
by a Dutch pinnace which arrived, that the Queen was dead and
that a great plague and sickness had afflicted all Christendom
(which more sensibly shocked them, than all their former troubles),
that the King of Scots was crowned and that England was in peace
within itself, and hkely to be so with Spain in a httle time. But
they could give them no account of their ships, nor of any letters
560 JAVA
brought by the fleet. Wherefore IVIr. Scot hasted aboard the
Dutch admiral and found there were letters in the vice admiral.
" The Chief Incendiary Taken. The twenty second by
means of some of the friends of the Enghsh, Uniete, the chief of
the incendiares who had undermined their house, was discovered
and taken. He had been long in the mountains and for want of
food, was forced to repair to certain houses near the town, from
whence he was brought to the rich Chinese house. So soon as
Scot heard of him, he sent INIr. Towrson to the protector to inform
him of it ; and withal to let him know, that the Enghsh intended
shortly to execute him ; for since the time that this mischief
happened, he never went out of sight of the house but once, till
the Company's ships arrived ; and then his fear was so great,
that he thought all would be burnt before he got back again.
Besides three times every week he used to search all the Chinese
houses round about, for fear of more undermining.
" General Middleton Arrives. The same day, towards
evening the Enghsh descried their ships coming into the road ;
but their joy was allayed when they saw the weak condition they
were in ; especially as Bantam was not the place to recover men
that are sick, but rather to kill men that come thither in health.
IVIr. Scot, at his first going aboard the admiral found the General
Captain Henry Middleton, very sickly and weak ; to whom he
gave a brief account of the past troubles, letting him know
nevertheless that he had lading ready for two ships, which was
some pleasure to him, in his grief for the men. There were
scarce fifty sound in the four ships. Of the sick men a number
died ; and many of those who arrived in health, never went out
of the road.
" The Incendiary Executed. The twenty fourth the Vice
Admiral Captain Coulthurst came ashore with some other
merchants. The same day they executed the villain lately taken.
This was the fourth principal who had been put to death, besides
him who was killed for stealing a woman. At Scot's coming away,
there remauied four ahve, of which two were at Jakkatra, another
with Mandelikko the traitor and a third with Kay Sanapatly
Dama whom they could not as then come at. The same day the
vice admiral accompanied with those of the factory, and also
some of the new-come merchants, went to court to acquaint the
kmg, that the general had letters from the Kmg of England with
a present for him ; and that as soon as he was a little refreshed,
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 561
being weary after his long voyage, he would come himself to
wait on him, and dehver the letters and present.
" Sunday the twenty third a counsel was held, wherein (for
reasons needless to mention) it was thought fittest to send the
Dragon and the Ascension to the Molukkos ; and that the Hector
and Susan should lade pepper and be dispatched home. The
remainder of the week was employed in getting fresh victuals,
herbs, fruits and flowers for the recovering their men, who
were most grievously afflicted vnih. the scurvy.
" The General goes to Court. On Christmas-day those of
the factory dined on board the general, who the thirty first
went on shore ; and being accompanied with all the merchants
who were in health, and divers others repaired to court and
deUvered the King's letter and present, which were one beautiful
bason and ewre, two standing cups, all parcelgilt ; a gilt spoon
and six muskets, with their furniture ; these were kindly received.
The next day or two, the general spent in visiting the chief friends
of the English, as the Shah Bandar, the admiral and the rich
Chinese, and also made them presents, which were received very
thankfully. After this, they fell to work both ashore and aboard,
to pack up and take in goods for the Molukkos ; but as soon as
the men were a httle recovered of the scurvy, they were seized
with the flux ; insomuch that being still weak in mariners, it
seemed impossible with so few hands, to be able to accomphsh
their business at least in time. The seventh of January, the
Dutch fleet being nine tall ships, besides pinnaces and sloops set
sail for Amboyna and the Molukkos so that the Enghsh were a
long time doubtful, whether their ships (which could not go away
sooner, for the reason just mentioned) should get any lading in
those parts that year.
" The tenth, the ships that were bound homewards began to
take in pepper, but were so oppressed with sickness, that they
could make no dispatch. The eighteenth, those designed for
the islands of Banda, having taken in all their loading, set sail,
their men for the most part extreme weak and sick ; how they
spent their time, till their return to Bantam, the Author refers to
their own account. Presently after their departure the protector
sent to agree about custom, which they thought had been settled
when their first shipping returned. But he asked many new
duties ; and because j\Ir. Scot would not pay them, he commanded
the porters that they should carry no pepper. Wherefore to
J. — VOL. I.
562 JAVA
prevent this being farther hindrance to them in loading their
ships, he was forced to agree to pay down according to the rate
the ships paid before, and leave the rest unsettled, till the return
of the general ; in which the protector would have them beUeve,
he did them a great favour.
" Death of Officers and Men. The two homeward bound
ships, which they were then lading, lost their masters, Samuel
Spencer of the Hector, and Habbakuk Pery of the Susan; also
William Smith, chief master's mate of the Hector, and soon after
Captain Styles, with many other of their principal men, as well
as of their ordinary sailors, died ; so that the factors were con-
strained not only to hire men to help them there but hkewise as
many Guzerats and Chinese as they could get to bring home the
ships, which was exceeding chargeable. With much fatigue they
had them laden by the fifteenth of February but it was the fourth
of March before they could be gotten in readiness to sail. They
departed that day for England ; the Hector had on board sixty
three persons of all sorts, but many of her own men were sick ;
her master was Wilham Crane. The Susan (whose master was
Richard Hacknesse) had forty seven, many of her Enghshmen
being likewise sick.
" Dutch Ships Arrive. The sixth of May there arrived a ship
from Holland which on the coast of Goa, along which she came,
met with two more, bound for Kambaya. These three had taken
four Portugueze ships, wherein they found great riches, only
one which was laden with horses, they set on fire, and consumed
both ship and cargo. This ship left Holland in June 1604, but
they brought no farther news than the Enghsh ships had done.
Their captain CorneUs Syverson, was a very proud Boor, and had
neither wit, manners, honesty nor humanity. Presently after
his arrival, the Flemmings . withdrew that f amiharity, which
before they held with the English ; as they judged by General
Warwick's orders.
" Great Carnival. The author comes now to speak some-
what of the manner of the King of Bantam's being circumcised ;
and of the public rejoicings for the space of a month and more,
before his going to church. In preparing for this all the better
sort of that country had been busied from the time of the arrival
of the China junks, which is in February and March till the
twenty fourth of June 1605. On this occasion a great pageant
was erected on a green before the court-gate, and railed about.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 563
On the front of it was a huge figure of a devil, and on it were set
three chairs of state ; the middlemost which was for the king
was placed highest by two feet ; the other two were for the sons
of Pangran Goban, who was to succeed in case the king died
without issue.
"It is a custom here for all people of ability to make every
new king a present on the day, either of his accession or circum-
cision. This must be done in public, with the greatest shew they
are able to make ; and those who cannot afford singly to do it,
join a company of them together, strangers as well as natives.
These shews began about the twenty fifth of June, and continued
all that month and the next except on certain rainy days. The
protector began the ceremony ; the rest both gentle and simple
performed their parts daily one after another ; not according
to their ranks or dignity but as each was in readiness, and some-
times two or three companies in a day. Because the Javans
are not good at fire-arms, the protector borrowed shot both of
the English and Flemmings between whom a strife arose, which
party should go foremost they contemning the fewness of the
English, and the EngHsh their dirtiness. The Enghsh were
neatly dressed with scarfs and coloured hatbands ; the Flemmings
went in greasy thrumbed caps and tarred coats, with their shirts
hanging betwixt their legs. The former therefore marched in
the rear, refusing to go next after such nasty fellows.
" Javan Discipline. Every morning the king's guard con-
sisting both of shot and pikes were placed without the rails
round the pageant. They were commonly about three hundred,
but on principal days, there were upwards of six hundred drawn
up in files, according to the English discipline. But in their
march they differ ; for instead of going three, five, seven or nine,
in a breast, they always go one by one following one another as
close as they can, with their pikes upright. As for fire-arms they
have not been used to them. Their drums are huge pans of a
metal called tambaga, which make a most hellish sound. They
have their colours, and companies hke the English but their
standards and ancients differ much ; their ancient staff is very
tall, and bends at the top like the end of a bow, from whence
the colours which are hardly a yard in breadth, hang down with
a long pendant.
" English and Dutch Quarrel. The first day|on which the
shew was greatest, certain forts made of canes, and other trash, were
o 2
564 JAVA
set up before the pageant. These were defended by some Javans
against other companies, which assaulted and often fired them ;
but while the Javans were at it in jest with their pikes, the English
and Flemmings were at it in earnest with their muskets. The
protector perceiving it, sent to desire them to be quiet whereupon
they were quiet for that day. In the evening Mr. Scot asked
one of their merchants if he thought Holland was then able to
wage war with England, that there should be such strife between
their men and his about precedence ? He likewise put them in
mind that if it had not been for the English they must have
been the most contemptible nation in Europe. Their answer was
that times and seasons change ; and without doubt most of
them here think themselves able to withstand any nation in the
world ; but I can say nothing (says Scot) to the opinion of their
states and the wiser sort at home.
" Order of the Procession. Every day the king was brought
out of his palace upon a man's shoulder bestriding his neck and
the man held his legs before him. Many rich umbrellas were
carried over and about him. His principal guard who marched
before him, were placed within the rails, round the pageant.
The king was followed by a number of the principal men of the
country, who in their turns daily gave their attendance at court.
A while after the king was seated the shews came in the following
order : first a company of musketeers, led by some gentleman
slave ; next came the pikes, with their colours and music in the
midst of them. The music consisted of ten or twelve tombaga
pans, carried upon a coulstaff between two ; each was a note
higher than another, and two attended to play by striking on
them with sticks. They had also an inferior kind of music, which
went both before and after. After the pikes, followed a body of
targetteers with darts, then were brought in many sorts of trees,
with their fruit. These were succeeded by variety of beasts and
fowls both alive and artificial ; the latter were so curiously made,
that at a distance they were not to be distinguished from the
natural.
" The Players and Presents. After these came several
men and women attired like players who danced, vaulted, and
tumbled before the king, performing many surprising feats of
agihty ; then followed two or three hundred women carrying
presents, with an old matron to every ten to keep them in order.
These presents were of rice and cashes, they were laid in voiders
THE TOWNS IX JAVA, ETC. 565
made of split canes, curiously set out for shew with painted
and gilded papers, but the present itself commonly was not
worth above twelve pence. Next came the rich presents which
were commonly a fair tuban and some fairer cloth of their own
manufacture curiously wrought and gilded or imbroidered with
gold for the king's own use ; these also were carried by women,
ha^-ing two pikes borne upright before them, and every royal
present had a rich umbrella borne over it. The procession was
closed by the heirs to the parties who sent the presents which
are their youngest sons if they have any. They are very richly
attired and adorned with jewels of gold, diamonds, rubies, and
other precious stones about their arms and middles, they have
also rich umbrellas held over them, and a number of men and
women attending them. After they have made their obeisance
to the king, they sit down on mats laid upon the ground. The
presents are all carried into the court, where officers are appomted
to receive them.
" Javans Good Pikemex. After all are past by one with
the pageant speaks out of the devil's mouth, and commands
silence in the king's name. Then the revels begin and the music
strikes up ; and now and then a volley of shot is fired off. The
pikemen and targetteers with darts shew aU their feats of arms ;
these are very expert at their weapons although their musketeers
be bad. When they charge their enemy, they always advance
dancing that he might not take aim to throw his dart, or make a
thrust. Amongst some of the shews there were junks laden
with cashes and rice, which sailed by clock-work. There were
likewise historical representations of matters that had past in
former times taken both from the Old Testament and the
chronicles of Java. All the inventions above mentioned, at least
the major part of them, were taught long ago by the Chinese
and some they learned from the Guzurats, Turks, and other
nations, which come thither to trade ; for they are but blockheads
themselves.
" English Shew an'd Present. The Enghsh brought a very
fair pomegranate tree fuU of fruit, both ripe and half ripe, some
young and others m bud. They had set it in a frame (made of
ratans, or carrick rushes) somewhat like a bird's cage, but very
wide, with earth about the root, and upon the green turfs so that
it stood as if it had been stiU growing. Upon the turfs they
put three white rabbits which the vice admiral gave the Author
566 JAVA
and with thread tied to the boughs several little birds which were
continually chirping. They had hkewise four furious serpents,
which the Chinese make very artificially. Upon these they
hung five pieces of cloth, curiously wrought and gilded after their
fashion which were for the king's use ; besides some other pieces
of stuff for him to bestow upon his followers. To these was
added a fine petronel and a case of pistols, all demasked each in
a beautiful case with silk strings and tassels of gold. As they had
no women to carry these things, they borrowed thirty of the
prettiest boys they could get and two tall Javans to bear pikes
before them. Mr. Towrson had a very pretty Chinese boy, whose
father a Httle before was slain by thieves. This youth dressed
as fine as the king himself, they sent to present the things and
make a speech to his majesty ; importing that if their number
had been equal to their wishes their shew would have made a
far better figure.
" The king and those about him took great dehght in the
conies as well as in beholding some fire-works they carried, which
were matters of great curiosity to the young king, and his play-
fellows ; but the women cried out for fear the palace should be
set on fire.
" Dutch Present Insignificant. The Flemmings boasted
of their present, being accustomed to brag of small matters.
They boasted exceedingly of their king, meaning Grave Maurice,
whom they upon all occasions stile Raia Hollanda. Great strife
arose betwixt the English and them ; the Flemmings still begin-
ning the quarrel in their drink ; and after all their gostering
usually coming off with the worst. But Mr. Scot considering
the great charge of goods which lay upon him, and that the
Enghsh who were but thirteen in a straw house, had no chance
in case the Dutch who were an hundred in all, on shore and a
ship-board, should fall upon them, made it his business to restrain
his men, though with much ado he effected it.
" King of Jakkatra Arrives. The eighteenth of July, the
King of Jakkatra came to exhibit his shew, and make his present ;
and at the same time do his homage, which was performed the
twenty-third, in this manner. In the morning early, the King
of Bantam's guard (which was on this day a more than ordinary
number) were placed in files, their pikes sat upright in the ground,
their muskets lying in order, and every man sitting by his arms,
clothed in red coats. About eight o'clock Mr. Scot with others
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 567
of the factory went to see this shew, and taking up their standing
near the king's pageant, the officers of the guard would often
bid them sit down. The EngHsh would answer they must first
bring them a form ; for indeed the people of no nation is suffered
to stand in the presence either of the king, or any great man, if
near them. The Dutch were as stiff as the English, but for other
nations, the guard would strike them, if they refused, although
the ground and place where they should sit, were never so dirty.
But the Javans, who cannot endure that any body should stand
over them, would remove a good distance from them ; many of
the guard themselves forsook their weapons, and went and sat
elsewhere. Neither can these people bear, that one should lay
his hand on their head, which is not through any point of rehgion,
as some affirm, but merely out of pride. Many times when
Mr. Scot has gone into a Chinese house, where Javans have sat
on the floor, and sat down on a chest, as their manner was, they
have all started up and ran out of doors ; the Chinese would tell
them, that if any other nation should do so, but their or the
Hollanders, the Javans would stab them.
" Attends the Ceremony. But to return. About nine
o'clock the king was brought out in the manner before mentioned ;
two hours after the King of Jakkatra came with a guard of about
two hundred. So soon as he appeared in sight, the king's guards
all rose up, and proved their weapons, which the English had
never observed at any former shew. This was done not for fear
of any violence being offered by the King of Jakkatra, but to
be ready to defend him ; in case the other petty kings, who had
great troops of men, and were his mortal enemies, should rise
against him. When he came near the inmost file of the king's
guard, he found he could not pass to the pageant, without going
through a rank of these petty kings ; wherefore fearing the
cowardly stab, which is used among that nation, he began to
look aghast, and much confounded although he was as brave a
man as any in all those parts ; pass them he would not, but sat
down upon a leather laid upon the ground, which every gentleman
hath carried after him for that purpose. So soon as he was
seated he sent to the king, to know if it were his pleasure he
should come to him, whereupon the king sent two of his principal
noblemen to conduct him to his presence ; the King of Jakkatra
having made his obeisance, the young king embraced him, and
welcomes him ; after this, the former sat down in a place
568 JAVA
appointed for him. During this interval, some other petty shews
were presented.
" His Pageants and Presents. About twelve o'clock came
the King of Jakkatra's shew and presents. After the three
hundred soldiers, came the like number of women with cashes,
and strange fowl, both ahve and artificial ; also many strange
beasts ; amongst these was one furious animal, called by them a
Machan. This creature is somewhat bigger than a Hon, and has
a stately gait when at liberty ; his skin is full of white and red
spots, intermixed with black streaks, which run down from the
back quite under his belly. Mr. Scot saw one of them leap more
than eighteen feet at a single bound, after his prey. They
destroy many people near Bantam ; and often the king attended
by all the country goes out to hunt them ; sometimes in the night
as well as the day. This beast was inclosed in a great wooden
cage, which being placed upon trucks of old carriages, and drawn
by bufEalos, lay like a traitor upon a hurdle. In the same manner
was brought up the figure of a giant thirty feet high ; and another
of a devil.
" Beautiful Garden. These were followed by a garden, full
of herbs and flowers, and in the middle was a fish-pond, with
divers sorts of small fishes ; besides this all sorts of fishes which
are known in those parts, were brought in either ahve or made by
art. While these pageants were in procession they were enter-
tained by players, vaulters and tumblers, all dressed after a
very odd and extravagant manner. There was drawn in likewise,
a very beautiful bedstead, and quilted bed ; also eleven boulsters
and pillows of sill?, embroided with gold at the ends. The posts
of the bedstead were very curiously carved and gilded ; with a
fair canopy overhead, wrought with gold. A number of other
petty toys were brought and presented. Last of all came the
king's youngest son, riding in a chariot drawn by buffalos, which
the Author thought very unseemly. He allows however that
they have but few horses, which are small nags ; and that he
never saw any of them put to draw, or employed otherwise than
to ride on, and run at tilt, after the Barbary fashion ; as he
heard some Barbary merchants say. This exercise they use at
Bantam every Saturday towards evening ; except in their time
of Lent, which is a little before ours.
" The King Circumcised. Two days after this carnival was
over, being Friday and their Sabbath, the king was carried on
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 569
his pageant to church, where he was circumcised. It was borne
up by a great number of men, but the Author could not think
there were four hundred, as the king's nurse told him ; because
in his opmion so many could not stand under it.
" The General Returns from Ternata. The twenty fourth
of July the Dragon returned from Ternata. Mr. Scot immediately
took a praw and going aboard, the general gave him an accomit
of the dangers they had run, and the unkuid dealings of the
Hollanders, although he saved some of their lives. Nevertheless
he had (though with great difficulty and fatigue) gotten a great
quantity of cloves towards his lading. The twenty eighth the
great Encusen of Holland arrived from Ternata ; and the King
of Jakkatra came to see the general.
" A Fray with the Dutch. The first of August, in the after-
noon, the general and merchants being very busy in the ware-
house, taking an inventory of the remainder of prize and other
goods, two of the men came bleeding in, having been wounded
by the Flemmings. Hereupon the general commanded every
man to take his weapons and to lay them over the pates soundly,
which was presently performed ; finding no better arms ready,
he came into the street only with a small cudgel. The Flemmings
were drubbed home to their very gates. One was run quite
through the body, yet some said he did not die of it, two more
lost their arms. The Flemish merchants applied to the general,
but finding that their men began the fray, they said they had but
their deserts, and having drank a cup of wine, kindly took leave
of him and the merchants.
" Who come off Worst. News being presently carried to
court, how the Dutch and English had quarrelled, and that two
were slain, some about the king asked of which party ? and
being told they were Flemmings, they said it was no matter if
they were all slain. In this broil none of the English were hurt,
but the two who were wounded before the complaint came,
and that but slightly ; one having a slash over the hand, the
other a stab under the side with a knife. This was the first time
they came to blows ; but it was not long before they were at it
pell-mell again ; when the Flemmings sped no better then they
did then.
" Ship News. The eleventh of August two ships arrived from
Kambaya, which had taken much rich plunder from the Portu-
gueze. The same day came in one ship from Ternata, and on
570 JAVA
the sixteenth the Ascension from Banda. The eighth of September
the Dutch merchants invited the general and all the Enghsh
merchants and masters, to a feast ; where there was great cheer,
and much friendship passed between them. The fifteenth two
Dutch ships set sail for Holland, one a small vessel, which had
laden pepper at Bantam, the other was freighted with some
cloves taken in at Temata, and prize goods out of the ships from
Kambaya, The twenty first, the Dutch Admiral from Banda
arrived ; and next day the general sent some of his merchants
to the Dutch house to bid him welcome. The same morning a
drunken Flemming caused a new fray, with the surgeon of the
factory ; and more joining them on each side, some of the Dutch
were wounded.
" New Broils by the Dutch. Again about one o'clock as the
general sat on a bench at the gate, talking with a Portugueze,
there came one of their drunken swads, and sat down between
them. The general offended at the rudeness of the fellow, gave
him a box on the ear, and thrust him away. Presently several
of his consorts came about the gate, vapouring with their knives
and sabres. The Enghsh with sticks and the butt ends of their
pikes, drove them into a rack-house ; the door being shut against
them they broke it open and knocked some of the swaggerers
down, bringing them away as prisoners to the general. So many
of the riemmings as came by peaceably, the general caused to
go into the yard, where they were in safety ; and those who would
not turn in, were well drubbed about the head and shoulders.
So soon as this party was defeated, there came another to take
their parts. From sparring words they came to blows, which the
Enghsh laid on so heavy, that the Dutch were forced to take to
their heels. Some of them were knocked down in the streets,
and many had their heads pitifully broken ; others were glad
to run through a broad filthy ditch to get away, being chased into
their houses.
" Ordered to Kill the English. The master of their
admiral had occasioned this fray, having gone from ship to ship,
to bid the men go armed on shore, and kill what English they met
with. Likewise when some of the latter were going aboard the
Dutch ships about business, certain Englishmen belonging to
their fleet, with weeping eyes called to them, to keep off ; for
that strict order was given to kill them, either aboard or on shore ;
and desired them to acquaint the general thereof. The Flemmings
THE TOWNS IX JAVA, ETC. 571
therefore, instead of having cause to complain, as they alleged,
had reason to think they were dealt kindly •with since the Enghsh
might that day have slain a great number of them ; and would
have done so, if the general had but given the word. It was a
matter of wonder to the people of all nations at Bantam, that
they should dare to come to blows with the Flemmings, they
having seven very large ships in the road and the Enghsh but
two. Not one of them received any hurt, excepting IMr. Sarys,
a merchant who had a cut on the fore-finger with a sabre.
" A Reconciliation Made. At the end of this fray, the
Dutch general came to the English house, with a large train of
captains, merchants and others ; whom Captain Middleton m
like manner accompanied, met in the street and conducted in.
After the matter had been talked of a httle the Dutch admiral
approved of what the English had done ; and some of the
captains saying, we complained but their men bore away the
blows, the admiral answered it was no matter, for he saw plainly
the fault was in their men, and therefore would take care for the
future, that so many of them should not be on shore at a time.
After much discourse they were treated with sweetmeats and then
took leave in a very friendly mamier, both parties shaking hands
together.
" Two Javan THIE^^:s Taken. Certain Javans, who belonged
to two of the principal men of that land, next the king, having
stolen nine muskets and calHvers out of the gumier of the
Ascension's room, shortly after two of them came to steal more, and
were taken in the fact. IVIr. Scot was sent aboard by the general
to examine and bring them ashore. The first told him they
belonged to great men, who were very good friend of the Enghsh,
but he suspected, bid them confess the truth, and they should
find some favour ; then they told whose slaves they were, and
said the pieces were forthcoming. Being brought ashore, the
general sent to acquaint the king and protector with this matter
and desired he might have his fi-re-arms again. The protector
sent them to the masters of the slaves, who setting more value
on the guns than their men, said they had none, but what they
bought. Yet they sent to desire the general to defer their
execution for a day or two, which was granted, but because
their masters were somewhat disaiBEected, the protector in the
king's name sent the executioner with a guard of pikes, to put
them to death.
572 JAVA
" And Executed. When they came to the place of execution
the general taking pity of them, would have given them their
lives ; but the hangman said their hves were not in his power
but the king's, who havmg ordered him to execute them he would
do his office. The two thieves very patiently suffered, as the
people of Java always do ; for they reckon it the greatest glory
imaginable to die resolutely, without any shew of fear ; and the
Author, who had seen several both men and women put to death,
assures us, that they go to execution in as careless or unconcerned
a manner as it is possible for flesh and blood to do. One would
think from hence, that these men should be good soldiers ; but
it is quite otherwise, this valour appearing in them only when
there is no remedy.
" Dutch Factory Fired. The twenty sixth of September by
a Javan shooting off a gun the town was set on fire. Many of
the English seamen happening at that time to be ashore their
house was preserved ; but the Dutch settlement being to leeward,
could not escape although they should have had ever so much
help. The upper work of one of their principal houses, contiguous
to the great one, was burnt with all their outhouses and the goods
that were in them ; as cables, hawsers, pickled pork and divers
other things ; whereby they sustained great damage. Some
who had served there five years, lost all that they had acquired
in that time. Not long after the town was twice fired in the night
by the Javans, on the side the Enghsh were of ; which put them
to great trouble in moving their goods backwards and forwards ;
but by help of their seamen and the Chinese it was quenched.
The third of October, the general made a feast, which was for his
farewell, inviting the Dutch admiral and captains, with the
masters and merchants, where the whole passed with mii*th and
great friendship.
" The General Returns Homewards. The fourth of
October the general accompanied by several merchants and
others went to court to take his leave of the king and his nobles.
The sixth, about ten o'clock he went aboard calling by the way
at the Dutch house to take his leave of the admiral and merchants.
Besides those who were to return for England (among whom the
Author, Mr. Scot, was one) there went aboard with him
Mr. Towrson (who was to stay for agent there) and other mer-
chants ; some of whom after dinner went ashore ; the rest
stayed till next day. About three o'clock they weighed anchor,
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 573
and with some ordnance bid the town and Dutch ships farewell.
About eleven or twelve at night, they came to anchor under an
island, where next day, they took in wood which the general
had sent men before-hand to cut down. The seventh towards
evening they set sail again and then Mr. Towrson with some
others of the merchants taking their leave, went ashore and the
ships continued their course directly for England."
" Occurrences at Bantam and other Parts of the East
Indies from October, 1605, till October, 1609 : With an
Account of the Marts and Commodities of those Parts."
(From the Journal kept by Captain John Saris, Deputy-
Governor and Governor of the English Factory at Bantam
from 1605 until 1609.)
" The seventh of October, 1605, the General Henry Middleton
and Captain Christopher Coulthurst departed from Bantam road
for England. The eighth they killed one of the Keygus Varows
slaves, who attempted to fire their house.
" Junk Taken by Michelborne. The twenty third here
arrived a junk of the Flemmings from Priaman, by who they had
intelhgence of Sir Edward IVIichelborne and Captain Davis, being
upon the coast, and that they had taken a Guzerat junk in the
streights of Sunda, bound from Bantam to Priaman.
" Saris Examined thereupon. The twenty fifth upon a
report which the Flemmings had made of Sir Edward, they were
sent for to court where it was demanded whether they knew him ?
And why he should o£Eer violence to the king's friends who had
done him no wrong ? It was answered that they knew a knight
so called, but that whether he was upon the coast or that the
Guzerat ship was taken, they knew not but by report of the
Flemmings, which they deemed to be false, and that upon farther
inquiry it might prove rather to be one of the Flemming's ships
which set sail two days before the departure of the said Guzerat
from Bantam, whereupon they were dismissed till farther proof
could be made.
" The twenty sixth Admiral van Hangen of Utrecht departed
for Holland with two ships more, by whom the EngHsh advised
the company of all matters at large. The twenty ninth Sir
Edward Michelborne arriving at Bantam. Mr. Towrson and
the author went aboard him. There he mentioned the taking
574 JAVA
of the Guzerat, whereupon they begged him not to meddle with
any more of the Chinese junks, and he promised he would not.
The second of November he set sail for the streights of Pallingban.
" The thirteenth there arrived a small ship of the Flemmings
from the Molukkas called the Little Sun.
" Dutch Discover New Guinea. The eighteenth a small
pinnace of the Flemmings departed for the discovery of the
island called Nova Guinea, which was said to yield great plenty
of gold. And the twenty fourth Vansoult set sail for Koromandel.
" The second of December three junks arrived from Pattanny
which brought news of the great loss the Flemmings had sustained
by fire there.
" The seventeenth General Warwick arrived from Pattanny
where he had taken a very rich carak bound from Makau, the
greatest part of her lading raw silk.
" The second of January, 1606, a junk of this town set sail
for Timor, freighted by the Chinese for that island with broad
plates of silver, beaten very thin, of a hand's bredth, Enghsh
iron, coarse porcelain, tafEaties, china pans and bells.
" The twentieth there came in a Chinese junk, which Sir
Edward Michelborne had rifled and restitution was demanded
of the factory, the governor and principal courtiers being very
much offended, but they were pacified by the admiral and the
Shah Bandar. The Nakhada alledged that many rich parcels
were taken out of her.
" The twenty third of May, a small frigat of the Flemmings
arrived from Ternata and brought away their merchants who
had been left there by Bastianson. The Spaniards stripped them
of all their effects but gave the men their liberty. They carried
the King of Ternata for the Manillas and (as it was reported)
intended to send him for Spain. About ten leagues from Jakkatra
this Flemmish frigat chanced to meet with the Kmg of Bantam's
fleet, which pillaged them of all they had saved from the Spaniards.
The Flemmings endeavoured to get restitution, but could obtain
none of the Javans.
" The twenty ninth the king's fleet returned havmg done
very Uttle against their enemies the Pallingbans. The fifteenth
of June here arrived Nakhada Tmgall, a Ching-man from Banda
in a Javan junk, laden with mace and nutmegs which he sold
here to the Guzerats for an hmidred and fifty ryals of eight the
Bahar of Bantam, which is four hundred and fifty kattis. He
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 575
told the Author that the Flemmings' pinnace, which went upon
discovery for Nova Guinea, was returned to Banda, having found the
island, but sending their men ashore to desire trade, nine of them
were killed by the natives, who are heathens and men-eaters,
so that they were constrained to return without doing anything.
" Eclipse of the Moon. The sixth of August the moon was
eclipsed about eight o'clock in the evening for two hours, the
Chinese and Javanese beating mortars and pans all the while,
and crying out the moon was dead, which made a most hideous
noise. The fourth of October, the China quarter was all burnt
down, but that of the English was saved. The same night the
carak of the Flemmings set sail for Holland, laden with fifteen
thousand sacks of pepper, some raw silk, and a great quantity
of China sugar. The fifth the West Fr island arrived from Ternata,
whence she was driven by the Spaniards ; she was not above half
laden with mace, cloves and cotton yarn.
" The ninth here arrived a small frigat from Sukadanna, the
merchant Claes Simonson ; his lading was wax, Kaulakka and
great store of diamonds. The thirteenth about midnight they
had an earthquake which continued not long, but for the time was
very dreadful.
" The thirteenth of December two junks of the Flemmings
arrived from Jor, by whom they understood that there was a
Flemish fleet of eleven ships before Malakka. The Orangia,
admiral, commanded by Matteleeze the younger, Amsterdam,
vice admiral, the Middleburgh, Mauritius, Erasmus, Great Sun,
Little Sun, Nassow, Provincies, White Lion and the Black Lion.
" Dutch Attack Malakka. May the twenty second they cast
anchor before Malakka with nine ships only, for their admiral
had sent the Provincies and the Erasmus to Achen. The fifth
of June they landed their men, but a httle before the Portugueze
set fire to one carak and four junks that were in the road. In
July the Provincies and Erasmus joined the rest of the fleet.
The twenty fiith of August, the vice roy, with great sixteen
ships, was discovered by the Little Sun, that was appointed to
keep watch at an island, called Cape Rochado, which immediately
came, and the captain gave notice of it to the admiral, who was
very much unprepared, his ordnance and men being ashore, but
the Portugueze calling a council, gave the Flemmings twenty four
hours time to get his men and guns aboard and prepare himself
before he came to them. The Flemmings weighed as soon as
576 JAVA
they were ready, and stood out of the harbour to them, where
began a brisk engagement, which held two nights and one day.
The Middleburg, the Nassow and three Portugueze ships were
burnt. The Orangia having sprung a great leak, was obhged to
put into Jor (that king being their great friend and assistant), the
fleet following him. There he remained a month, and then set sail
for Malakka again, where he met with six ships of the Portugueze,
of which the Flemmings burnt three, and the Portugueze them-
selves the three others. From thence they departed for the
Nikubars, where they found the vice roy, with seven ships, but
so close hauled ashore, that they durst not meddle with them.
The twentieth the admiral arrived at Bantam with six ships and
the twenty ninth departed for the Molukkas.
" The fourteenth of May, 1607, a Malayan junk came in from
Grese, by whom they were informed that one JuHus a Flemming
and five more, who left Bantam road the thirteenth of November,
1606, for Sukadanna, were put to death at Bemermassin, and all
their goods seized by the king of that place, for having uttered
certain contumelious speeches of the king, which coming to his
knowledge he sent for the merchant and master to come before
him, and gave orders to kill them by the way.
" The seventeenth of August here arrived the Great Su7i from
Koromandel, the captain Peter Isaacson, who informed them,
that upon the island of Seylan they took a great Portugueze
ship bound for Malakka, out of which they had eighty packs
of several sorts of cloth and eight hundred bades of sugar, likewise
that in the road of Masulipatan where their factory Hes, they
took another Portugueze ship very richly laden with all sorts
of commodities fit for that coast, which made it more valuable
as they were ignorant what commodities were most in request
there. Her lading was cloves, mace, nutmegs, China taffaties,
velvets and damasks of the brightest colours, but no white China
porcelain fine and coarse, of which your great basons with brims
are the best. Lastly that the Flemmings had factories in three
several towns upon that coast but not far asunder, viz., at
Masuhpatan, Pettapoli, and Balligat. Masulipatan lieth in
the latitude of seventeen degrees. It is a place of great plenty
of provisions, thirty two hens being sold for a ryal, two
sheep for a ryal and an ox for a ryal, but in May when the wuid
is at west it is so extreme hot there, that the breeze is ready
to make one faint away, yet you cannot sweat by any
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 577
means till the sun be down, and then you shall sweat very much,
wherefore in this month they go not abroad in day-time but in
the night, for many have been suffocated by the heat.
" Lucia Island. The seventh there arrived a small pinnace
from an island called St. Lucia, in the latitude of twenty four
degrees and a half south about a mile from the island of Mada-
gaskar, where they were forced in on account of the carak which
departed from hence the fourth of October, 1606, which having
sprung a leak they were obliged to throw over board three
thousand sacks of pepper, besides other commodities to a great
value. They told the Enghsh that St. Lucia was a very good
place to refresh in, that the people have no laiowledge of money,
that they bought a fat ox for a tin spoon and a sheep for a small
piece of brass, that it is hard ground, and very good riding in
seven and eight fathom.
" The fourteenth of November Captain David Middleton
arrived here in the Consent of London.
" Affairs of the Dutch. The seventeenth the Flemmish
admiral Mateleeze arrived here from the coast of China, where
he hoped to have gotten trade but could not ; he offered them
at Kanton an hundred thousand ryals of eight for a gift only,
but they would not accept it. He was in great danger of being
taken there by six caraks which came out of Makau on purpose ;
they made him cast off his pinnace which the Portugueze took.
He touched at Kamboya and Pabang but bought nothing besides
victuals.
" The seventeenth of December arrived the Gelderland from
Holland. They came between St. Laurence and the coast of
Africa. Their first place of refreshment was at Maoytta, one
of the islands of Komora, where they set up a fine pimiace.
It is a good harbour but there are few cattle. From thence
sailing to Kalekut in their way, they took a small boat of Mekka
laden with rice, having passengers in her of divers nations.
The town of Kalekut lies by the sea-side, and is thought to be
five Enghsh miles long. The Sambarin, which is their king,
came down to them, very richly clad ; he had a crown of gold
over his turban and a naked sword in his hand, which is their
manner. He gave the Flemmings good words, offermg to let
them leave a factory there, but they durst not trust him, the
Portugueze being so much in his favour.
" The twenty seventh Admiral Paulus van Carle arrived at
J. — VOL. I. P P
578 JAVA
Bantam, with seven very good ships, and one Portugueze frigat.
They refreshed at Cape de Lope Consaluo upon the coast of
Guinea, where they found very good water and fish. They
stayed here six weeks, having the wind at south east by east,
and from hence sailed to an island called Annabon upon the same
coast.
" They Attack Mosambik. A brief account of their voyage
according to their own report is as follows : — The thirteenth of
March they came to an anchor in the road of Mosambik, in
eighteen fathoms, the castle firing very hotly at them, but instead
of answering them for the present, they made haste to board two
great Guzerat ships and a frigat which rid hard by them, laden
with calicos, coarse blue cloth with white spots, and some with
red, the greatest part of which they carried off, and set the great
ships on fire, but the frigat they kept. Having mustered their
men, next day they found them nine hundred and ninety five,
in perfect health. Hereupon the first of April they landed seven
hundred men and seven pieces of artillery, viz., eight demi-
cannons of brass, and two demi-culverins of iron, and battered
the castle, but with Httle success, wherefore they brought their
trenches so near the enemy's that they could heave stones into
them, and the same night began to work upon their mine, but
there fell so much rain, that they were constrained to give it
over. The besieged also threw firepots from the walls upon the
Flemmings, which annoyed them exceedingly, and making use
of this advantage saUied out and did much execution. Thus
after six weeks leaguer the Flemmmgs having lost forty men,
and many more being sick and wounded, retired with their
ordnance aboard, and set sail out of the road, the castle firing
very hotly upon them all the while, so that they sunk the stern-
most of the fleet, which was a very tall ship, the gunner an
Enghshman and other of the ships, had thirty shot through their
sails and hull.
" From hence they went for Mayotta, one of the islands of
Komora, to refresh. Here they bought six hundred and twenty
oxen and thirty five sheep and goats with which the men were
greatly recruited. These people are acquainted with money,
and would deal with them for no commodity but ryals. The
king made a decree that no man should sell them any cattle till
his own were all sold, which he would not part with under three
ryals of eight the piece, whereas they bought an ox of his people
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 579
for a ryal of eight and goats cheaper. After they had been here
six weeks, they mustered their men again and found them nine
hundred and forty strong. Wherefore it was determined to
return to Mosambik and attack the castle once more ; but going
to enter the road they found three caraks riding there newly
come from Portugal, upon which it was held best, to keep back
and ply off and on to see if the caraks would come out, but being
disappointed they stood away along the shore, about thirty
leagues off Goa, where at a town called Seperdown they landed
all the Guzerats which they had out of the ships at Mosambik.
At this place there is good refreshing and cheap, twenty hens
for a ryal, a hundred and fifty eggs for a shilling, and as much
fresh fish as would serve all the ship's company a day, for a ryal
of eight. It hes in eighteen degrees north and is not far from
Chaul ; they ride in seven fathoms, clay ground. The people
are Moors and great enemies to the Portugueze. It affords no
merchandize but a Httle pepper.
" From hence hard by the islands of Kommodo seven leagues
to the north of Goa they took a carak bound from Lisbon. Most
of her lading was ryals of eight, all which they took out, and set
her on fire, but carried Jeronymus Telbalditto along with them.
At Goa they stayed a month in hopes of meeting with the caraks,
which they had seen at Mosambik, but to no purpose, wherefore
they set sail and went for Kalekut, purposing to have spoken
with the Sambarin, but by reason of ten galleys which were come
from Goa, and lay there, they went not ashore for fear of some
treachery. However, they made him a present, which was two
piece of brass, sending their cask at the same time for water, in
which they were disappointed finding none they durst drink.
From hence they shaped their course for Cape Komorin, to look
for some, and meeting with none there, directed their course for
the Streights of Malakka, but the winds and currents proving
contrary they made directly for Bantam, having been out of
Holland twenty one months and an half.
" The thirty first of December Admiral van Carle departed
this road, with seven ships and one frigat, to spend some time in
the Streights of Malakka in hopes of meeting with the Makau
ships, but without success. Aid the fourth of January, 1608,
returned to Bantam leaving his ships at Pulo Tindu. The fifth
he departed for the Molukkas.
" The eighteenth Mateleese the Younger sailed for Holland ;
PP 2
580 JAVA
his lading was twelve thousand sacks of pepper, four hundred
sacks of nutmegs, sugar, ebony-wood and some raw silk.
" This year 1608, there arrived many junks from China and
other places. The nineteenth of August a Flemmish ship called
the Erasmus came from Amboyna having in her seven hundred
bahars of cloves, which she laded at Hitto. The first of September
a small pinnace of the Flemmings arrived from Machian, which
brought them advice that the China and the Dove were cast
away riding at anchor before that place with very little wind at
west, which wind makes such a sea there, that it is not possible
for ships to ride, the ground being foul and the water seventy
and eighty fathoms deep, also that they had taken Machain
and Taffasal without the loss of a man, and had left in each
place a hundred and twenty Flemmings, and that in like manner
they had strengthened the castle at Malayo.
" The tenth a pinnace of the Flemmings departed for Sukadanna
to fetch away the merchants, who they heard were very sickly
and could get in no part of their debts, left there by Claes
Simonson.
" The twenty third the Zeland arrived from Banda, half laden
with mace and nutmegs, her burthen an hundred and fifty lasts.
The twenty fifth arrived the Hay from Koromandel, her lading
was divers of Mallayo cloth, and cloth Cheara Java.
" The second of October the Dragon came in from Priaman,
Wilham Keehng, general, who on the seventh went up to court and
dehvered the King of England's letter, with a present which was
five pieces of ordnance, a bason and ewer and a barrel of powder.
" The thirteenth in the morning very early the governor and
his Jerotoohes were killed by the Pungavas, the Shah Bandar,
the Admiral Key Depatti, Utennagarra, etc., who all assembled
over night at Keymas Patties house, and beset the court, first
securing the king and his mother. Then they ran into the
governor's court, thinking to have caught him in bed, but he
had just time enough to get behind it, where they found him.
Having wounded him on the head he fled to the priest called Key
Finkkey, who came forth and entreated them for his hfe, but in
vain, for they forced in and dispatched him.
" The eighteenth the Flemmings' pinnace from Sukadanna,
arrived with their merchants brought from thence, leaving the
country much indebted to them.
" Van Carle Returns Home. The sixth of November, the
THE TOWXS IX JAVA, ETC. 581
vice admiral of Paulus van Carle set sail for Holland, with five
ships laden with cloves, mace, nutmegs, pepper and diamonds.
The eighth there arrived a small pinnace of the Flemmings from
Malakka, by which they had advice of thirteen sail of ships riding
there, which in their voyage had taken two caraks. The ninth
Samuel Plummer departed for Sukadanna to remain there.
" The fourth of December in the afternoon General Keeling
set sail for England in the Dragon, but the sixth was forced back
by foul weather and westerly winds. The tenth he departed from
the west point, and the thirteenth returned agam, having met
with the Hector in the Streights of Sonda, most of whose men were
infected with scurvy. The Portugueze of Daman had seized their
boats at Surat, taken nineteen of their men and nine thousand
ryals in cloth as it cost there. In their way from Bantam, they
met with a small frigat from Kollumba, out of which they took
eleven packs of cloth containing in all eighty three cloths, thirteen
pieces pouhngs which were sent for the islands of Banda.
" The sixteenth of December a small ship arrived from Holland
which met with two ships a httle to the north of the Cape of Good
Hope ; they took them to be Enghsh ships, the lesser of them
bearing the flag in the main-top. This ship had been on her
voyage eight months and ten days. They refreshed at Pulo
Lamone, one of the islands of Komora, where they had great
store of beeves and goats for old knives and tin spoons.
" The twenty second she set sail for Malakka, to their fleet
which lay there, with orders to them to break up the siege.
" The twenty third the Dragon departed for England, Gabriel
Towrson, captain. The first of January, 1609, their general
Wilham Keehng set sail in the Hector for the islands of Banda.
" The seventh arrived two ships, and a pinnace of the
Flemmings from Koromandel laden with cloth, some part of
which they had taken and the rest bought. They had also taken
five prizes, one a carak at Mozambik.
" The fifteenth of January, 1609, departed the Great Sun and
the two ships which came from Koromandel.
" The third of Febmary arrived Admiral WiUiamson Verhoofe
with twelve sail of good ships from Malakka, and the fourteenth
departed with seven ships for the Molukkos.
" Artifice of the Dutch. The ninth of March the Flemmings
procured a meeting at court of all the Pungavas, acquainting
them, that having received letters from their king, the King of
582 JAVA
Holland, which made mention of a peace concluded between
them and the Portugueze, they thought it fit to inform them
thereof, because thenceforward if the Portugueze, under colour
of trading with them, should come and invade their country,
they could no longer take the part of the Javans, as they had
hitherto done. The Pungavas having heard this speech burst
into a loud laughter, perceiving their drift was, by this method,
to raise fears and jealousies in them of the Portugueze, in order
to prevent their granting them licence to trade, which might
prejudice the Flemmings. The governor gave no other answer
but this, that they might take their course. The twentieth a
Chinese house next to the Enghsh warehouse, took fire and was
burnt down, but theirs luckily escaped.
" Saris Called to Accottnt. The twenty first Mr. Saris being
sent for to court by Pangran Areaumgalla the then governor,
went and carried with him a present, viz., a piece of Mallee
Goobear, another of Morey, a piece of Mallayo Pintado, one
Bandaleer and a roll of Match, which was accepted very kindly.
The governor told him, he had sent for him, hearing that there
were two men in chains in their house for debt, and he wanted to
know by whose order they were kept there. Saris told him he
had the king's order for taking them up, and hoped that he would
not discharge them, before he had received satisfaction, at least
for some part, shewing him their bills to prove the debt. He
said he supposed they were indebted, but that for the king
giving the English licence, to chain them up, he knew to the
contrary, and therefore insisted on having them released. At
last with much entreaty Saris got leave to keep them till
Tanyomges, who owed four hundred twenty ryals and a half,
should pay one hundred, and Bungune, whose debt was five
hundred ryals, and a hundred sacks of pepper, should pay twenty
bags of pepper and one hundred ryals in money, for which he had
given his note. Accordingly the governor sent one of his slaves
home with Saris, to let the prisoners know on what conditions
they were to be freed.
" Dutch Undermine the English. The twenty fourth the
Author being summoned again to court, when the governor
demanded of the Flemmings, who had also been sent for, whether
it was their country maimer to take up a man for debt, without
acquainting the king ? They answered No ! Whereupon he
gave order presently to have them let out. Saris reminded him
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 583
of his promise but three days before, but it availed nothing, for
he sent one of the king's slaves and took them out of the house.
This was done as the Author supposed at the instance of the
Flemmings, instigated thereto by Lak-Moy, in order to undeceive
the English, since they, finding no justice to be had, would hardly
venture to trust the Chinese, who therefore must necessarily come
to him, by which means he should get all the trade to himself, and
this equally served the purpose of the Flemmings, who furnished
him with all sorts of commodities.
" The twenty third of April, 1609, here arrived a small pinnace
of the Flemmings, from Sukadanna and Ternata, by whom they
understood, that Paulus van Kerle was taken at Ternata.
" Design to Discover Borneo. The twenty first of May a
pinnace of the Flemmings set sail for Bemermassin pursuant
to a resolution they came to among theniselves, to search out
every creek and corner of the island, since they were told it
abounded with gold, and bezoars that might be traded for with
beads and other haberdashery ware.
" The twenty sixth of August Captain Keeling arrived from
Banda, with twelve thousand four hundred and eighty four
kattis, one half quarter of mace, and fifty nine thousand eight
hundred and forty six kattis of nutmegs, which stood him in
nine, ten, and eleven ryals, the bahar, the katti there, weighing
thirteen and a half Enghsh ounces. The small bahar of mace is
ten kattis or a hundred of nutmegs, and the great bahar is a
hundred kattis mace, or a thousand nutmegs, so that if a man
be indebted to you ten kattis mace, and wiU give you a hundred
kattis of nutmegs, you cannot refuse them.
" The fourth of October Captain Keehng having taken in the
rest of his lading, which was four thousand nine hundred bags,
and three kattis of pepper, set sail from Bantam in the Hector,
the Author coming for England in the same ship, having been in
Java four years, nine months and eleven days.
" Lignum Aloes. A wood so called by the English is named
by the Malloyans, Garru. The best sort comes from Malakka,
Siam and Kamboya. Choose that which is in large round sticks,
and very massy, being black marbled with ash coloured veins,
somewhat bitter in taste, and is Hkewise of an odoriferous scent,
and that burns Uke pitch in bubbles, a spHnter being laid upon
a fire-coal, for if it be good, it will not leave frying, till it be quite
consumed, jnelding a most grateful odour.
584 JAVA
" Benjamin is a gum called by the Mallayans minnion. The
best sort comes from Siam, which is very pure, clear and white,
with httle streaks of amber colour. Another sort which is not
altogether so white, though very good, is brought from Sumatra.
A third sort which comes from Priaman and Burrowse is very
coarse, hke horse bread and not saleable in England, but well
esteemed in Bantam.
" Civet. The best is of a deep yellow colour somewhat Uke
gold, not whitish, for that is usually adulterated with grease,
yet it is naturally whitish when fresh taken, and will in time
become yellow.
" Musk. There are three sorts, black, brown and yellow, the
first is bad, the second good, and the last best. This ought to
be of a deep amber colour, like the best spikenard, and inclosed
with a single, not a double skin, as it often is, nor should it be
over-moist which makes it heavy, but in a medium. It ought
to have some hairs like bristles, but not very many, to be clear
of stones, lead or other trash, and of a strong and fragrant smell,
which to many is offensive. Being tasted, the scent pierceth
the brain. It ought neither to melt too soon in the mouth, nor
yet to remain very long undissolved in the hand. It must not
be kept near any sort of spice, lest it will lose the scent.
" Bezoar. There are hereof two kinds, one comes from the
West, the other from the East Indies, which last is worth double
the price of the other. The stones of each sort have different
shapes ; some are round, others long, like date-stones, others hke
pigeons' eggs, some like the kidneys of a young goat, and others
in form of a chestnut, but all for the most part are blunt at the
ends, not piked ; their colour is no less various, for some are of a
hght red, others the colour of honey, many of a dark ash colour,
like the civet-cat, but for the most part of a very pale-green.
" The East India bezoars consist of many peelings or coats
like an onion bright and resplendent, as if pohshed by art. One
coat being peeled off, the next is more resplendent, or brighter
than the former. These peelings are some thin, some thick,
according to the largeness of the stones, and the larger the stone
is, the better for sale. This is a certain way to make trial of
bezoars : — ^take the exact weight of the stone, then put it into
water, and let it stand four hours . Then see if it be not cracked
wipe it dry and weight it again, if it weigh never so small a matter
more than it did at first, depend upon it, it is not good. In this
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 585
manner the Author found several turn to chalk, with a Uttle
stick in the middle, that hath weighed a Tael Java, or two ounces.
Most of the counterfeits come from Sukadanna in Borneo, they
are to be had at Pattanney, Bemermassin, Sukadanna, Makkassar
and Insula das Vacas, which is at the entrance of Kambaya.
" Amber. This is of several colours, as black, white, brown
and grey. The black is usually the basest and the grey the best,
of which choose what is clearest of filth and dross, pure of itself,
inclining to white, and of an ash colour, intermixed with veins,
some ash colour, others whitish. It ought to float above the
surface of water, which though some, that is sophisticated, may
do, yet this is certain, that none, which is pure, will suik in water.
The greatest quantity comes from Mosambik and Sofala.
" Bantam : A Great Mart. Bantam, a town situate in the
island of Java Major, stands in six degrees south, and hath three
degrees, variation west. This place is the great mart of divers
nations for sundry kinds of commodities, but itself affordeth
little besides victuals, cotton, wool and pepper, whereof the
quantity at harvest (which is in October) may be thirty or
thirty-two thousand sacks, each sack containing forty nine kattis
and an half china, at twenty one ryals and an half English the
katti. A sack is called a timbang, and two timbangs is one pikul,
three pikuls is a small bahar, and four and a half a great bahar,
which is four hundred and forty five kattis and an half. Like-
wise there is a kulak, by which the Javans most commonly deal
because they are not very perfect in the use of the beam. It
contains seven kattis and a quarter, and seven kulaks make a
timbang (Hquid measure) which is a katti, and a quarter more
than the beam. There should indeed be no difference between
them, but the weigher, who is always a Chinese, gives his country-
men an advantage, for he can fit them with a great or small
measure at his pleasure.
" There came in December and January to this place many
junks and praws laden with pepper from Cherringin and Jauby,
so that in the end of January there is always pepper sufficient
to lade three good ships. The king hath no money but what
cometh from China which is called kashes, and made of the dross
of lead. These pieces are round and thin, with holes to string
them on. A thousand kashes thus stringed are called a peku,
which is of divers values, according as kashes rise or fall, whereof
they know how to make their advantage. Ten pekus make a
586 JAVA
laxsau, ten laxsaus a katti, ten kattis an uta and ten utas a
bahar.
" There are two ways of stringing kashes, the one called
Chucbuck China, the other Chucbuck Java, of which the Java is
the best, for there should be two hundred kashes upon a tack,
but for the China tacks, you shall find but an hundred and sixty
or an hundred and seventy. Five tacks should make a peku,
so that you lose two hundred kasbes or an hundred and fifty
upon every peku, which will rise to a great sum, if you deal
largely, but by the law of the country there must be a thousand
kasbes upon a string, or else basse, that is allowance given.
When the junks are about to depart, you shall buy thirty four
and thirty five pekus for a ryal, which before the next year you
may sell for twenty two and twenty the ryal, so that there is
great profit to be made, but the danger of fire is also great.
" Weights. The weight for bezoar, civet and gold is called
a tael, which is two ryals of eight and a quarter or two ounces
EngHsh. A Mallayan tael is one ryal of eight and an half or
an ounce and a third EngHsh. A Chinese tael is one ryal of eight
and seven twentieths, or an ounce and a fifth Enghsh, so that
ten taels of China are precisely six taels of Java.
" Goods for Importing. The Enghsh commodities vendible
here are —
Irrni, long and thin bars, six ryals the pikul.
Lead in small pigs, for twenty five or twenty six pieces, five
ryals and an half the pikul.
Powder, fine round corned, twenty five ryals a barrel.
Pieces, square sanguined, the piece, ten ryals of six foot long.
Pieces, square damasked all over, fifteen ryals of six feet long
and an half.
Broad cloth, of ten pound the piece of a Venice red, three
ryals of eight the casse, which is three quarters of a yard.
Opium mesri, which is the best, eight ryals the katti.
Aniber, in great beads, a wang and an half tael of Mallaya,
six ryals of eight.
Coral, in large branches, five and six ryals the Mallaya tael.
Ryals of eight are the best commodity you can carry.
Saris. In February and March three or four junks came
from China very richly laden with silks raw and wrought, China
kashes, porcelain, cotton-cloth of divers sorts and prices, viz.
raw silk of Nanking, which is the best, an hundred and ninety
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 587
ryals the pikul, that of Kanton, which is coarser, eighty ryals
the pikul.
Taffata in boults, an hundred and twelve yards the piece,
forty six ryals of eight the gorj, or twenty pieces.
Velvets of all colours twelve ryals the piece, of thirteen yards.
Damask of all colours, twelve yards six ryals the piece.
White sattins, twelve yards the piece, eight ryals.
Burgones, ten yards the piece, forty five ryals the gorj.
Sleeve silk, the best, made colours, three ryals the katti.
Musk, the best, twenty two ryals the katti.
Gold thread, the best fifteen knots every knot thirty strings,
one ryal.
Velvet hangings embroidered with gold eighteen ryals, upon
sattins fourteen ryals.
White curtain stuffs, nine yards the piece, fifty ryals the gorj.
White damask, flat, nine yards the piece, four ryals.
White sugar, the pikul, three ryals and an half very dry.
Sugar candy, very dry, five ryals the pikul.
Porcelain basons two ryals a piece, very broad and fine.
Calico, coarse, white and brown, fifteen ryals the gorj.
The junks bring hkewise coarse porcelain, drugs, and divers
other commodities, but because they are not for the Enghsh
trade, the Author omits them.
Drugs. Benjamin, very good and white, thirty five and
thirty ryals the pikul.
Lignum aloes, the pikul eighty ryals.
Allum from China as good as the Enghsh two ryals and an
half the pikul.
" Koro:mandel. Cloth is a principal commodity here ; the
most saleable sorts are called Gubars, pintados of four or five
covets, fine tappies of St. Thomas, ballachos, Java girdles,
otherwise caine-goolong, cahco lawns, book-cahcos, and cahcos
made up in rowls, white. A gubar is double, and containeth
twelve yards, or six hastas single, ballachos, coarse and fine,
contain thirty two and thirty four hastas, but the finest are
always longest. The fine tappies of St. Thomas six hastas.
Muris is a fine sort of cloth, but not very much used here, for it
is dear and short, containing sixteen hastas at two ryals and
a quarter. Book cahcoes if they be not corded are thirty two
hastas. All sorts of Mallayan cloth are generally eight hastas
long, wherefore it is called cherra mallaya, and generally all
588 JAVA
sorts of cotton cloth, which is broad and of good length, is in
good request here. CaUco lawns white and red are thirty two
hastas. A hasta is half a yard, measured from your elbow to
the top of your middle finger.
" The King's Customs. The king's customs here are as
followeth : — ^the custom called chukey is eight bags upon the
hundred bags, rating pepper at four ryals of eight the sack, what
price soever it bears. Billa-Bilhan is this : — if any ship arrive
in the road, laden with cloth and such like, the king is to be
acquainted with the sorts, quantity and price thereof, before you
can land any part, then sending his officers for such sorts as he
likes, he will have them at half price, or little more as you can
agree, for if you price your cloth at twenty ryals a gorj, he will
give you but fifteen or sixteen. The Flemmmgs' way hath been
to give him seven or eight hundred ryals at a time for a ship's
lading to clear them of the duty and trouble, but by the custom
of the country this duty is six hundred and sixty five ryals upon
six thousand sacks of pepper, if you lade therewith, otherwise
you are to take so many thousand sacks of the king at half or
three quarters of a ryal upon a sack more than the market price.
If you have provided before-hand sufficient lading to dispatch
your ships, yet you are to pay for this duty as aforesaid, or else
they will not permit you to lade.
" Rtjba-Rtjba is a duty for anchorage and is upon six thousand
sacks, five hundred ryals of eight. The Shah Bandar's duty is
upon the same quantity two hundred and fifty ryals, that of the
weighers is one ryal upon an hundred sacks. Jerotulis liltewise
or weighers belonging to the custom-house have a duty of one
ryal for an hundred sacks.
" JoRTAN lies to the eastwards of Jakatra ; it is called Serebaya,
affording victuals, great store of cotton, wool and spun yarn.
Many junks come from Fauby, laden with pepper ; the town
likewise send some small praws to Banda, so that a few nuts and
mace is to be had there.
" Makkassar is an island not far from the Celebes. It
affordeth great store of benzoar stones, which may be had
reasonable, also rice and other victuals in great plenty. Junks
trade from thence to Banda so that a small quantity of mace and
nuts is likewise there to be had.
" Bali is an island to the eastwards of Makkassar in eight
degrees and an half south. It yields great store of rice, cotton
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 589
yam, slaves, and coarse white cloth, which is in good request
at Bantam. The commodities for this place are the smallest sort
of blue and white beads, iron and coarse porcelain.
" Timor hes to the eastward of Bali, in the latitude of ten
degrees forty minutes south. This island affordeth abundance
of chindanna, called by the English white sanders, the greatest
logs are accounted best. It is worth at Bantam (when the junks
come in) twenty ryals of eight the pikul, also wax in great cakes
worth at Bantam eighteen, nineteen, twenty and thirty ryals of
eight the pikul as the time serves. As there is great deceit in
this commodity, you must be wary in choosing it and break it
to see whether it be mixed or not. The goods carried thither
are chopping knives, small bugles, porcelain coloured tafEatas,
but none black, Chma frying pans, china bells and plates of
silver beaten flat, and as thin as a wafer, of the breadth of a
hand. This is a very advantageous trade, for the Chinese have
given the Enghsh, who went with them thither, at the rate of
four hundred per cent, profit.
" Banda, in the latitude of five degrees south, affords great
plenty of mace and nutmegs, with oil of both sorts. It hath no
king, but is governed by a Shah Bandar, who is in league with
the Shah Bandar of Nero, Lentor, Puloway, Pulorin and Laba-
takka, islands near adjoining, which formerly were under the
government of the King of Ternata, but at present have their
own governor. In these islands they have three harvests in the
year, viz., in July, October and February, but that in July, called
the Monsoon Areputi, is the greatest. The manner of dealing is
as foUoweth : — a small bahar is ten kattis of mace, and an hundred
of nuts, and a great bahar is an hundred kattis mace and a
thousand kattis nuts, a katti being five pounds thirteen ounces
and an half Enghsh, the prices variable.
" The commodities fit for these islands are Choromandel
cloth, cheremallow, viz., sarrasses, pintados of five covets, fine
ballachos, black girdles, chellis, white cahcos, broad cloth stammel,
gold in coin, viz., rose nobles of England, and the low comitries,
ryals of eight, but you shall have that there for seventy ryals in
gold, which will cost you ninety in ryals of eight. China basons,
fine and large without brims, damasks of hght colours, taffatas,
velvets, china boxes or counters, gilt-gold chains, plate cups
gilt, head pieces bright and damasked, muskets, but not many
sword-blades, brand and backed to the point. Kambaya cloth,
590 JAVA
calicos black and red, calico lawns etc. Rice is likewise a very-
good commodity for these islands.
" The Molukko Islands. The islands of the Molukkos are
five, viz., Molukko, Ternata, Tydor, Gelolo and Machian. They
are all under the equinoctial hne ; they afiord great store of
cloves, not every year, but every third year. The katti there
is three pound five ounces English, the bahar two hundred kattis,
also nineteen kattis of Ternata make fifty of Bantam.
" The commodities vendible for these places are Choromandel
cloth, cheremaUow, but fine, and Siam girdles, salolos ; fine
ballachos and chelHs are most in request, also china, taffata,
velvets, damask, great basons, varnished counters, crimson broad
cloth, opium and benjamin etc.
" Siam Kingdom. Siam lieth in the latitude of fourteen
degrees and an half south. It affords great store of very good
benjamin, and many rich stones, which are brought thither from
Pegu. A tael here is two ryals of eight and a quarter. Here
is much silver in bullion, which comes from Japan, but ryals of
eight are more in request, for two and a quarter in coin, will yield
two and an half bulhon. Broad cloth stammel colour, iron and
fair looking glasses are in good esteem. All manner of china
commodities are cheaper here than at Bantam. The Guzerat
junks come to Siam in the months of June and July, touching
first at the Maldives, and then at Tenassere, where there is always
five and an half and six fathom water, from whence they may
go over land to Siam in twenty days.
" The Island Borneo. Borneo lies in the latitude of three
degrees south. It affordeth great store of gold, bezoar stones,
wax rotans, kayulakka and sanguis draconis, the principal trade
for which is at the town of Bemermassin. The commodities
requested here are as foUoweth : — Choromandel cloth of all
sorts, china silks, damasks, taffatas, velvets, all colours but black,
broad-cloth stammel, and ryals of eight. Bezoar stones are
there bought for five or six ryals the tael, which is the weight
of a ryal and an half of eight, or an ounce and one third
Enghsh.
" Sukadanna is another town of Borneo in one degree and an
half south and north east from Bantam an hundred and sixty
leagues. In the entrance of the harbour five fathoms, and at
low water three fathoms, a faulcon shot off the shore, oozy
ground.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 591
" Best Diamonds. A great trade is carried on by the junks and
praws at this place for diamonds, which it affords in abundance
and are accounted the best in the world. There is plenty at
all times, especially in January, April, July, and October, but
the greatest quantity is to be met with in the first two months,
at which time they are brought in praws dowTi the river Lave,
where they are found by diving, as they do for pearls. The reason
why there are not so many gotten in July and October, is because
that being their rainy season, the river rises to nine fathoms with
such a stream that they can hardly dive, whereas in the other
months, the depth is but four or four and an half fathom, which
is reckoned best for the purpose.
" Imports. Commodities vendible and in request here are,
Malaldia pintados, very fine sarrassa, gubares, poulings, chara
Java, cahco lawns, China silk, light colours, gold, sleeve silk,
broad cloth stammel, all sorts of small bugles, blue bugles,
which are made in Bantam, shaped hke a tun, but about the
size of a bean ; you have at Bantam four hundred for a ryal of
eight, and here an hundred for a mas, which is three quarters of
a ryal of eight, China kashes ryals of eight, but principally gold,
without which you can do httle, for you shall have a stone for one
ryal in gold, which you cannot get for a ryal and an half, or a
ryal and three quarters in silver.
" When you are bound for this place, the best way is to go
for Bemermassin first, where you may barter the commodities
aforesaid for gold, which you shall have for three kattis kashes
the Malakka tael, which was worth then nine ryals of eight, as
the Author had been credibly informed, and you shall barter it
here for diamonds, at four kattis kashes the tael, which is one
ryal three quarters and an half in weight, so that you shall gain
three quarters of a ryal of eight upon a tael, but the chief gains
arise from diamonds, whereof there are four kinds, distinguished
by their water, which is called Verna, viz., Verna Ambou, Verna
Loud, Verna Sakkar, Verna Bessi, that is white, green, yellow
and a colour between green and yellow, but the white water is
the best.
" Weights in Use. Their weights are called sa mas, sa
kupang, sa busuk, sa pead. Four hupang is a mas, two busuks
one kupang, and one pead and an half is a busuk. There is
Ukewise a pahaw, which is four mas, and sixteen mas make
one tael ; by this weight they weigh both diamonds and gold.
592 JAVA
" The Commodities of China are : —
Raw silk ; the best is made at Nan-King and is called how-sa,
worth there eighty ryals the pikul.
Taffata, called tue ; the best made at a small town called
Hok-chu, worth thirty ryals the gorj.
Damask, called towne, the best made at Kanton, worth fifty
ryals the gorj.
Sewing silk, called kou-swa, worth one hundred ryals the
pikul.
Imbroidered hangings, called poey, the best ten ryals the
piece.
Sewing gold, called kim-swa, is sold by the chip-pau, which
is bundle, each chip-pau containing ten papers and each paper
five knots, sold for three pa-wes two ryals of eight, and the
best hath thirty six threads in a knot.
Sattins, called lin, the best one ryal the piece.
Great basons, call cho-pau, three for a ryal.
White sugar, called pe-tong, the best one half ryal the pikul.
Porcelain of the same sorts, called poa, the best one ryal the
katti.
Pearl boxes, called cha-nab, the best five ryals each.
Velvets, called tan-go jounks, of nine yards long, five ryals
the piece.
Sleeve silk, called jounks, the best an hundred and fifty ryals
the pikul.
Musk, called sa-hu, seven ryals the katti.
Kashes, sixty pekus the ryal.
Broad cloth, called to-lo-ney, sa-soke, which is three quarters
of a yard, worth seven ryals of eight.
Looking glass, very large, called kea, worth ten ryals the
piece.
Tin, called sea, worth there fifteen ryals the pikul.
Wax, called la, fifteen ryals the pikul.
Muskets, called kau-ching, the barrel twenty ryals.
Japan sables, called samto, worth eight ryals the piece.
Elephants' teeth, the biggest and best, two hundred ryals
the pikul. The small (or screuelias) a hundred ryals the pikul,
called ga.
White Sanders, called twa-whi, the best in great logs, forty
ryals the pikul.
" Customs. The custom of pepper inwards is one tael upon
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 593
a pikul and. nothing outwards. Strict care is taken to hinder
the exportation of ammunition of all sorts. In the month of
March, the junks that are bound for the Manillas depart from
Chau-chu in companies. There go no fewer than forty in a
year, sometimes four, five, ten or more together, as they are
ready. Their lading is raw and wrought silks, but far better
than those which they carry to Bantam. Between Kanton and
the Manillas is ten days sail. In the beginning of June they
return, laden with ryals of eight. They are of no force, so that
you may take them mth your ship's boat.
" In 1608 pepper was worth in China, six tades and an half
the pikul, and at the same time, sold in Bantam for two and an
half ryals the Timbang."
List of the governors, presidents, residents and agents of
the English East India Company's factory at Bantam,
compiled from old records : —
1602—1603. Master WiUiam Starkey,!^ governor (Master
Edmund Scott, chief factor ; Thomas Morgan,^ Thomas Tudd,
and eight English clerks).
1603—1605. Master Edmund Scott,* governor (Thomas Tudd,^
Gabriel Towerson, nine EngUsh clerks, and a chirurgeon).
1605 — 1609. John Saris,*' governor (Gabriel Towerson,'^ deputy
governor ; John Herne,^ Richard Savage ; Brown and Sidall,
factors ; nine clerks).
^ The first factors of the English factory at Adreen in November, 1602
were William Starkie, or Starkey or Starckey, and Eoger Styles.
2 Died at Bantam, 30th June, 1603. Burial honoured by the Dutch
general Wy borne van Warwyck " with a company of shot and pikes, the
colours being trailed."
3 Died at Bantam, 27th April, 1603.
^ E. Scott left Bantam for England on the 4th October, 1605.
' Died at Bantam, 14th April, 1604.
6 Handed over charge of factory on the 30th September and sailed on
the 4th October, 1609, on the ship Hector (Captain WiUiam Keeling in
command), having been four years, nine months, and eleven days in Java.
The sultan promised Saris and KeeUng to protect the EngUsh factory.
' Left Bantam on the 23rd December, 1608, for England on ship Dragon,
which he commanded himseU. He returned in 1614 to Bantam, shortly
afterwards going to Amboyna as governor of the EngUsh factory there.
Here he and his staff were tortured and executed by the Dutch for aUeged
conspiracy.
8 Keturned to England.
J. — VOL. I. Q Q
594 JAVA
1609. Augustine Spalding/ ^ governor (Francis KeUy, surgeon ;
John Parsons, Robert Neal, Augustine Ad well, Ethelred Lampre,
William Lamwell, William Driver, William Wilson, Philp Badnedg
(Bandanese), Francisco Domingo, Juan Seraon, Adrian (Mr. Tower-
son's boy) ).
1609 — 1610. Hen worth, governor (Edward Neetles).
1610. Edward Neetles,^ governor.
1610 — 1614. Richard Woodies/ governor.
1614 — 1615. John Jordan,^ governor.
1615 — 1617. Barclay,^ governor.
1617. Ball,* governor.
1617 — 1619. John Jackson,^ ^ president.
1619. John Powell , * ^ president .
1619 — 1622. Gabriel Towerson,^ president.
1624—1636 (2nd August). George Willoughby,^ president
(George Christian, Frederick Power ; Thomas Robertson, sales-
man).
1636 — 1639. (2nd August). Robert Coulson, president.
1639 — 1641. Aaron Backer,^ president (Thomas Ivie, vice-
president and member of council ; Richard Whotton, salesman
and member of council ; M. Montfort, salesman).
1 The pay of the factory staff was as foUows : — Augustine Spalding, £50
sterling per annum ; Francis KeUy, 45s. per month ; John Parsons, 30s.
per month ; Robert Neal, 29s. per month ; Augustine AdweU, 24s. per
month ; Ethelred Lampre, 20s. per month ; WiUiam Driver, 20s. per
month ; William Wilson, 22s. per month ; William LamweU, 15s. per
month ; Phdp Badnedg, 15s. per month ; Francisco Domingo, 12s. per
month ; Juan Seraon, 10s. per month, and Adrian (Mr. Towerson's
boy).
2 When David Middleton arrived at Bantam on the 7th December, 1609,
he decided, on hearing the news there of Dutch activity, to sail for the
Moluccas, and took Augustine Spalding with him as an expert, leaving
Henworth in charge with Neetles to assist him, with three others of his
Company, besides, of course, the staff there.
^ When David Middleton returned to Bantam on the 9th October, 1610,
he found that both Henworth and Neetles had died in the meanwhile and
that the business of the factory stood stUl.
^ Sailed for England.
5 Died at Bantam.
^ First Admiral Thomas Dale and then, when he died. Admiral Martin
Pring were in supreme command of the English factory during 1619.
'' Went to Amboyna, where, as related in the note above, he was
executed.
8 From 1624 — 1632 there was a WOloughby at Bantam as president, and
from 1632 to 1636 a George Willoughby ; whether they are one and the
same person is not certain, but presumably they are.
^ There was great friendship between the Dutch Governor-General at
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 595
1641 — 1646. Ralph Cartwright, president (Thomas Ivie, vice-
president and member of council ; Christopher Willoughby,
salesman and member of council ; Thomas Winter, salesman ;
John Carter, Bouman).
1646 — 1649. Aaron Backer, president (Thomas Ivie, vice-
president and member of council ; Henry Greenhil, member of
council; — Noel, salesman: died 18th December, 1647, at
Bantam).
1649 1 — 1658. Frederick Skinner,^ resident (John RawUns,
James Bostock, members of council ; John Edwards, Robert
Cock, Thomas Skinner ^ ; Captain Robert Skinner,^ captain of
company's ship attached to station).
1658 4—1661 (25th July). John Edwards,^ resident (Henry
Page, Robert Streeter, William Mainstone, members of council ;
WilHam Bastingh, Thomas Clough, Peter Cooke, ^ Richard Mohnne,
Henry Pearle, Wilham GifEord,^ Thomas Leaver, and Thomas
Street «). -
Batavia and tlie Englisli president, Aaron Backer, of Bantam, so much so
that on the 4th April, 1641, when the former knew the latter was leaving,
he sent to the president by the galley de Brae to Bantam, under the care of
the Dutch " onder koopman " (under salesman) Pieter Sowry, a dispatch
worded in friendly terms, besides a vat of French wine, a cask of butter,
some cheese and dried fish (stockvis), for which the president was " verre
muche obhged."
' On the 24th July, 1657, Dr. Abraham, an EngHshman and town doctor,
died at Batavia.
In 1657 an English captain called Eoger Andrews, in command of a ship
called the Marigold, was trading in the East Indies with Bantam as head-
quarters. Other EngUshmen in the East Indian waters at this time in
command of the English East India Company's vessels were Jons Dettrick,
Samuel Staunton, Jacob Beerblock, Robert May (captain of ship Advice),
John Hayward, John Jeffrey, JuUus WUdey, Richard Kein, William
Beauchamp, John Hemmerton, Henry Dacres, Alexander Preswit (both
latter were styled admirals), Robert Graves, John Russell, Sam Wright,
WiUiam Stevens, Roland Dimsdale, Richard Seaward, Thomas Broockes,
and Thomas Morley.
^ Went later with his two brothers to Jamby.
^ Brothers of Frederick Skinner, the resident.
* In May, 1659, at Jamby, the EngHsh factory was managed by Thomas
Leaver, Robert Street, Howelke Middleton, Sowelke Middleton, Fowelke
Middleton (possibly sons of David Middleton, the first governor of the East
EngUsh Company's factory at Batavia), Wilham AspinaU, Thomas Street,
Thomas Skinner, Charles Seller, Nicholas Baddiford (who commanded the
ship Dragon, belonging to the Company, and was born at Reddriff, in
Surrey) and Josiah Derby.
' Died at Bantam, 25th July, 1661.
6 Died or left Bantam before 1659.
Q Q 2
596 JAVA
1661 (July 9th to October 20th). Henry Page,^ acting resi-
dent.
1661 — 1664. Captain John Hunter,^ resident (Henry Page,
John Dutton, Humphrey Weston, Thomas Stevenson, members
of council ; Francis Foster, Peter Cooke, Josias Shute, John
Rawlins, Joseph Sayer, William Turner, John Knott, William
Mains tone, William Broadbent, Vincent Retty, Thomas Mead,
Richard Mohnne, John Benn, Fowelke Middleton, William
Clough, Henry Pearle, Israel Emerson, Robert Hopper, Ezra
Sherley, Hammond Gibbon, Israel Markland, Thomas Hunter, ^
George Smallwood, John Hunter, jun.,^ Robert Jennings, and
James Bale"*).
1664 (June)— 1665 (October 25th). Charles Browne,^ agent
(Philip Trevors, Thomas Stevenson, William Turner, Thomas
Harrison, members of council ; Humphrey Weston, Robert
Rawlins, Lieutenant Willoughby, James Browne, and Robert
Hopper^).
1665—1669 (October 25th). Wilham Turner, "^ agent (Thomas
Stevenson, James Browne, Robert Hopper, Thomas Harrington,
(members of council ; Lawrence Chambers, William Mainstone,^
Roger Lorimer, Hammon Gibbon, and John Scott ^).
1669 (February 20th to October 19th). Lawrence Chambers,
acting agent.
1 John Edwards, the resident, was ill in bed with a violent fever from
July 9th until July 25th, 1661, when he died.
2 Captain John Hunter was 64 years of age.
^ Sons of the resident.
^ Many of these, no doubt, were doing service in the factories under
Bantam.
* He arrived at Bantam from Jamby with his Enghsh wife and three
other unmarried Enghsh ladies. The following year he died at his post on
the 25th October, 1665.
^ David Luton, of English parentage, who had been book-keeper in the
Dutch Company at Batavia since 1660, was sent in 1661 to Bantam as
resident in the place of van Meerwyck, but he asked to be reheved in less
than a year, as he complained of being affronted.
■^ Died at Batavia, February 22nd, 1669, where he had gone, very ill, for
doctor's assistance ; his body was sent back to Bantam by the ship Hilver'
sum to be buried there by his colleagues.
^ After being some years at Jamby, returned to Bantam on the 15th
February, 1669. On the 17th March, 1664, the English agent at Jamby
was this very WiUiam Mainstone, but the Pangeran of Jamby wrote the
Enghsh resident of Bantam begging him to appoint someone else in his
place, as he could not get on with him and they were always quarrelling.
Mainstone decHned to leave or resign unless made agent at Bantam. He
was therefore suspended and a successor appointed.
« There was a man called John Scott estabUshed at Japara from 1662
to 1667. He originally came from Banda.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 597
1669 (October 19th)— 1676 (September 13th). Henry Dacres,i
agent (William Mainstone, Richard Hale and Joseph Ward,^
members of council ; Albinus Willoughby, Robert Marshall,
William Limberry, John English, and Abel Payne).
1676 (September 13th)— 1677 (May 21st). Arnold White,^
agent (Albinus Willoughby * ; Abel Payne, Francis Bowyear,
Ralph Cooke, members of council ; Robert Marshall,^ Cap-
tain John Dacres,^ William Hodges, and Captain William
Wildy').
1677 (May 21st)— 1678 (June 8th). Abel Payne, acting
agent.
1678 (June 8th)— 1682 (April 1st). Robert Parker,^ agent
(Francis Bowyear ; Ralf Cooke and Abel Payne, members of
council ; Christopher Browne, Samuel Tartan, and William
Murray).
Sambas (Borneo).
In 1610 Captain David Middleton visited Sambas and
erected a factory here for the English Company, but owing
to trouble with the Chinese this had to be given up four
years later, the agent only escaping with his life ; the other
1 Left Bantam by the ship Lancaster on the 19th December, 1676.
2 Cousin of Henry Dacres.
8 Arrived at Bantam by the ship Lancaster from England on the 8th
August, and took over from Henry Dacres on the 13th September, 1676.
He was murdered at Bantam by the Javans, with eight of his council and
staff, on the 21st May, 1677.
^ Died at Rembang on the 16th June, 1677. His widow married on
the 7th February, 1678, the Danish agent at Bantam, John Joachim
Pauly.
5 Visited Batavia on the 23rd January, 1675, with his wife, for a few
days.
^ Commander of a Company's ship.
7 Was crmsing in East Indian waters from 1670 to 1680.
^ Arrived by the ship Phoenix. After, as usual, informing the Dutch
Governor- General of his arrival, he received a cordial letter " as usual " in
reply, and van Goens presented his wife with one lacquer Chinese box, one
Tonkinese tea-box, one pair Japanese screens, and two rare and curious
Masuhpatam tables.
On the 1st AprO, 1682, the EngHsh East India Company were igno-
miniously driven out of Bantam by the Dutch Governor-General. Owing
to the loss of Bantam the Company were obUged to abandon its factories
dependent on it in Siam, Tonkin and at Amoy, and other places in the
farthest Indies.
598 JAVA
members of the factory were killed by the natives, described
as a wild and turbulent lot.
The Sambas river has a very broad entrance, and the
town is forty miles up on the south branch. In 1811 the
houses were built of timber and bamboos raised on wooden
stakes or piles on low swamp}^ morasses. The sultan was a
powerful prince, but when the English captured the place
in 1812 he retired into the interior.
The cause of an expedition being sent is not far to seek,
for Sambas had been a piratical stronghold for two hundred
years and more. In the creeks and mouths of rivers or
rivulets armed prows full of wild natives were daily on watch
to dart Avith remorseless swiftness upon unprepared and
defenceless merchant ships, seizing them, and putting to
death the Europeans on board under circumstances of
horrible barbarity. The native crews were spared, but only
to drag out an aimless existence as slaves to their cruel
captors.
Early in 1812 a large Portuguese ship with a particularly
valuable cargo happened to pass within sight of Sambas on
her way to Macao. The ship was seized and the crew
murdered. This was too much, and Baffles determined to
put a stop to such doings. He sent an expedition to
the spot under command of Captain Bowen, of H.M.S.
Phoenix, in October, 1812, which was followed up by
another under command of Colonel Watson. The follow-
ing official statement gives an interesting account of the
facts : —
" To the Honourable the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, etc., etc.
" Honourable Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that I
arrived off the Sambas river on the 22nd ulto. with the force under
my command, after touching at Pontiana^ to procure boats, etc.
On my arrival I found Captain Sayer commanding a squadron
^ Pontianak.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 599
of His Majesty's ships, and the following morning we commenced
getting the ordnance and stores into the boats, and on the 25th
the troops entered the river. Previous to our advance a letter
signed by Captain Sayer and myself was despatched to the Sultan
by Lieutenant Bayley, of the Madras Native Infantry, requiring
him to surrender the defences of Sambas, also the Pangerang Anam
and his piratical adherents.
" This letter it appears was received by the Pangerang, the
Sultan having previously withdrawn to the interior, but no answer
was returned. We then moved up the river and anchored on
the night of the 26th o£E the branch leading to Sambas. From
all the information I could obtain the access to the batteries was
so difficult that I determined to employ our whole force divided
into different attacks, one of which I hoped at least would be
able to penetrate to the batteries. I accordingly sent a detach-
ment of His Majesty's 14th Regiment with Captain Morris's
party to land from the main river and penetrate in that direction,
which Captain Morris was confident was practicable. This
officer was obhged however by severe illness to rehnquish the
command to Lieutenant Bolton, the next senior officer. Another
party composed of the Royal Marines from His Majesty's ships
with one hundred sepoys of the 3rd Volunteer BattaUon under
the command of Captain Brookes of the 3rd Bengal Volunteer
BattaUon had to pass through a cut higher up, leading into the
Sambas river, down which they were to come in rear of the town.
This party, if not in time for the attack, I hoped might intercept
the retreat of the enemy. Each of these divisions was also
accompanied by a party of armed seamen to assist in carrying
ladders and making a way through the jungle.
" With the remainder of the force, I proceeded up the Sambas
river, and anchored on the night of the 27th instant, out of reach
of gunshot from the batteries. As a Uttle ahead of our anchorage
the ground appeared rather firm from the report of Captain
Bayley whom I sent to reconnoitre the place, I determined on
landing there another party consisting of one hundred of His
Majesty's 14th Regiment, eighty Sepoys of the third Bengal
Volunteer BattaUon and a detachment of artillery with a party
of the seamen.
" This column was commanded by Captain Watson of His
Majesty's 14th Regiment. Captain Watson immediately com-
menced the attack, and in a Uttle more than haU an hour carried
600 JAVA
by assault the two principal batteries and three redoubts in their
rear ; although resolutely defended a battery and five redoubts on
the opposite side of the river were then evacuated by the enemy.
" On the commencement of the firing I pushed up the river
with a party as a reserve, in men of war's boats, to second which-
ever column began the attack. The front battery fired at the
boats advancing, although Captain Watson was at that time in
its rear, endeavouring to force an entrance. It is difiicult to
ascertain the loss of the enemy, as many were killed endeavouring
to escape in boats and across the boom. From the best informa-
tion I can obtain, it amounts to about one hundred and fifty
men, including a brother of the Sultan's, the eldest son of
Pangerang Anam and twelve others. Pangerang Anam made
his escape in a small quick sailing boat.
" Captain Brookes found the cut through which he had to
pass much smaller than had been represented and rendered
impassable by trees felled across it. A little beyond this cut he
found a boom across the main river defended by two forts which
opened on a reconnoitering party and killed the boatswain of
H.M.S. Leda. Being late in the evening Captain Brookes
determined to attack them early the following morning : when
as he was moving for this purpose, a canoe brought a letter
from the chief, the purport of it was : ' That his batteries had
fired by mistake, that he was the friend of the Europeans.' At
this moment arrived H.M.S. Procris, which had been sent up the
Main River. Captain Norton sent to inform the chief that he
wished to anchor off the battery, and desired the boom might be
opened. This request not being comphed with, a party of
seamen were sent to cut it. Just as they had succeeded the
batteries commenced firing, which was returned by the Procris.
Captain Brookes then landed this party to attack them ; but the
enemy immediately evacuated their forts, and fled into the
jungle. In this affair two Sepoys were killed and a ship Lascar
wounded.
" Lieutenant Bolton's party, it appears, took a wrong direction
at first, and from the difficulties they had to encounter, did not
arrive in time for the attack.
" I have the honour to transmit a return of our killed and
wounded during the operations ; also of the ordnance found
in the enemy's works. Considering the number and difficulty
of access to the batteries which prevented the possibihty
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 601
of exactly timing a combined attack, or of moving a large force
in any one direction, our loss is perhaps less than might be
expected.
" It is with much regret I have further to relate the death of
Captain Morris on the 1st instant. This zealous officer, although
very ill, persisted in accompanying me. He fell a victim to his
unbounded zeal for the service.
" The pleasing part of my duty now remains to bear testimony
to the general good conduct of the whole of the troops, and to
the cordial co-operation of Captain Sayer. commanding His
Majesty's squadron, who placed under my orders the Marines
and also a body of disposable seamen.
" From the Honourable Captain Elliot, with whom Captain
Sayer entrusted the immediate arrangement and command of the
armed boats of the squadron, I experienced every assistance
and readiness in complying with any of my suggestions. My
thanks are due to the whole of the officers, seamen and marines,
that landed from His Majesty's ships to second our operations,
particularly to Captain Leslie, and the party under his orders,
which accompanied Captain Watson's column. To Captain
Watson and his division every praise is due ; the result of
their attack fully corroborates the report made by him, that
nothing could exceed the coolness and intrepidity of the men
comprising it.
" I am much indebted to Lieutenant Bay ley of the Madras
Native Infantry for his assistance. This officer landed with Captain
Watson's column, which he volunteered to lead ; and after much
perseverance, succeeded in cutting a passage through the jungle.
" From Captain Dyson, His Majesty's 14th Regiment, major
of brigade, and Lieutenant Gunn of the Bengal Light Infantry
volunteer battalion, quartermaster of the troops, I also derived
every assistance in the previous arrangements, and during the
operations of the Service.
" I have the honour to be. Honourable Sir,
" Your most obedient servant,
" James Watson
" (Lieutenant Colonel of the 14th Regiment Commanding
the Troops).
"Sambas, July 3, 1813."
Return of Killed and Wounded during the operations against
602
JAVA
Sambas, including that of Captain Brookes' detachment up the
Main River, July 3rd, 1813 :—
Killed
and
Wounded.
Officers.
Uncommissioned
Officers and Rank
and File.
Seamen
on
Shore.
Grand Total.
Regiment or Corps and
Ships' Names.
El
c3
3
a
CS
u >
s
6
s
o
■d
i
a
o
c
3
.1
'5
o
n
a
i
i
e
o
Uncommissioned
Officers, Rank and
File, and Sea-
men.
His Majesty's 14th
Regiment.
ditto ditto
3rd Bengal Volunteer
Battalion.
ditto ditto
Bengal ArtUlery
ditto ditto
H.M.S. Leda .
H.M.S. Hussar .
Killed
Wounded
Killed
Wounded
Killed
Wounded
KiUed
Wounded
1
1
1
1
—
1
—
3
20
3
13
1
6
1
16
O
4
1=1
7
T3
13
o
55
Names of officers corresponding : —
Captain Watson, His Majesty's 14th Regiment, sHghtly.
Lieutenant Jennings, His Majesty's 14th Regiment, shghtly.
Lieutenant Trist, 3rd Bengal Volunteer Battahon, wounded
severely and dangerously.
Lieutenant Hoghton, H.M.S. Hussar, severely.
J. Dyson (Major of Brigade).
Return of Ordnance Stores captured in the different Batteries
at Sambas : —
Guns.
Pounders 32 24 18 12 8 6 4 3 2 1 i Total.
Brass Ordnance .----1--- 2 20 7 30
Iron ditto . 1628-243 10 -- 36
Total .
16281243 12 20 7
66
Round Shot, different sizes ..... 6,000
Bar ditto ditto 30
Gunpowder barrels ...... 26
A. Cameron
(Lieut. Com. Detach. Bengal Artillery).
A True Copy,
J. Dyson (Major of Brigade),
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 603
Macassar (Celebes).
Macassar town, or Fort Eotterdam as it was formerly
called, dates from far back. The English were here in 1615,
trading under a treaty made with the king. Their factory,
however, was seized a year or two later by the Dutch, whose
superiority in numbers in those days was always as ten to
one. In 1667 the Dutch made an exclusive treaty with the
king, which ended any trading here by other nations ; and,
indeed, the Dutch cannot be blamed for taking all the steps
necessary to consolidate their trade. In those days the old
fort was impregnable. Towards the sea was a strong
battery ; ships could anchor under the walls. Two hundred
years after their first coming — that is to say, in 1811 — the
English returned once more to Macassar, and a British
garrison of regulars and some colonial troops w^as stationed
in the Dutch fort, still called " Fort Rotterdam." The town
was then surrounded by a stone wall sufficiently low to
admit a defence from the houses, and yet high enough to
prevent a sudden surprise from a night escalade or a surprise
attack.
The conquest of this country after they had finally
disposed of the Portuguese had cost the Dutch much blood
and treasure. It was a fine race of fighting men that
peopled the island ; so strong were they that in 1420 their
king sailed in command of a fleet of two hundred ships to
reduce Malacca, the so-called ancient capital of the East.
The inhabitants of Celebes are Buginese, a race trained from
childhood to martial exercises. The British Residents here
were, in 1811 — 1813 Captain R. Philhps, in 1814 Captain
W. H. Wood, and in 1815 Major Dalton.
Bonthain, situated to the south-east of Macassar, as also
a small settlement further eastw^ard (in 1811 called Booloe-
comba), were subject to the Resident of Macassar.
The fort of Booloecomba was attacked and taken on the
604 JAVA
12th January, 1810, by a party of one hundred men landed
from H.M.S. Cornwallis and commanded by Captain
Montague, Tvdth Captain Forbes and Lieutenant Duncan
Stewart of the Madras Service. This small party, after
capturing the fort from the Dutch, seems to have had to
sustain on the day following a furious attack from the
natives. It repulsed them, however, owing to the bravery
of Captain Montague, w^ell supported by his men. A special
instance of bravery occurred this day, w^hen Lieutenant
Stewart, at imminent risk of his own life, stepped out of the
lines to help a soldier of the Madras European Kegiment,
w^ho had received a shot through his leg and been disabled.
The enemy were nearly upon him when Lieutenant Stewart
threw him on his back and carried him to the rear in
safety.
Boni also gave the English trouble during their occupation
of Java, and in April, 1814, Major-General Nightingale
received orders from Raffles to prepare an expeditionary
force, as Raffles could no longer bear with the rajah's
conduct, which he described as " equally hostile and
insulting." The force arrived on the 7th June at Macassar,
and as the rajah declined to offer the reparation demanded
of him, or to surrender the " somdang " or regaHa of Goa,
which he had forcibly seized. Lieutenant McLeod carried
the town of Boni by assault within an hour from the com-
mencement of the attack. The rajah escaped, but his
palace, a large quantity of gunpowder, as well as five cannons,
several stands of colours, and arms of all descriptions fell
into the hands of the English. The English commander set
fire to the palace as a lesson to the rajah. The enemy lost
about one thousand, but the EngHsh loss was also severe.
As a reUc of the British occupation of Macassar there is a
stone in the cemetery there to the memory of the first
British Resident, Captain Philhps, who died in December,
1814.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 605
Bencoolen, Sumatra (Fort Marlborough).
When the English factory was turned out of Bantam in
1682 some of the members went to Bencoolen to try and
secure a foothold here for the Company, and on the 25th June,
1685, erected a factory, the first governor being Ralph Ord,
one of the East India Company's " trusted servants." The
following year branches were opened at Indrapoera and
Marijuta, and a fair amount of pepper, the cliief export,
was brought in by the natives. The following year a disaster
happened, the governor being poisoned ; some said, but
apparently v^dthout proof, that it was at the instigation of
the Dutch. As other troubles and much sickness also
occurred among the Company's servants, it was half-decided
to withdraw from Bencoolen ; but the Governor- General in
Bengal would not hear of it, and in 1690 Fort York was
built by a certain Benjamin Bloom, who had come from
Bantam. In 1693 further troubles occurred, and heavy
fever broke out among the Englishmen on account of the
to^^•n having been built on a malarial morass, the result
being that the new governor and his whole council, besides
nearly all the staff, died.
By 1694 the affairs of the new settlement began to
improve once more, and a considerable and increasing trade
was done in pepper. A new station was shortly after
established at Silleber, the rajah there having granted a
concession to the Enghsh, hoping thereby effectually to keep
out his enemies the Dutch. Between 1697 and 1700 continual
tribal wars, into which the Company were unfortunately
drawn, were occurring in Sumatra, which disturbed the
peace of the settlement and interfered with its prosperity,
and the garrison of soldiers in Fort York had to be brought
up to two hundred men. Another epidemic of fever broke
out in 1705, and the governor, three civil servants, and
forty-one slaves died. In this year, on account of a con-
606 JAVA
tinuance of the native wars and other reasons, all the men
on the outlying stations were called in. Jeremiah Harrison
(one of the seniors of the Company's servants at Fort St.
George, Madras) visited Bencoolen in 1708 and was very
much impressed by the unprosperous state of afTairs which
he found, and, putting this down to the fact that in 1703
this settlement had been made independent of Fort St.
George, recommended its inclusion once more under the
control of this Government, an advice which was followed in
1710. Eventually, after much parleying and the expending
of somewhat large sums of money by the Company, peace
was once more established in 1721. The settlement now
once more revived and trade began to make headway again.
In 1760 a French fleet visited the east coast of Sumatra
under Admiral Count D'Estang and bombarded and
destroyed all the English settlements. As soon, however,
as the fleet had disappeared, the English, with spirits
undaunted, now set about repairing matters and restoring
their trade by rebuilding the factories. Three years later
Bencoolen, being considered strong enough and being in a
more or less flourishing condition, was again by decree made
an independent presidency. After this, however, the settle-
ment went back and gradually sank into insignificance. It
is to be seen from the " Court of Directors' " letter dated
the 18th April, 1805, to the Government of Penang that
Bencoolen from a political and commercial point of view
had become of no importance whatever, and that pepper,
the only produce exported, was an unprofitable concern.
It remained for Sir Stamford Baffles, who arrived here on
the 22nd March, 1818, as Lieutenant-Governor, to revive
the place and to try and bring order out of chaos ; this he
succeeded in doing. The place had become a den of
iniquity.
At this time only five hundred piculs of pepper were being
exported, while the expenses of the establishment amounted
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 607
to no less than £100,000 per annum. In the chapter on the
Life of Kaffles in the present work, and also in the Memoirs
of his life by Lady Raffles, it is seen how Raffles, with his
great nervous energy and his keen interest in his work,
cleaned the Augean stable — how he furthered his country's
interests here and consolidated her power. Raffles sailed
for England on the 1st March, 1824, when Bencoolen
(Padang, Nias, and all the other stations had already been
returned in 1819) was given back to the Dutch. During
Raffles' time trade at Bencoolen had received a great
impetus, and had made such strides that very good profits
were earned, which caused capital to flow more freely
into the country. Coffee now was also grown, and experi-
ments were successfully made with small fields of sugar cane
and nutmegs.
Among the principal English or American families whose
names constantly appear betw^een 1820 and 1835 and until
Bencoolen ceased to exist were those of Lems, Palmer,
Leicester, Green, Barrett, Watson, Bond, Wyatt, Bogle,
and Gibson. In these days the settlement was a British
colony full of life. The reasons why Bencoolen never could
have succeeded are many ; but firstly it needed a man like
Raffles to nurse it to prosperity, and to encom^age it with
broad views and ideas, and secondly it needed a better
climate. Both these needs being wanting, and moreover
there being no apparent desire on the part of the Dutch to
assist the English merchants there, but rather a determina-
tion to concentrate trade as much as possible on the east
coast of Sumatra at Padang, the entire trade of Bencoolen
was gradually transferred to the latter place, and where
later we have continual glimpses of such English-speaking
families as the Maidmans, Purvises, Stew^arts, Boyles,
Townsends and Wards. The one Enghsh churchyard there
contains many of their graves, and this is all that now
remains of them. At the present day not one English
608 JAVA
family exists in these parts, always excepting those working
in the gold mines near.
List of English Grave-stones at the Old English Colony
OF Bencoolen.
Grave-stones in the Churchyard.
(1)
Here Lie the Remains
of the Late
Ma JR. Chas. Porteous,
2nd Bn. Regt. Bl. N. I.
Who departed this life
the 8th April 1816
Aged 39 Years.
This Monument is erected as a Small
Tribute of respect to his Memory
By the officers of his Corps.
(2)
Here Lie Interred
The Remains of
Alexander Monteath
Surgeon
In the Honourable Company's
Civil Service
Who died 9th July 1798.
Sincerely Regretted.
(3)
Sacred
To the Memorij
of
Robert Bogle, Esquire
Who departed this hfe on the 26th of
September, in the ijear of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fourtij eight
deephj regretted bij his afflicted daughter
Susan Zaharah Romswinckel.
No sculp tur'd marble here nor pompous laij,
No storied urn, nor animated bust !
This simple stone directs a daughter's waij
To pour her sorrows o'er her father's dust.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 609
(4)
Sacred
to the Memory
of
J. V. L. Bogle Esqr.
Who departed this hfe
on the 9th Dec. 1814.
Sincerely regretted.
(5)
Sacred
To The Memory of
Agnes Harriet,
The beloved wife of Charles Hay, Esqre.
and eldest daughter of
Robert Bogle, Esqre. of this Place
(And of Her Infant).
She was Born 16th April 1810.
And Departed this Life 27th Dec. 1836.
Aged 26 Years and 8 Months :
Sincerely and Deservedly Regretted.
This Monument is erected by
Her afflicted Husband,
As a tribute to her many virtues.
Called not away when time had loosed each hold,
On the fond heart and each desire grew cold,
But when to all that knit Us to our kind.
She felt fast bound as love alone can bind.
(6)
Here lie the Remains of
Charles Richard Ramus
Who departed this Life
March 14th Anno Domini 1808
Aged one Year, eleven Months,
and seven Days.
(7)
Sacred
to the Memory
of
Edward Arktns Esqre.
Who died on the 28th of March 1812,
Aged 46 Years.
J. ^VOL. I. RR
610 ' JAVA
(8)
Sacred
To the Memory of
Mr. Thomas Whittenberry
Who departed this Life
The 28th of August 1802.
Aged 18 Years.
(9)
Sacred to the Memory of
William Holloway,
Who having served in the Civil Service
of the Hon"* United EngUsh East India Company,
On the Island of Sumatra
With Honor, Zeal and Integrity.
After twenty two Years service
Departed this Life
At the Age of forty.
The Moral qualities that graced his Mind
Proved him an ornament to Human kind,
Society his manners so adorned.
He lived respected died sincerely mourned
Oh pass not by, stop youthful pilgrim here
Read this, and O'er his ashes drop a tear.
In memory of those Virtues Mankind praise
This Tombstone did his Sorrowing Brother raise.
(10)
Sacred
to the Memory of
Henry J. Watson
Lieut*- of the Fort Marlbro Local Corps
and formerly Lieut^- H.M. 87th Regt.
Who departed this hfe at Bencoolen
on the 1st of February 1824
Aged 35 Years.
(11)
To the Memory
of
Stokeham Donston Esqr.
Who departed this
Life at Marlbro,
the 2nd April 1775
Aged 41.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC, 611
(12)
Beneath this tomb
are deposited the remains
of
Edward Crisp,
Writer in the service
of the
East India Company
Who died the 24th day of December
1796
Aged , . Years.
(13)
Here Lies
Miss Frances Maclane
Who departed this Life
on the 18 October 1858.
Aged 58 Years.
(14)
Sacred
To the Memory of
Captain Thomas Tapso
Obiit 15th July, 1816.
Aged 51 Years 11th Mths.
This humble Monument
Was erected to his Memory
By his much afflicted friend
Nonah Jessmina.
(15)
Sacred
To the Memory
of
Jane wife of P. Devine
Subconductor of Ordnance
Who departed this Life
at Fort Marlbro on the
9th March 1825
Aged 33 Years.
She was possessed of those Virtues
Which adorn the sex, and whose
Loss will ever be lamented by an
Affectionate Husband.
B B 2
612 JAVA
(16)
To the Memory
of
Mary Anne
The wife of
W. R. Jennings Esqr.
Who departed this Ufe
The 22nd Day of April
1818.
Aged 28.
This Monument
Is erected to her memory
By her affectionate
Husband.
(17)
(o)
Sacred
To the Memory of
William Baillie
Who departed this hfe
The 31st August 1810
Aged 10 days.
Sacred
To the Memory of
Jane Lewis
Obit 19th Feb. Y 1823.
^. 22.
Farewell, my best belov'd, whose heavenly mind
Genius and virtue, strength with softness join'd ;
Unblam'd unequall'd in each sphere of Life,
The tenderest daughter, Sister, Parent, Wife.
Could I express but ah ! can words my loss declare
Or paint the extremes of transport and despair ?
O, thou beyond what verse or speech can tell,
My Guide my friend, my best belov'd, farewell.
W. T. L.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 613
(c)
Sacred
To the Memory of
John Lancaster
Assistant Surgeon
of the Bengal EstabUshment
Aged 33,
Who departed this life
16th Sept. 1821.
(d)
Sacred
to the Memory
of
Mrs. E. M. Baillie
Who departed this Life
on the 23rd May 1815
Aged 25 Years and Months.
As a small mark of their
Unimpaired affection
and an humble memorial
of her many Virtues,
This Monument is erected
by her afflicted Brothers
H. R. and W. T. Lewis.
(18)
Sacred
To the Memory of
Captain Robert HM. . . .
of the Bengal Service
\^Tio departed this life
At Fort Marlborough
In the year
1820
Aged 30 Years.
614 JAVA
(19)
(a)
Sacred
to the Memory
of
Frai^cis Inglis Esqr.
of the Civil Service
At Fort Marlborough
Who died on the 17th June 1814
Aged 39 Jears.
Beloved and Lamented bij a numerous
Family and many Friends.
(b)
In
Memory of
AiTN Herries Johnstone
Christened April 17th 1790
and
Departed this Life
on the
9th June
1795.
(c)
Sacred
To the Memory of
William Cox
Born 10th December 1802 ;
Died on the 9th October 1804.
id)
Sacred
To the memory of
Phillip Cox
Born
27th May 1804
Died
16th Juli 1804.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 615
On the monument of Parr : —
(20)
Richard Watts Esqr.
Some time of Council for the
R* Hon^''" Comp. affairs - •
in Fort S*' George
and in the Year 1699 came
over Deputy Govern'
of this Place
and in ab' three Years after
made by Commission from
the Company the First
President of this Coast
In v^^ Station he departed
this life Decemb"^ 17 1705 and
in the 44th Year of his age.
(21)
Underneath this obelisk are interred
the Remains of
Captain Robert Hamilton
Who died on the 15th of Dec' 1793
at the Age of 38 Years
in the command of the Troops
and
Second Member of the Government.
Grave-stone in Fort Marlborough.
(22)
Here
Are deposited the Remains of
Charles Murray Esqr.
Assistent to the Residency (?) of Fort Marlborough.
His a Progress
of the Band of Assassins -
on the Night of the . . . December 1807
when Thomas Parr Esq'
Resident at Bencoolen . . .
Representative of Government
fell by their misguided Duty (?).
616 JAVA
His humane care preserved the Life of
The widow of ... his ... nd
Wounded in com her husband
from the Daggers of the Assassins
Dis I -, i induced by anxious and unceasing Execution
in the zealous Discharge of his public Duty
(dimine) a Season of Danger and Alarm
^ removed (?) this Life
on the 7th of January 1808
Aged 21 Years.
In Memory
of his brave and humane Conduct
and of his public Services
The Right Honourable Lord Minto
Governor General in Council
caused this Monument to be erected.
To the Memory of
Charles Murray Esquire.
(23)
Here are Deposited
The Remains
of
Thomas Parr Esquire
in life
the representative
assassins
in' the night .... of December.
and advantage to
His Employers
The Right Honourable Gilbert Lord Minto
Governor General in Council
has ordered
that this marble be erected
to his Memory.
Lindeman, Sot.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 617
This Stone
Is added ad . . the . . .
The of
Thomas Parr Esquire
Widow
Will
Time shall be no more.
Lindeman, Set.
Notes.
(1) This list was prepared from the grave-stones by W. Bakker
in 1912.
(2) According to the Memoir of the Life and Public Services of
Sir T. S. Raffles by his widow, page 298, Vol. II., nearly all the
stones came from Calcutta.
(3) Grave-stone No. 3 was probably not cut by an Englishman,
as U in the word " daughter " is each time given as N.
(4) On grave-stone No. 18 it is not clear whether Hull or Hall
is intended. From page 16, Vol. I., of the Memoir the name
appears, however, to be Hull.
(5) Grave-stone No. 19 is really a four-sided tomb, as commonly
in vogue a century ago for distinguished persons.
(6) No. 20 is a grave-stone placed incorrectly on the monument
of Parr.
(7) In Fort Marlborough there are other English graves, but
the inscriptions on two of them are apparently illegible.
(8) For grave-stone No. 9 see page 332 of Memoir.
(9) The names in the corners of the stones seem to be those of
the sculptors.
Singapore (Malay Peninsula).
As the history of Java in the nineteenth century has been
a good deal bound up with the name of Raffles, it seems
scarcely appropriate in giving this small account of the
different places of importance in the Dutch East Indies to
leave out the neighbouring British settlement of Singapore,
the acquisition of which was due to Raffles, and was indeed
618
JAVA
the greatest achievement of his life. A few notes are
therefore here given.
The population of Singapore in 1819, when the British
flag was first hoisted, consisted of only 300 Malays. In a
few years it had grown to 20,000, made up as follows : —
Classes.
Male.
Female.
Total.
Europeans ......
91
28
119
Indo-Britons ......
56
40
96
Native Christians . . . .
167
133
300
Armenians ......
27
8
35
Jews .......
2
—
2
Arabs .......
96
—
96
Chinese .......
7,650
867
8,517
Malays .......
3,673
3,368
7,131
Natives of Coromandel and Malabar coasts .
1,762
57
1,819
Bengalis .......
389
11
400
Natives of Celebes, Bugis and Balinese
794
932
1,726
Javanese ......
361
234
595
Siamese .......
5
2
7
Negroes .......
23
14
37
The names of most of the principal Englishmen living
here in 1822 are given at the end of this section.^
Inl824there were twelve mercantile houses, all connected
with Batavia or Calcutta. In 1832 there were twenty
European mercantile houses in Singapore, namely, seventeen
British, one Portuguese, one German, and one American ;
while there were also three large Armenian mercantile
establishments. Of all these houses only that of Guthrie
& Co., which opened in 1821, exists to-day.
When a European merchant in those days wished to make
a shipment of produce to England he visited the bazaar and
purchased the articles he required from the Chinese in
exchange for others that had been consigned to him. In
1832 there were no Government buildings of any importance
except the gaol, a square white building erected in a swamp
^ Also some other interesting particulars of a later date, and some notes
on Penang and Malacca.
THE TOWNS IX JAVA, ETC. 619
at the back of the town, and a small stone hospital situated
near the Circular Road. The court-house was built as a
dwelHng by an English merchant, from whom it was rented
by the Government. Government House was on a hill at
the back of the town and was built by Raffles in a fort-
night, and was therefore not very substantial. At this
period Malay pirates swarmed in the neighbourhood 6f
Singapore.
The numerous islands around, the intersecting channels
of which were kno^vn only to themselves, afforded them a
safe retreat, whence they could pounce down upon the
defenceless trading craft and drag them into their lairs to
plunder at their leisure. Their organisation was highly
perfected, more so even than that which formerly obtained
among the buccaneers of America. Some petty chief of one
of the Malay states who had either been ruined by gambling
or was desirous of improving his fortunes would collect under
his banner as many restless spirits as he could and sail for
one of the most retired islands near Singapore. Here he
erected a village as a depot for slaves and plunder, and then
lay in wait with his armed praams near frequented waters
for the native trader passing to and fro from Singapore. If
the chief was successful his village soon became a town,
while his fleet of praams became so numerous as to be sub-
divided into squadrons which took long cruises. They
sailed in fleets of from three to twenty, which were armed
with guns, large and small, and each praam carried fifteen
to forty men. The vessels that were captured were brought
to their settlement, plundered and burnt, the goods being
taken to Singapore for sale. The unfortunate natives who
were captured were carried to Lingen and sold to the Malays
to cultivate the Sumatra pepper plantations. A glance at
the old Singapore papers will show to what an extent the
system prevailed, and for every case recorded probably
there were ten unrecorded, as it rarely happened that
620 JAVA
anyone returned to tell the tale. These pirates existed
until Admiral Keppel cleared them out. One of the cases
that created a great sensation at the time occurred off
Indramayoc, Java, when an English merchant named
Stephen Timewell was killed while he was leaving Pama-
noekan for Batavia in August, 1828, with a large sum of
money for the purchase of sundry produce and articles.
The news of the passage of this money had reached a famous
piratical chief, Eajah Raga, who with a sufficient number of
praams, cruised about in the neighbourhood of Indramayoc
several days beforehand on the look-out for the small brig
owned by Timewell. The crew of this vessel consisted of
two Englishmen, the captain and the chief officer, and about
thirty Javan seamen, who together with the owner defended
the vessel for some time until all their ammunition was
exhausted. Towards the evening, however, Timewell was
killed by a spear fired from a musket, and the pirates, taking
advantage of the resulting confusion, immediately boarded
the brig. The two remaining Englishmen, knowing full
well that certain death awaited them, threw themselves
overboard, and succeeded in reaching a bamboo fishing
buoy, a number of which are always moored near this spot.
The pirates, too busily employed plundering their prize to
think of anything else, did not perceive their place of refuge,
and the vessels soon drifted out of sight. The two men had
now an opportunity of considering their position, which was
now very little better. They were immersed to their necks, and
dreaded every moment the attack of sharks, which swarm
on the coasts of Java ; nor had either of them during the
whole night the comfort of knowing whether liis companion
was still alive. Shortly after daylight appeared fishermen
were perceived, but instead of rescuing them immediately
the Javans first consulted together and then demanded who
they were. Finding they were Englishmen whose vessel
had been attacked by pirates and captured, they were taken
MARKKT AT T.IILAT.TAU.
sTUKKT l.\ .^A.MAUANU. SHOWING CHUKCH.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 621
on board and kindly treated, being eventually brought by
the fishermen to Indramayoc.
As a reminiscence of this we find in the Java Government
Gazette of the 8th March, 1830, the following notice : —
" The undersigned trustees of the estate of Stephen Timewell,
who was captured by pirates on his passage from Pamanoekan
to Batavia in the month of August, 1828, request that all persons
having claims upon his estate may make immediate application
towards liquidating the same.
" Alexander London,
" Wm. Baxter.
" Batavia, 8th March, 1830."
This Rajah Raga w^as looked for for years by English
men-of-war, and on one occasion while cruising with three
large praams he was attacked by one, two of the praams
being destroyed with their crews ; but the third escaped,
and on this was the rajah. On another occasion his own
praam, which carried upwards of one hundred and fifty men
and mounted several very large guns, was quietly sailing
near Macassar in charge of his favourite panglima, or captain,
when a ship was sighted, which was fired upon, and the
panglima prepared, as customary, to come to close quarters,
since no ship could withstand such a large praam. To the
panglima's surprise and dismay, however, a long line of
ports opened in the side of the vessel, and he found himself
under the rows of guns of a British man-of-war.
The panglima hailed the man-of-war and endeavoured to
make it appear that he had acted under a misapprehension
and in self-defence, but a subterfuge was useless ; the
British man-of-war knew the praam and was after her, and
a broadside sank her in one minute, with her whole crew
except two men, who clung to a piece of wreck and were
picked up by a native praam.
Shortly after the introduction of steam in 1827 a well-
armed steam vessel plying between Singapore and Batavia
622 JAVA
was attacked by a large armed praam, the pirates fancying
she was a brig on fire. They soon found out their mistake
and were to their astonishment pursued and sunk.
Singapore to-day is one of the centres of the commercial
world, with huge docks worth about four million pounds
sterling and affording wharfage for a large number of
vessels at one time ; there are commodious godowns and
coal-sheds along the wharf, the latter with a capacity for
storing 50,000 tons of coal. There are two graving docks—
the Victoria Dock, 450 feet long and 65 feet broad at the
entrance, and the Albert Dock, 485 feet long and 60 feet
broad at the entrance. There is a population, still growing,
of 2,000,000. The port, if reckoned by its tonnage, is now
the seventh in the world. In the last thirty years the trade
has grown from 5,000,000 dollars to 20,000,000 dollars.
There are a number of churches of all creeds and denomina-
tions, many clubs, and several scientific institutions. In
fact, the place has proved Sir Stamford Eafiles' wonderful
foresight and his excellent choice of a position.
1, List of British Residents in Singapore about 1822.
Robert Morrison, D.D.
Alexander Laurie Johnstone, founder of the house of A. L.
Johnstone & Co. in 1820.i
Hiigh Syme, founder of Syme & Co., of Singapore, 1822, Pit-
cairn Syme & Co., Java, 1825, but doing business in Java as early
as 1822 with an army officer, Captain Campbell, his agent, a
partner, who died there in 1822.
D. S. Napier, of the firm of Napier and Scott.
John Argyle Maxwell, agent for G. Maclaine & Co., Java, from
1822 to 1828.
Nathaniel Wallich.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mclnnes.
Captain Flint,^ R.N., Sir T. S. Raffles' aide-de-camp.
Captain Davies, Rev. R. Morrison, Rev. J. Humphreys, Rev. D,
Collie, Rev. R. S. Hutchin^s, Rev. O. H. Thompson, Rev. J. Milton.
William Montgomery, M.D.
^ TMs house failed in 1890, thus lasting seventy years.
2 Formerly of Java, buyer of the land Serondol.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 623
O. Finlayson.
Samuel Roberts, printer.
Hon. E. Phillips, member of Council (brother of the former
Resident of Macassar, 1811).
Hon. J. Erskine, member of CounoU.
Rev. G. Burder.
W. A. Hankey.
G. W. Grommelin.
G. A. Bonham, son of Governor of Penang.
Lieutenant L. N. Hull.
Lieutenant P. Jackson.
David Alexander Eraser, formerly partner in Skelton & Co.,
of Batavia, which ceased on the 31st December, 1821 ; afterwards
partner in Macquoid, Davidson & Co., Batavia, and now managing
partner for that firm here.
G. Mackenzie.
Thomas Howard.
F. J. Bernard.
Charles Scott, of Napier and Scott, probably a relative of
Robert Scott, of Deans, Scott & Co.
G. Gordon.
John Morgan, brother of A. Morgan, both partners in Paton,
Morgan & Co., Batavia, 1822—1828.
G. R. Read, partner in A. L. Johnstone & Co.
John Purvis (brother of W. Purvis, captain of a ship trading
in the archipelago).
A. Guthrie, founder of Guthrie & Co., 1819.
Alexander Morgan, merchant of Sourabaya, 1819, and a brother
of John Morgan (founder of Paton, Morgan & Co., 1822—1828,
and Morgan, King & Co., Batavia, 1829, and Morgan, Melbourne
& Co., Batavia, 1833—1884).
Alexander Hay, brother of Colin Mackenzie Hay, partner in
the house of Maclaine & Co., Batavia, 1822.
2. From the Day-book, Singapore.
1819, May 29th. In laying out the town six building lots
were reserved by Raffles — one for Carnegy & Co., Penang, one
for F. Ferrao, one for Thomas Macquoid, one for Captain Flint,
and two to be disposed of by Raffles himself.
3. List of Occupiers of Lands, Singapore, July, 1821.
Claude Querros. A. L. Johnstone.
J. Carnegy. J. Morgan.
Scott and Napier. A. Guthrie.
Christie. G. Mackenzie.
624
JAVA
List of Occupiers of Land, Singapore — {continued).
Williamson.
Lackersteen.
Hay Mackenzie.
F. Ferrao.
J. Almeida.
Baron Jamearie.
F. J. Bernard.
Dunn.
Captain Flint.
Lieutenant Crossley.
Captain Methven.
Lieutenant Davis.
Colonel Farquhar.
George Armstrong.
Thomas Owen Crane.
John Dalton.
A. Guthrie.
Hugh Syme.
Graham Mackenzie.
J. A. Maxwell.
A. L. Johnstone.
John ConnoUy.
William Spottiswoode.
H. F. Hansen.
T. H. Bell.
Francis Cox.
Daniel Hawthorn.
H. Gilbert.
R. Macquire.
4. List of Magistrates of Singapore, 1st February, 1823.
Alexander L. Johnstone.
James Argyle Maxwell.
David S. Napier.^
A. Read.i
Claude Queiros.
Charles Scott.
John Purvis.
Alexander Morgan.
D. Clark.
John Morgan.
Alexander Hay.
A. Guthrie.
A. Farquhar.
J. King.
G. Mackenzie.
In 1823.
C. R. Read ; Hon. Company : James Lumsdaine, Nathaniel
Wallich, and Captain Francis Salmond.
5. List of Merchants of Singapore, 1824.
Alexander Laurie Johnstone &
Co, (for self and J. Crawford).
C. Thomas.
G. Mackenzie.
Hugh Syme.
Isaiah Zacheriah.
Spottiswoode and Conolly.
Charles Scott (for self and D. S.
Napier).
Guthrie and Clarke.
John A. Maxwell.
Morgan, Hunter & Co.
Andrew Farquhar.
In 1819 a writer in the Company's service, Bencoolen.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 625
6. Owners of Land in Singapore, January, 1824.
John Palmer, of Calcutta. ^ John Morgan.^
G. D. H. Larpent, of Calcutta.^ Hon. J. J. Erskine, member of
Captain Murray, commanding CouncO, Penang.^
officer. 2 J. A. Maxwell. ^
A. Hay.3 Pearl.3
Colonel Farquhar.2 Carnegy, of Penang.^
A. Farquhar.3 Baretto & Co., of Calcutta. ^
F. J. Bernard.2 T. King.^
Captain Davies.^ C. R. Read.^
Captain Flint. ^ Captain Howard. ^
Lieutenant P. Jackson. ^ Captam Methven.^
S. G. Bonham.2 Captain Salmond, of Ben-
Asst. Surgeon Montgomery. ^ coolen.^
Queiros.3 Captain Harrington.^
Mackenzie. 3 J. Clark. ^
Napier." F. G. Maclaine.^
Hay.3 Fletcher.3
Scott. 3 Ryan. 2
A. Guthrie. 3 Rev. Morrison.^
J. Purvis. 3 Rev. Milton.^
A. L. Johnston. 3 Rev. Thomsen.*
Captain Almeida. ^
7. Principal Merchants of Singapore, 1826.
Charles Chester. John Argyle Maxwell.
Thomas Davis. William Paton.
James Innes. William Scott.
Alexander Laurie Johnston. John Spottiswoode.
Alexander Kyd Lindsay. Hugh Syme.
William Gordon Mackenzie. William Vincent.
(All commissioners of the peace.)
8. List of Public Servants and European Inhabitants
Residing at Singapore, March, 1827.
Honourable John Prince, Esq., Resident Councillor.
Edward Presgrave, Esq., deputy Resident.
S. G. Bonham, Esq., assistant Resident.
Rev. R. Burn, chaplain.
Captain W. Flint, R.N., master attendant and port-master.
^ Non-resident merchant.
2 Government ofl&cer.
3 Resident mercliant.
* Missionaries.
J. — ^VOL I. S S
626
JAVA
Captain C. E. Davis, garrison staff.
Lieutenant P. Jackson, executive officer.
W. Montgomerie, M.D., residing assistant surgeon.
Extra covenanted servant for Bencoolen : R. G. Perreau.
Assistants attached to Resident's and Secretary's office :
J. F. Burrows, W. Herwetson, J. D. Remedios.
Accountant's and pay office : R. Winter, T. H. Bell.
Police office and Convict Department : W, Campbell, J.
Salmon, W. Holloway, Henry Gilbert (constable), Francis Cox
(constable), Robert Macquire (constable), Hilton (overseer of
convicts).
Master attendant's office : Edward Coles, John Leyden
Siamee.
Post Office : Edward Coles.
Commissioner's Court of Requests : Edward Presgrave and
S. G. Bonham (commissioners), W. Holloway (clerk), Francis Cox
(bailiff).
9. Merchants and Houses of Agency at Singapore, 1827.
Almeida & Co.
Armstrong, Crane & Co.
J. Dalton.
A. Farquhar.
Guthrie and Clark.
A. L. Johnstone & Co.
Mackenzie & Co.
Maxwell & Co.
Morgans, Hunter & Co.
Napier, Scott & Co.
J. Purvis.
Spottiswoode, Connolly & Co.
Syme & Co.
Thomas & Co.
10. Armenian Merchants and Armenians in their Employ,
1827.
Isaiah Zechariah.
Satoor and Stephen.
Aristakus Sarkis
Manook.
Carapit Phanoos.
Johannes Simon.
Sarkis Aratoon Sarkis.
Seth Avieth Seth, Andrew
and J. Zechariah, and C. P. Zechariah
(in the employ of Isaiah
Zechariah).
11. European Inhabitants, 1827.
F. J. Bernard (agent to Lloyd's and notary public), J. Brown
(employ of Messrs. Mackenzie & Co.), Jas. R. Bruce (employ of
Messrs. Armstrong & Co.), George D. Coleman (civil architect),
W. Dunman, Martinus de SUva (employ of Lieutenant Jackson),
P. F. Douwe, John Ellis (employ of Johnstone & Co.), J. Francis
(tavern-keeper), Frederick Freeze, James Eraser (employ of
Maxwell & Co.), James Gordon, W. R. George (employ of Thomas
& Co.), John Gummer, H. F. Hansen, D. Hawthorn (ship's
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 627
carpenter), A. Hay (of the firm of Johnston & Co.), Stephen
Hallpike, C. HoUoway, Robert Hunter (of Morgans, Hunter & Co.),
Thomas Lardner (in Mr. Temperton's employ), Thomas Laby
(punch-house keeper), James Loch (editor of the Singapore
Chronicle), J. Macintosh (employ of Connolly & Co.), W. Merry-
weather (employ of Syme & Co.), F. de SUva Pinto Maia (Roman
Catholic priest), Miguel Matti( watchmaker), S. Milton (missionary),
WUliam Macdonald (employ of Morgans, Hunter & Co.), A.
Martin (surgeon), R. Moore (employ of Maxwell & Co.), W. Napier,
R. Napier, W. Page (employ of Morgans, Hunter & Co.), W. P.
Paton (of the firm of Morgans, Hunter & Co.), R. E. Pelling
(employ of Guthrie and Clark), Claud Queiros (agent for Palmer
& Co.), C. R. Read (of the firm of Johnston & Co.), C. Ryan
(employ of Napier, Scott & Co.), W. D. Shaw (of the firm of
Mackenzie & Co.), S. Sweeting (employ of Syme & Co.), Swinton
(shipwright), W. Steward (employ of Thomas & Co.), G. Solomon
(employ of Johnston & Co.), W. Temperton (shipwright), Charles
Thomas, C. S. Thomas, Josiah Thomas, C. H. Thomsen (mis-
sionary), Westerborgh (punch-house keeper), John Wright.
12. The Singapore Chamber of Commerce : Rfles, 1837, and
Copy of the First Chairman's Circular Letter.
" Singapore, 10th March, 1837.
" The Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, which has been
recently established at this place under the designation of the
* Singapore Chamber of Commerce,' beg to wait upon you with
the annexed copy of the Rules of the Institution. WhUe tender-
ing you their services in this quarter, in whatever department
they are likely to be useful, the Committee solicit at the same time,
the communication of any intelligence of a mercantile nature
which it may be in your power to afford, whether bearing upon
the general interests of commerce, or calculated in particular to
affect those of this Settlement ; as well as your assistance in
promoting in any other way the object of the Chamber. The
Committee will be gratified also by the receipt of any printed
statements of Trade, or official documents of the like description,
which may be published for general information, or are procurable,
in your quarter, and which it may be in your power to transmit.
" I am. Gentlemen,
" Your most obedient Servant,
" Alex. L. Johnston,
" Chairman."
ss2
628 JAVA
PROCEEDINGS AT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SINGAPORE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
" At a Meeting of the Merchants, Agents, and others interested
m the trade of Singapore, convened by circular, and held at
the Reading-Room on Wednesday the 8th February, 1837, for
the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of establish-
ing a Chamber of Commerce at this Settlement,
"A. L. Johnston, Esqre., in the Chair,
" It was proposed by Ellis James Oilman, Esqre,, seconded by
R. C. Healey, Esqre., and Unanimously Resolved, —
" 1st. That an Association be formed under the designation of
* The Singapore Chamber of Commerce,' for the purpose
of watching over the commercial interests of the Settle-
ment.
" Proposed by Edward Boustead, Esqre., seconded by W. S.
Lorrain, Esqre., and Unanimously Resolved, —
" 2nd. That all Merchants, Agents, Ship-owners, and others
interested in the trade of the place, be eligible to become
Members of this Association.
" Proposed by Thos. Scott, Esqre., seconded by J. S. Clark,
Esqre., and Unanimously Resolved, —
" 3rd. That a Provisional Committee be now appointed to draw
up Rules and Regulations for the government of the
Chamber, and to report thereon to a general Meeting
to be convened as soon as the same are prepared.
" Proposed by W. S. Duncan, Esqre., seconded by Lewis
Eraser, Esqre., and Unanimously Resolved, —
" 4th. That the said Provisional Committee consist of the
following five gentlemen : —
Edward Boustead, Esqre.
Thomas McMicking, Esqre.
Alexander Guthrie, Esqre.
Ellis James Oilman, Esqre.
William Renshaw George, Esqre.
" (Signed) A. L. Johnston,
" Chairman.
" (Signed) E. J. Oilman,
" (Secy, {pro tern.).''
" At a General Meeting of the Commercial Community of
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 629
Singapore, convened by public Advertisement, and held at the
Reading-Room, this day, 20th February, 1837,
"A. L. Johnston, Esqre., in the Chair,
" The following Regulations for the government of the Chamber
of Commerce of Singapore, prepared by the Provisional Committee,
appointed on the 8th instant, were unanimously adopted : —
" I, That the Singapore Chamber of Commerce is formed for
the protection of the general interests of the Trade of the Settle-
ment, for collecting and classifying mercantile information, for
establishing a Court of Arbitration to adjust commercial differ-
ences which may be referred to it, and for communicating with
the public authorities on all subjects affecting the common
good.
" II. That all Merchants, Agents, Traders, Ship-owners,
Commanders of Vessels, and others interested in the Trade of
Singapore, be eligible to become members.
" Candidates (subsequent to the general meeting) to be admitted
on being proposed by one member of the Committee and seconded
by another.
" III. That the entrance Fee shall be —
For each firm .... Sp. Drs. 15
For each individual . . . ,, ,, 10
and that the annual subscription (payable in advance) shall be—
For each firm . . . . Sp. Drs. 12
For each individual . . . ,, ,, 9
" IV. That all visitors to Singapore interested in trade, may
become honorary members for 3 months, on being proposed by
one of the committee and seconded by another ; honorary
members to have no vote.
" V. That the affairs of the Chamber be managed by a Com-
mittee of 11 members, six of whom shall form a quorum — that
all questions before the Committee shall be decided by a majority,
the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, or President (where the votes
are equal) having a casting vote : that no two members of the
same firm shall belong to the Committee.
"VI. That the members of the Committee be chosen by ballot
at the first general meeting to be holden the first Wednesday in
February ; each firm to have two votes, and each individual
one vote on this and all other matters submitted to a General
Meeting ; five members to go out annually by lot, but to be
eligible to be re-elected. A Chairman and Deputy Chairman
mo JAVA
shall be chosen by ballot by the Committee from amongst their
own number, and in the absence of the Chairman or Deputy
Chairman, a President for that meeting shall be chosen from
among the members present.
" VII. That members shall not be allowed to vote by proxy ;
nor if their subscriptions, fines, etc. are in arrear.
" VIII. That it shall be imperative on parties elected to serve
on the Committee under a penalty of Sp. Drs. 50 in case of refusal.
" IX. That the affairs and funds of the Chamber be under the
direction of the General Committee, which shall meet at 11 o'clock
a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of every month, and at such
other times as occasion may require. The Chairman or Deputy
shall have the power of calling a meeting of the Committee, and
it shall be imperative on him to do so, on a requisition being
made by any two members of the Committee, who shall intimate
in writing three days previously (except in cases of emergency)
the business to be brought before the meeting.
" X. That all orders for payments out of the Chamber be
countersigned by the Chairman or Deputy, or by three members
of the Committee, .and that all accounts shall be audited and
submitted to the inspection of the members of the Chamber.
" XI. That the Committee be authorised to provide a con-
venient place for the meetings of the Chamber, appoint a Secretary
and determine the amount of his salary ; appoint a Treasurer,
pay all the expenses of the establishment, and control the manage-
ment generally of the Chamber.
" XII. That it shall be imperative on the members of the
Committee in rotation to meet (or provide a substitute) in order
to constitute a quorum, under a penalty of Sp. Drs. 5 for each
case of non-attendance,
" XIII. That on all occasions a minority on a division in
Committee shall have the right to state their reason of dissent
in the records of the day's proceedings, provided the same be
done within 48 hours of the closing of the meeting, and a certified
copy of the proceedings of such meeting shall be granted the
dissentients if required.
" XIV. That in case of vacancy in the Committee it shall be
filled up pro tempore by the Committee until the next general
meeting, and that they have the power to appoint a sub-
Committee from their own number for any purpose whatever.
"XV. That the office be opened daily from 11 to 1 o'clock,
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 631
where the Secretary or his clerk shall attend ; that he keep a
Journal of all proceedings, and be ready to communicate with
any member requiring information or access to the records of
the office ; and that he attend to such other duties as may be
required by the Committee.
" XVI. That other commercial associations, together with the
houses of business at places where no associations are established,
be invited to correspond with, and communicate information to
the Chamber.
" XVII. That the Chairman or Deputy, or any three members
of the Committee, or any six members of the Chamber, shall
be empowered to convene a General Meeting, on notifying in
writing to the Secretary the purpose for which such meeting is
called, three days previously.
" XVIII. That the Committee appoint by ballot monthly,
three from their own number, to decide on all cases submitted
for the arbitration of the Chamber ; that their power shall con-
tinue so long as any business brought before them during
their period of service is undecided. They shall not proceed in
any case until an Arbitration Bond has been signed by both
parties, binding themselves to abide by and fulfil their decision.
" XIX. That Funds to provide a suitable establishment, and to
defray requisite expenses shall be raised in the following manner : —
" By entrance fees and subscriptions ; by fees on arbitrations
and references as the Committee may hereafter determine ; by
voluntary gifts and contributions either in money, maps, books,
or anything which may be useful to the Institution, and by fees
for certified copies of the records and other documents of the
Chamber, granted by the Secretary.
" XX. That in special cases the Chamber reserves to itself the
power of expelling any of its members, by a majority of two-
thirds at any General Meeting convened for the purpose, fourteen
days previous notice being given by the Secretary of the object
of the meeting.
" XXI. That the General Committee shall make such bye-laws
and rules as they may deem expedient.
" XXII. That these Regulations may be altered by a majority
of two-thirds at any General Meeting convened for the purpose,
fourteen days previous notice being given by the Secretary of the
alteration intended to be proposed.
" XXIII. That in the event of any question arising as to the
632 JAVA
construction or application of the foregoing Regulations, the
Committee shall be empowered to decide the same."
" The General Committee for the ensuing year was then chosen,
consisting of the following Gentlemen, who were b allotted for
separately : —
A. L. Johnston, Chairman. T. Macmicking,
A. Guthrie, Deputy Chairman. J. Balestier,
R. C, Healey, Seyd Abubaker,
E. J. GiLMAN, KiMGWAN, and
I. Zechareah, Gwanchuan.
E. BOTTSTEAD,
" The objects of the Meeting having been carried into effect,
thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the Meeting closed.
"A. L. Johnston,
" Chairman.
" E. J. GiLMAN,
" Secy, (pro tern.).
" Singapore, 20th Feby., 1837.
" printed at THE SINGAPORE FREE PRESS OFFICE."
Prices Current at Singapore, 11th April, 1833.
" The currency in which commercial transactions are circulated
is the Spanish dollar divided into cents. The common weight is
the picul, of 133| lbs. avoirdupoise, divided into 100 catties.
Salt and rice are commonly sold by the koyan, of 40 piculs ;
Java tobacco by the corge, of 40 baskets ; and gold dust by the
bunkal, which weighs two dollars, or is equal to about 832 grains
troy. Bengal rice, wheat, and dhoU are sold by the bag, contain-
ing two Bengal maunds, and Indian piece goods by the corge, of
20 pieces.
" Owing to the deficiency of the circulating medium, very few
cash transactions take place in this market, and it being therefore
impossible to give the cash price of almost any article, it must be
observed that the quotations in this Price Current are made on
the principle that sales are effected on a credit of two or three
months, for paj^ment in produce. Opium is generally sold for
payment in gold dust and tin ; Indian piece goods for gold dust,
tin and pepper, in two or three months ; and European piece
goods for coffee, sugar, tin, tortoiseshell, etc., etc., in three or four
months, but occasionally in immediate barter.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 633
Prices Current at Singapore — continued.
Eastern Articles.
Per.
Price.
Remarks.
Eastern Articles.
Spanish Dollar.s.
Bees' Wax . . ...
Picul
28
30
Beclie de Mer :
Isle of France
>>
40
SO
1st sort
20
25
Inferior
»»
6
10
Benjamin .
10
50
Betel-nut .
>>
H
2
Birds' Nests :
White
Catty
30
45
Black.
Picul
30
200
Camphor :
Bams
Catty
10
30
China.
Picul
30
35
Canvas, Bengal .
Bolt
4
6
Cassia Lignea .
Picul
12
14
Coffee:
Java
>»
9
10
Sumatra
>>
9
n
Other Descriptions
>>
9
n
Copper :
Japan
>»
28
30
Peruvian .
tt
23
25
Cordage, Coir
„
H
5
Cotton
Bale
20
25
Dammar, Raw .
Picul
1
li
Dholl
Bag
2i
3
Dragon's blood :
1st sort
Picul
—
—
inferior
„
10
30
Ebony :
Isle of France
Picul
3
H
Of other parts
„
2
n
Elephants' Teeth :
1st sort
»>
100
120
2nd „
,,
90
100
3rd „
>»
60
80
Gambler :
Rhio and Singapore
>>
3^
4
Slack
>»
6
—
Gamboge .
»»
20
50
Ghee:
Cow .
„
14
16
Buffaloe . , .
»>
12
14
Grain :
Rice : White
Koyan
80
85
Cargo — 1st sort .
„
70
75
Inferior .
,,
60
65
Bengal .
Bag
2i
2i
Wheat
,,
3i
3i
Gram
,,
60
62
Gold Dust of Pahang and Si
ack
Bunkal
30
30J
634 JAVA
Prices Current at Singapore — continued.
Eastern Articles.
Price.
Remarks.
Gold Dust of other parts
Gunnies
Mother of Pearl Shells
Nankeens :
Long Junk .
Short „
Oil, Cocoanut
Opium :
Patna
Benares
Malwa
Pepper :
Black.
\Aniit€
Long .
PIECE GOODS :
Bengal Sannahs
Mahmoodies
Gurrahs :
Large
SmaU
Bengal Baftas
Chintzes of 12 cubits
of 10 cubits
Kurwahs
Madras Moories :
White .
Blue
„ Salempores :
Blue
Brown
„ Handkerchiefs
„ Kolamkories
„ Kambayas .
Bugis Sarungs
Bali Cloths .
Battick Handkfs. .
Rattans, Banjanmading
Sago, Pearl, in cases .
Salt:
Siam .
Cochin China
Saltpetre .
Sapan Wood :
Manila
Siam .
Silk:
Raw, China Junk
Canton No. 3
Macao
Bunkal
Hundred i
Picul
100 ps.
Gorge
Picul
Picul
Gorge
Picul
Coyan
Picul
72 Ctys.
100 „
95 „
Spanish Dollars.
26 29
8 10
20 22
35
5*
40
Chest I 720 730
! 720 730
! 600 —
37
30
22
14
16
38
33
24
15
18
40
60
30
80
14
24
6
8
6
16
2f
3
2*
3
20
24
18
20
9
—
H
310 320
300 —
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC.
Prices Current at Singapore — continued.
635
Eastern Articles.
Per.
Price.
Remarks.
Spices :
Spanish Dollars.
Nutmeg, 1st & 2nd
Picul
75 90
Cloves ....
>5
20 25
Mace .....
»»
125 130
Stick Lac .....
99
12 13
Segars, Manila ....
1,000
5^ 6
Sugar :
Java ....
Picul
5 54
Siam, 1st sort
j»
5| 6
Manila ....
5 5J
Cochin China
j>
3 4
Sugar-Candy ....
5»
— —
Tin : Banca ....
J>
14i 15
Straits ....
>>
14 14^
Tobacco :
Java ....
40Baskets
150 200
China. ....
Picul
— —
Tortoiseshell ....
>>
1,000 1,400
Turmeric :
Java ....
>>
— —
China. ....
>>
— —
European Articles.
Ale : Allsop's . . . .
Hhd.
38 40
Bass's ....
?>
38 40
Hodgson's.
>>
35 40
Barclay's
25 30
Anchors .....
Picul
11 12
Bottles, English.
100
4 4^
Canvas .....
Bolt
lOJ 12
Copper, Nails and Sheathing
Picul
38 40
Cordage .....
>>
10 14
Cotton Twist :
No. 16 to 36 . . .
>5
40 45
„ 38 „ 70
J>
50 60
„ 40 „ 80
5>
60 65
Earthenware ....
— —
Glassware ....
— —
Gunpowder . . . |
Canister
(100 lbs.)
} 20 60
Grapnels .....
Gal.
— —
Flints
Picul
— —
Hardware, Assorted .
—
— —
Iron :
Swedish Bar
Picul
5 5i
English Bar
„
2i 2f
Nail-rod ....
>>
2J 3
Lead : Pig ....
j>
5 6
Sheet ....
,,
6 7
Oilman's Stores
—
— —
Patent Shot ....
Bag
— —
Paints : White ....
Cwt.
— —
636 JAVA
Prices Current at ^mG^^on^-continued.
European Articles
Paints: Black .
Green .
Paint Oil .
Provisions :
American Beef
do. Pork
English Beef
do. Pork
Biscuits
Flour
Eosin
Spelter
Steel: Swedish.
English
Tar : Stockholm
Coal.
PIECE GOODS :
Madapolams, 25 yds. by 32 ins
Imitation Irishes, 25 yds
36 ins. . . . '
Long Cloths :
Yards. Inches.
38 a 40 by 36 to 37
Prints
7—:
38
44.
50
64
60
40
i Lt.
colours
9—8 do.
7—8 Dark
9—8 do.
Grounds,
* do.
do.
do.
7—8 & 9—8, 2 clrs.
9—8 Turkey-red gd., 24 yds.
7 — 8 Furniture, 28 yds.
9—8 do. 24 yds.
Cambrics :
12 yds. 42 a 44 ins. .
12 yds. 45 do.
Jaconets, 20 do. by 44 a 46 do
Lappets, 10 do. by 40 a 44 do.
Handkerchiefs :
Imitation Battick
Pulicat
WOOLLENS :
Long Ells, all Scarlet
Camblets do.
Striped Lists, 17 a 18 yds. by
60 mches, all Scarlet.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 637
Prices Current at Singapore — continued.
European Articles.
Per.
Price.
Remarks.
Spanish Dollars.
WINES AND SPIRITS :
Sherry .....
Dozen
6 8
Madeira (unsaleable)
— —
Port
j»
7 9
Claret : Frencli
j>
4 6
English
8 10
Arrack :
Ist sort, Batavia
Gallon
— —
2nd sort, Batavia
>>
14 16
Brandy, Cognac
1 4i
Kiim .....
,,
Gin
Case
5 5\
Fri
:iGHTS.
To London, Sugar .
£3 to £3 10s. per 20 Cwt.
Tin . .
£1 7s. to £1 10s. per 20 Cwt.
„ Coffee .
£4 to £4 10s. per 18 Cwt.
Pepper
£4 10s. to £5 per 16 Cwt.
„ Measurement good
Is
£4 to £6 per 50 cubic feet.
„ Treasure
IJ per cent.
To Calcutta .
Rs. ^ to 1 per Picul,
To Batavia
Guilders per Picul.
To China
Sp
. Drs. 1 to 1 per Picul.
From Your Most Obedient Servant,
" Edward Boustead.
Statement of Nutmeg Plantations at Singapore,
Total Number of Trees in 1848.
SHOWING
Proprietors.
Districts.
Total Number of
Trees.
A. Guthrie i . . .
Tanjong Pagar
2,250
W. Montgomerie
do.
1,800
Joaq Almeida .
do.
700
Government
Claymore
765
D. T. Oxley
do.
4,050
C. R. Prinsep
do.
6,700
T. Hewetson
do.
1,515
C. Carnie
do.
3,500
W. Cuppage
do.
1,250
* Founder of Guthrie & Co.
638 JAVA
Statement of Nutmeg Plantations at Singapore — continued.
Total Number of
Proprietors.
Districts.
Trees.
W. Scott
Claymore
5,200
C. Carnie
do.
870
Jose Almeida .
do.
1,023
D. M. J. Martin
do.
1,530
W. W. Willans
Tangling
1,600
E. B. Leicester ^
do.
800
E. Leicester i
do.
400
W. Leicester ^
do.
250
W. Montgomerie
Kalang
510
F. Sorabjee
Eochor
12
Syed Allie
do.
600
Sir J. d' Almeida
Sirangong
4,000
T. Dunman
do.
1,000
J. I. Woodford
Bur kit Timor
600
Chinese .
—
7,000
C. Nicol .
Total .
8,000
55,925
Singapore, 24th Jidy, 1848.
13. List showing the Number of Spice Plants imported in
Penang from the Moluccas during 1800 — 1801.
Cloves.
Nutmegs.
Corn-
Date.
Ships.
English-
d
^
uS
^
men).
a
%
C4
o
a
•a
o
>J
02
m
H
^
m
H
1800.
March 30
—
George
3,647
3,647
May
Thomas
Young
1,286
7,265
—
8,851
3,587
3,587
June 18.
Bangalore
Lynch
1,108
—
—
1,108
3,497
3,497
Aug. 23 .
Unicorn
Langland
826
1,253
—
2,079
421
2,623
3,044
Ruby
Sinclair
163
364
—
527
100
—
100
I80I.
July 11 .
Bangalore
Lynch
—
—
—
—
504
—
504
Sept. 1 .
Expedition
Peterson
46
~~
""•
46
305
13,783
14,088
3,429
8,882
3,647
15,958
1,330
23,490
24,820
Nutmegs .
24,820
Cloves
15,958
Gra
ndTot
al
•
40,778
Came from Bencoolen.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 639
14. Lists of Civil Servants at Penang in 1805.
Pay.
Philip Dundas (Government House) (rent S
S4,000 32,000
John Hope Oliphant (second in Council) . 18,000
Alexander Gray (third in Council) . . 18,000
Colonel Norman Macalister (4th in Council) . 18,000
Rev. Atwill Lake (chaplain) . . . 6,400
Henry Shepherd Pearson (secretary) . , 8,000
Thomas Stamford Raffles (assistant secretary) 6,000
James Phillip Hob son (accountant) . . 8,000
William Robinson (assistant : accompanied
Raffles to Java) ..... 6,000
Quinton Dick Thomson (warehouse keeper) . 6,000
W. E. Phillips (collector of customs and
revenue) ...... 6,000
John Erskine (assistant to the superintendent) 6,000
W. William Dick (surgeon) . . . .10,720
Henry Waring (assistant surgeon) . . 3,000
James Derrot (assistant surgeon) . . 3,000
Nine writers at : — ■ ..... 1,440
Arthur Tegart, William Bennet, John Curson
Lawrence, Robert Ibbetson, John Thomas
le Mesurier Sherwood, William Club ley,
John Lyon Phipps, John McAlister, Alex-
ander Ballantyne Dick.
Thomas CuUum (schoolmaster) . . . 900
15. List of some of the Merchants at Penang, 1806.
W. E. Phillips. James Carnegy.
James Scott. George Seton.
J. P. Hob son. John Scott.
16. Coinage of Poelo Pinang, or Penang.
Very soon after the occupation of Penang by the English,
special money was coined in Bengal in silver and copper for the
island. In a letter from Captain Light dated the 20th June,
1788, to the Governor-General of Bengal a report was made of
the arrival of the silver money for Poelo Pinang, and Light
remarks at the same time that sUver money of from ten dollars
to one is the most practical.
It is not certain when the first copper was sent to Penang, but
it was somewhere about the same date as the silver. The first
640 JAVA
official mention, however, is on the 10th May, 1800,i when the
Governor of Penang, George Leith, mentions that the Resident
of Bencoolen had sent him copper money to the value of 500
Spanish Dollars.
17. Coinage of Malacca.
The earliest introduction of European money into the East
Indies was in the sixteenth century, and was termed the coinage
of Tanah Malaloe,
In the "Malayan Peninsula "^ it is noted of Albuquerque that
" He also introduced a coinage which he declared current by
proclamation, and scattered a few handfuls amongst the crowd
in order to reconcile them to the change of dynasty."
Cocos Keeling Islands.
This group of islands, consisting of thrity-three (Lieutenant
van der Jagt, of the Dutch navy, in his memoir to the
Netherlands India Government dated December, 1829, says
only thirty- two), and lying in the Indian Ocean some 700
miles west of Sumatra and 525 from Christmas Island (their
nearest neighbour), was discovered, it is generally thought,
in 1689 by Captain Keeling.
This can hardly be the Captain William Keeling who came
to the East first as a boy with Captain William Hawkins, and
later in command of the Consent, a vessel of 105 tons, to
Bantam in 1607. On one of the said Keeling's voyages in
Java waters he came across these islands which bear his
name, but later were called by the natives Cocos Islands on
account of the great supply of cocoanuts always to be
procured here.
In 1769, in an old record from Stockdale's " Java," we
read of " the Klapper or Coco Islands, which lie on the
south coast of Java near the Straits of Sunda, are un-
inhabited, and are only occasionally resorted to for the sake
of the edible nests which are found there, but they are said
' See " Journal Indian Archipelago," Vol. V., page 161.
Page 35.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 641
to be greatly infested with enormous snakes." This, how-
ever, I fancy refers to some islands at the mouth of the
Straits of Sunda called Cocos Islands, and not Cocos Keeling
Islands.
Before the English occupation of Java two brothers,
Lieutenant John Eoss^ and Captain George Ross, both
officers in the English East India Company's marine service,
"were roaming about the archipelago. George, who com-
manded the ship Malacca, was cut off by pirates in 1811
near the island of Banca, who murdered him and all his
crew. John, however, came to Java with the English and
carried dispatches and troops to the dependencies. In 1816
he built himself a ship, it has been said, at Tandjing Priok,
but it was really at Rembang. He worked night and day
at it to get it finished before the Dutch returned. In one
of his early cruises he had discovered the Cocos or Keeling
Islands in the Indian Ocean. It seems he had heard from
some Malays of their existence. When the English left
Java he refused to return to Calcutta and threw up the
service. One day he arrived at Benkoelen and demanded
of Raffles some back pay. This Raffles could not give him as
his exchequer was empty, but he gave him employment, and
Ross made Benkoelen his headquarters for a year or two.
In 1817, however, he left Benkoelen wath a number of
Malays, men and women, after a dispute with Raffles, and
sailed for the Cocos Keeling Islands. His intention was to
colonise the islands and proclaim himself king. On his
arrival, however, he found Alexander Hare, the late British
Resident of Banjermassin, in possession of one of the islands,
called Rice Island,, where he had quite a little colony of
Malays. Ross therefore took up his abode on Poeloe Tikoes
Island, a harbour by Port Albion. Hare, after a dispute
with Ross, left for Padang in his ship called the Johanna
^ John appears to have assumed the name Clunis about 1830 ; at this
time there happened to be a Joseph Clunis living at Batavia.
J. — VOL. I. T T
642 JAVA
Maria Wilhelmina, but the latter remained, and was
succeeded by his son, and so the islands have descended in
the family.
John Ross returned frequently to Java and undertook
numerous cruises for Gillian Maclaine, always returning at
the end to his islands, having used his earned money in
buying all the necessaries he required there.
In this way he got to know Gilhan Maclaine, and offered
to take his ship the Regina home in 1840 when Maclaine was
leaving Java for good.
This ship was never heard of again.
It is interesting to learn that soon after John Ross had
settled down in the Cocos Islands in 1817, the Dutch
Government, hearing of it, sent two men-of-war to lay claim
to them. After cruising about for a fortnight, it is said,
they returned with the news that the islands did not exist,
or if they did were too small to be of any importance.
In 1832 the settlement was reported as highly prosperous,
and had been the means of saving many lives and much
valuable property several times, having afforded refuge to
vessels in distress. British men-of-war passing between
New South Wales and India generally touched there for
refreshment.
In April, 1857, Captain Granvelle Freemantle annexed
these islands to the British Crown. To-day they are of
considerable importance, the Eastern Extension Telegraph
Company having a cable station here, and ships calling
regularly for the shipment of oil, which is exported in large
quantities to Singapore for transhipment to England. The
islands have been always known for providing the most
delicious bananas in the Indies.
The grandson of the original John Clunie Ross, by
name George,^ died on the 7th July, 1910, and is now
' George Clunie Ross married a Javan lady, wliom lie called, or who was
called, Ayeslia ; by her he had nine children — John Sydney, Wilfred,
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 643
succeeded by his son, who rules the islands as Governor
or " king."i
Currency.
There is no currency in the island except parchment notes
issued by Mr. Ross : these notes are issued for sums of a
quarter, half, and one, two, and five rupees (the rupee being
equivalent to Is. M.).
The following is a specimen of one of these notes, which
are all alike in size : —
KEELING COCOS
1 ^ 1823
ISLANDS
2 Exchange for the sum of ;^
**^ One Rupee "^
Keeling Cocos Islands
Currency
1897. G. Clunies Ross.
As the natives cannot read the quarter rupee has the four
corners cut, the half rupee two corners, and the one rupee
one corner ; the two and five rupees are uncut. On the
7th April there were notes to the value of 1,500 rupees in
circulation.
The so-called cheques which have been referred to in
previous reports are in the following form : —
No
KEELING COCOS
ISLANDS
For working Days @ cents
per
C 190..
Edwin Koland, George Dymoke, Adelaide, Mildred, Florence, Mabel
Kempthorne, and Gertrude Blom.
' I have a more or less complete history of the Ross family, and especially
of the sons, that came to the East Indies, but there is no space for it here.
T T 2
644 JAVA
These cheques or vouchers are kept by the labourers until
the amount for which they are available has been debited
against them for goods obtained from the stores.
Bat A VI A AND Pre ANGER Lands.
Apart entirely from the estates bought from the Sultan
of Djoejakerta and the Emperor of Soerakarta, there are
434 estates in Java held in absolute free ownership. The
history of some of these freehold estates is worth relating.
When the Dutch came first to Jacatra in 1596 they
immediately perceived the advantages that would accrue
through strengthening themselves at this place, and when
the English appeared in 1604 under Sir Henry Middleton, in
his ship the Red Dragon, the Dutch accordingly strengthened
themselves here with an additional force.
When Captain David Middleton, a brother of Sir Henry,
built the factory here in 1610, the Dutch garrison had taken
such proportions that the Emperor of Java was fighting a
losing battle, despite the thousands of men he sent to
Jacatra to maintain his hold on the place. After the final
taking of Jacatra in 1619, and when the Dutch power had
become paramount, part of the neighbouring country which
had become deserted by the natives before an implacable foe
was given out, first under lease, but later in freehold, to
genuine colonists whose presence and improvements it was
intended should ensure the safety of the new settlement
which Jan Pieterzoon Coen declared was to be called
Batavia in future.^
This action of the Government did not, however, prevent
outlaws of all descriptions terrorising the country outside
the gates of Batavia, and it was really not until the dawn of
the eighteenth century that it was safe for the owners to Hve
on their estates.
^ The first act of ownership is dated the 8th April, 1639.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 645
The estate of Cornells Seenen, so called after the Bandanese
to whom it was sold in 1652, was one of the earliest sold.
In those days it was far out in the country and was looked
upon as quite a long day's journey away, there being at
first no road there and thick forests intervening ; the easiest
way was by water up the Tjilewong river. The first sale on
a large scale, how^ever, did not take place until 1705, when
Depok and Seringsing were bought by Chastelein, one of the
" raads " of India,^ who eventually transferred all liis
property to his emancipated slaves on the condition of their
embracing Christianity. We see here the reason why so
many of the natives of Depok are said to be Christians.
On the 10th August, 1745, the large estate of Bogoli was
bought ex officio by the Governor- General van Imhoff for a
mere nothing. The estate of Kampoeng Malayo, which is
immediately beyond Meester CorneHs (Batavia), was in 1777
owned by W. A. Alting. It is described as a large estate
(groote landgoed Kampoeng Malajo) one and a half hour's
journey from the house of the Cornelis estate. Alting, who
died in 1800, was also o^^Tier in 1797 of the estate of
Goenoeng Sari,^ which had been bought by Chinese in 1762
at the Governor- General Mossel's auction after his death.
The old land-house of Goenoeng Sari is still to be seen,
and is well worth a visit. Governor-General van Imhoff
is supposed to have resided here for some time. In 1772
Slingerland, near Tandjing Priok, was owned by Willem
Vincent Helvetius van Eiemsdyk, who was an upper
merchant (" opper koopman ") and Government repre-
sentative for native affairs (" gewezen Gecommitteerden
tot en over de Zaken van den Inlander "). The remains of
his old house are still visible.*
' Member of Viceroy's Council.
^ Now part of Batavia.
■^ Long before this, about 1625 perhaps, the family van Slingerlandt
owned it.
646 JAVA
The well-known lands of Poudok Gedeh and Tjisereuh
(in old charts called " Tjiseroewa " and by Raffles " Cice-
roewa ") were owned in 1775 by the Governor- General
Jeremias van Riemsdyk, whose family owned estates shortly
after this on a great scale. This was due to the forethought
and generosity of their worthy senior and Governor- General.
Acts were duly made up for these lands by the public notary
Blomhert at Batavia.
When Daendels arrived he no longer sold estates of a few
thousands of acres, but sold when he could whole Provinces
or Residencies ; it was thus that Probolingo and Besoeki
were handed over to Chinese. We know, however, that
owing to constant troubles Raffles was obliged to buy these
Residencies back again, but he disposed of a number of
estates to EngHsh and Dutch colonists to help an empty
treasury. Since 1816^ no more freehold estates have been
sold, although in 1849 such sales were again strongly advo-
cated. These freehold estates are designated as " particuliere
landerijen "^ by the Dutch Government.
The following notes were made about different estates
during the British occupation ; the date is 1811 : —
" After proceeding about thirty miles through jungle and
crossing numerous ravines and the two considerable rivers
Oonderandy and Tjicandee, you come to the better cultivated
country of Tjisingha [Jasinga], Here is a very jBne Dutch farm
belonging to Mr. Reintz^ [Reynst]. It is agreeably situated on
the river Tjidorean, which in the rains is very rapid and scarcely
passable."
Another portion of the account goes on to say : —
" At a distance of about ten miles the road turns last to Sading,
another Dutch farm belonging to Mr. Motman,* which is situated
* There is au exception to this in the estates of Tjikandie. They were
really sold before 1816, but the conditions cotdd not be settled.
"^ Private lands.
" P. Reynst.
* W. G. C. van Motman.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 647
on a fine river, and nearly surrounded by hills, some of which
produce the edible birds' nests. Continuing on to Tjiampion,
about seven miles further, we had to cross the rivers Tjikanakee
and Tjiantan and passed through a country high and more open
with better cultivation. Here is another Dutch farm the property
of j\Ir. Rymsdyck^ with a large bazaar [passer or market] and
several hills belonging to it containing also the edible birds' nests.
It is astonishing what an immense revenue is produced by a single
rock, the caverns of which are frequented by the little grey
swallows, for the nests in some of them clear from twenty to
forty thousand Spanish dollars annually.
" The Dutch farmers who possess rocks of this kind on their
estates are therefore very careful of them, and watch them closely
to prevent the Chinese or others from privately stealing the
nests."
At Tjimangies there was also a Dutch ** farm." This
estate was sold early in the eighteenth century. The account,
which is that of an English traveller, goes on to say : —
" Leaving Tjimangies the road passes by Tjibinong, which is
another of iVIr. Rymsdyck's farms, and by Tjiloar, distant
thirty miles from Batavia. This last is a very pretty place,
and was for some time the country residence of Major-
General Gillespie. It was built by the late IVir. Tantzie,^ who
had another very pleasant villa and farm at Soucarajah
[Soekaradja]. Tjiloar had a large sized brig full rigged and
mounting guns, sailing on an elevated tank, or lake made by
IVIr. Tantzie, and being seen a long way off the traveller is very
agreeably surprised on first beholding this vessel under sail
apparently moving through the surrounding rice fields. The
house at Soucourajah, which is situated in the midst of a large
tank on stone pillars, is a very beautiful place ; on the north
side is the entrance, over a long passage of pillars with a draw-
bridge, and on the south side a beautiful avenue is presented
laved by a crystal stream, which, covering the whole breadth
of the avenue like a mirror, glides gently down on the banks of
the tanks, and flows into the lake close to the house. Half-way
' J. J. H. van Riemsdyk — see list of inhabitants.
* Tan Sie, a Chinaman.
648 JAVA
between Tjiloar and Buitenzorg the road leads over the great
river. A bamboo raft is used for crossing the carriage and horses
over, without the necessity of quitting the carriage or taking out
the horses, the float being fastened to the sides of the river by
a strong bamboo twist, one man, by pulling towards the one or the
other end, easily moves it across, and the carriage and horses pass
on without delay or trouble.
" From Buitenzorg the road passes through hilly but finely
cultivated country, and passes several very agreeable country-
residences and farms. At Pondok Gede is one, beautifully
situated, belonging to ]\Ir. Egelhardt,^ formerly Governor of
Samarang, and opposite to it is another farm of Mr. Rymsdyck.
Close to this, on the top of a high hill, is a new farm of the late
Mr. Tantzie, which overlooks the entire plain of the kingdom of
Jacatra. At Tjiceroa, the last of Mr. Rymsdyck's farms, a steep
ascent of the road commences."
The land of " Kampong Mangis," beyond Meester Cornells
at Batavia, was bought about 1813 by Alexander Hare, the
English Resident of Banjermassin (see chapter on Industries :
Tea, paragraph on Meester Cornelis).
The land was managed by Alexander Hare's son, also
called Alexander, until he died at Batavia.
Below are given accounts of the original owners of the
lands sold by the British Government from 1812 to 1815,
also the Dutch and foreign owners of estates in the native
provinces before 1825.
From this latter it will be seen that the only Englishmen
who held lands were Stavers (formerly an Ensign of Hussars
1813 in Java, mentioned honourably in Java War, 1825),
who owned Singosarie, and Gillian Maclaine, John Argyle
Maxwell, and William Cotes (late Lieutenant in the English
Army of occupation 1811 — 1816), who owned Getas next to
the estate of Melambong, which is now owned by Mr. C. W.
Baron van Heeckeren and Mr. Enger.^
' Nicolaus Engelhard.
" Melambong, which was owned in 1820 by Medard Louis, a well-known
Frenchman, was sold bv him on the 22nd March, 1821, to Gillian Maclaine»
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 649
Owners of Estates of Pamanoekan and Tjiassem, 1812 —
1817.
Sir Charles Forbes, ^ Colonel John Skelton.
Messrs. Forbes & Co., Bombay. James Young.
Messrs. Shrapnell & Co., Batavia. Thomas Fox.
Philip Skelton.
Notes.
(1) Most of the shares were held by Sir Charles Forbes and
Forbes & Co., Bombay, who had an interest also in Shrapnell &
Co., 1812 ; Shrapnell, Skelton & Co., 1814 ; and Skelton & Co.,
1815 to 1821, which firms acted as directors in Java under instruc-
tions from Bombay.
(2) In the Batavia Courant of the 28th September, 1816,
appears the following advertisement : —
" For sale the Estates of ' Pamanoekan ' and Tjiassem,'
lying in the district of Crawang ; for particulars enquire of
Messrs. Skelton & Co."
In the Batavia Courant of the 24th May, 1817, the estates were
again advertised for sale as follows : —
" Advertisement. — On or about the 20th June the Estates
of Pamanoekan and Tjassem, in the district of Crawang, wUl
be sold at Public Auction. The exact day of the auction will be
made public later on. Batavia, 23rd May, 1817. Skelton & Co."
The new shareholders were, as far as can be traced —
Sir Charles Forbes. PhUip Skelton.
Messrs. Forbes & Co., Bombay. Thomas Miln.
Messrs. Skelton & Co., Batavia. Thomas Fox.
Messrs Inglis, Forbes & Co., James Young.
London. 2
General John Skelton. Thomas Macquoid.
William Menzies (of the firm of Menzies and Anderson), and the above
William Cotes.
Medard Louis remained, as administrator, responsible, although Gillian
Maclaine was the leading spirit until April, 1822, when he left the interior
for Batavia to found the firm of Maclaine, Watson & Co. Getas was
eventually sold by GUlian Maclaine to J. A. Dezentje, of Ampel.
1 The head of Forbes & Co.
' Inglis, Forbes & Co. (later on Smith Inglis) were the financial agents
in London. In 1820 George Haswell probably also became interested in
the estate for a small share. In August, 1822, Messrs. Stewart Turing
& Co. opened at Batavia and became managing directors of the estates at
the end of the year.
From want of local knowledge and of general experience, and from a
650 JAVA
Estate of Jasinga.
(formerly belonging to the owner of Buitenzorg).
1812. Sir Charles Forbes, James Shrapnell, Philip Skelton.
1822. Sir Charles Forbes, David Alexander Fraser, Simon
Fraser,
1831. Robert Addison.
1853. Jonathan Rigg.
Note.
James Newland, the English administrator, who had previously
been at Tjikandie Slier, died at Jasinga on the 10th May, 1844,
He arrived in Java in 1829, and was immediately engaged by
Gillian Maclaine. He had probably come from Benkoelen or
Padang. His father was a lieutenant in the Royal Indian Navy.
Estate of Soekaboemi.^
1812—1814. Sir Stamford Raffles, three sixths; Thomas
Macquoid, one sixth ; Andries de Wilde (see note) one sixth ;
Nicolaus Engelhard, one sixth.
1814. Andries de Wilde, two sixths ; Nicolaus Engelhard,
three sixths ; Thomas Macquoid, one sixth.
1814 — 1823. Andries de Wilde, five sixths ; Thomas Macquoid,
one sixth.
desire to make money too quickly and reckless speculations, Stewart
Turing & Co. failed disastrously in 1825, leaving the affairs of the estates
in a hopeless muddle, and with heavy loss.
James Young and Thomas Fox returned to Java bankrupt. The
former had just lost his wife before sailing. At this juncture the affairs
of the estate were placed in the hands of Alexander London, who became
administrator. In 1828 Miln, Haswell & Co. became directors. London
remained at the estate until the end of August, 1828. John Pitcairn was
employed here 1824 — 1827, and Ed\\ard Campbell (late lieutenant K.N.)
1826—1828.
In 1826 there was again a shuffle in the shares, but in 1831 Sir Charles
Forbes was still the largest shareholder, and probably remained so till
1841, when T. B. Hofland bought them. In 1838 Wilson, Smith & Co.
were financial agents at Batavia, probably also directors, until their
failure. Both had been in the British Government's service.
According to a prospectus dated London the 18th April, 1910, the
estates were bought by the Anglo-Dutch Plantation of Java Company for
eighteen million gilders.
* The original price for which this land was bought in at auction was
58,000 Spanish matten. It was bought back by the Dutch Government
in 1823 for £800,000.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 651
Note on Andries de Wilde.
Andries de Wilde was born at Amsterdam on the 2l8t November,
1781, a son of Cornells de Wilde and Marretje Harsnis. He began
life on the sea, and was present at the battle of Camperdown on
the 11th October, 1797, and captured by the English fleet on
board the flagship of Admiral de Winter, He had a bad time as
prisoner in England, but he learnt good English, which was to be
very useful to him later on. De Wilde came to Java about 1800
to his stepfather Steitz, a doctor, who, after practising at Buiten-
zorg in 1804, went to Soerabaj^a in 1805, where he died on the
13th February, 1810. In 1811 de Wilde joined the Government
service, and under Raffles was appointed " opziener," first (on
the 28th March, 1812) at Trogong, and again by a proclamation
of the 2nd April. By a proclamation of the 10th August, 1812,
he was appointed assistant to the Resident at Bandoeng on a
salary of 100 Spanish matten. This appointment was again
confirmed by a proclamation of the 28th May, 1813. On the
10th March, 1814, Resident Thomas Macquoid informed the
Government that de WUde had asked for his discharge " as my
assistant cofifee overseer of Bandong." In a letter dated the
12th May, 1814 (to be found in a proclamation of the 30th May,
1814), Macquoid speaks of " his late resignation of these situations."
By a letter from Raffles, which by a proclamation of the 13th May,
1815, was confirmed, de Wilde was appointed " superintendent
of vaccination " in the Preanger. In this capacity he did well,
and boasts of once having vaccinated 40,000 children in the
Cheribon district with success, but this probably is an exaggera-
tion.
The exact extent of the district, however, which he had to
control is not certain, owing to the carelessness of the young
Englishman responsible for the keeping of the books at the time.
In any case, Macquoid speaks full of praise of him, and in a letter
dated the 12th May, 1814, says : "I am happy to avail myself
of this opportunity of bearing my testimony to the uniform zeal,
activity and good conduct of Mr. de WUde as a Government
servant, and I feel very sensibly the loss I have sustained ; "
while Raffles in his proclamation of the 13th May, 1815, makes a
great deal of his " extensive local knowledge " of the Preanger.
With regard to de Wilde's position as a landowner, in a letter
to Macquoid (which Raffles made use of when defending himself
652 JAVA
against Gillespie's charges) he says : " During the administration
of H. E. General Daendels I applied for the purchase of the estate
in Bandong which is now my property. H. E. did actually
promise to grant my request [Dr. de Haan, the author of
" Priangan," hereon remarks " zeer zonderling ; primo omdat
Daendels in zyn Staat p. Ill zegt dat ' in de Bataviasche Regent-
schappen het verkoopen van landerijen geen plaats kon hebben
zonder aan de kofEy cultuur onherstelbaar nadeel toe te brengen '
secundo omdat hy een dood vijand van uitstellen was "] and
animated me to cultivate the land and appropriate a portion of
it for the improvement of the breed of cattle. A short time after,
on the arrival of H. E. General Janssens, I repeated my application
and received the same assurance." Later on he made the same
request to the English Government, but receivmg no reply, he
called on Gillespie and asked his help. The latter, he says,
" encouraged me to go on meanwhile with the improvements
already began. I laid out the whole of my capital in consequence,
so far that the expenses incurred for clearing the ground, pur-
chasing cattle, etc., exceeded the sum of 6,000 Sp. dollars before
I was the proprietor of the soil. This considerable outlay
rendered me naturally anxious to see my request admitted, as the
contrary would have occasioned my total ruin, and the promises
of Major-General GUlespie and afterwards those of the Honourable
the Lieutenant-Governor induced me to persevere in my applica-
tion until the lands were finally sold to me." The proof that de
Wilde did persevere in the direction indicated in his above letter
is given by his request, published in the form of an ordinance,
dated the 25th November, 1811, in which he desires a piece of
ground in the wilds near Bandong to the extent of one thousand
morgens (acres). This request was placed in the hands of a
" commission," of which a Government employee called Bauer
was apparently the president. On the 31st December, 1811, the
commission advised that the estate should be hired for a period
of twenty -five years, although Tency, a member of the commission,
was for selling it for 6,000 Spanish matten, the sum asked for the
hire only. This brought forth a second request from de Wilde
in October, 1812, in which he says : " I had since long ago the
desire of being owner of an estate, the more having succeeded in
the time of two years remarkably well by a stud and in the
cultivation of European grains, and it is only from want of land
I have not given to the latter cultivation that extent to which it
THE TOWNS IX JAVA, ETC. 653
can be brought. The regency of Bandong having several pieces
of land which never have been cultivated, nor never will be by the
natives, from which Government has no revenue whatever, I
should choose to be o^vner of such a piece of land. Being placed
at Bandong as overseer of the coffee plantations, I could at the
same time administer my estate, from which Government has
always a right to call for the first of its produce." He asks,
therefore, for another estate not clearly indicated, " promising to
cultivate it as far as lays in my power and that I shall take no
assistance from the regent for the stud of horses, bullocks, and
buffalos, which I mean to erect there, and that I shall cultivate
my estate by my own slaves or hired natives." In a letter dated
the 22nd December, 1812, to the secretary to the Government
about the sale of this estate to de WUde, Macquoid says : " I
conceive he has every title to consideration and encouragement
in consequence of having already cleared away and cultivated a
considerable part of the lot he now proposes to purchase, and
having embarked a large sum in improving the breed of horses
and other cattle upon it." Raffles seems to have been of the same
opinion, for he says : " 'Mr. de Wilde was then informed in reply
to his repeated solicitations, that when the sale of lands took place
generally he might offer a fair and reasonable sum for the lot he
required." At last de Wilde, as a result of his continual perse-
verance, eventually secured the estate of " Oedjoeng Broeng "
for 40,000 ryksdaalders, calculated at six and a half to the
Spanish matten (the ordinance is dated the 22nd January, 1813.
Dr. de Haan remarks, just before the public auctions).
For most people, however, the particulars of the purchase
of Soekaboemi, in which Raffles, de Wilde, N. Engelhard, and
Thomas Macquoid all shared, is even more interesting. From
east to west this enormous estate included the lots Goenoeng
Parang, Tjimahi, Tjiheulang, and Tjitjoeroeg. The purchase
price of these lots in the same order was 30,500, 15,200, 6,100,
and 6,200 Spanish matten, or altogether 58,000, for land that
stretched from the Tjikoepa in the east to the Tjimandiri in the
south, to the present boundaries of Batavia and Bantam, and
to those of Wynkoops Bay. There were undoubtedly irregu-
larities in this sale, but whether the fault was de Wilde's,
Macquoid's and Engelhard's (all members of the " board of
commission " for the auctions), or Macquoid's only will never be
cleared up ; but this much is certain, that it was Raffles' intention
654> JAVA
to become a large landowner in Java, and his choice fell on the
best country in the island ; and had it not been for Gillespie's
poisoned complaints to the Indian Viceroy, Raffles would never
have sold his half-share in the estate, and Singapore, as Dr. de
Haan remarks, might never have fallen under the British flag.
Raffles when Java was returned to the Dutch would have
remained in the island to manage the huge tract of country of
which he was the owner with sovereign rights. The sale of
Soekaboemi took place on the 25th January, 1813. De Wilde
became the administrator of the country, and went to live at
Tjicolle (the present town) as soon as Raffles and Engelhard
sold their shares in a hurry to him. He then changed the name
to Soekaboemi. This appears from his letter to Engelhard
dated the 13th Januaiy, 1815 : " Ik mag U. E. G. Achtbare niet
onkundig laten dat ik opverzoek van de Inlandsche Hoofden
den naam van Tjicolle in die van Soeka Boemi veranderd heb."
He built himself a fine house, which is said to have stood where
the late Hotel Ploem was. There was a billiard table in it ;
he had a party of slave minstrels ; and kept, according to the
custom of those times, a harem of twenty-five concubines. For
various reasons the country was sold back again to the Govern-
ment for £800,000 on the 12th January, 1823. Andries died at
84 years of age in April, 1865, at Utrecht, in Holland.
Estate of Get as.
1820 — 1822. Gillian Maclaine, John Argyle Maxwell, William
Cotes.
1823. Johannes Augustinus Dezentje.
Estate of Melambong (near Salatiga).
1821 (22nd March). Gillian Maclaine, William Menzies, Firm
of Menzies and Anderson, William Cotes^ (each for a quarter).
1822—1824. Maclaine & Co., Macquoid, Davidson & Co., Gillian
Maclaine, William Cotes (each for a quarter).
1825—1828. Maclaine & Co., G. Maclaine, W. Cotes, H. Burnaby
(each for a quarter).
1828 — 1830. G. Maclaine, P. MacLachlan, D. Maclntyre, John
Argyle Maxwell (first for one sixth, second and third for two sixths,
fourth for one sixth).
1831. G. Maclaine, D. Maclntyre (each for one half).
^ Cotes secured this estate for Menzies and Anderson under the influence
of J. A. Dezentje.
THE TOWNS IN JAVA, ETC. 655
Notes.
(1) Medard Louis was administrator from 1821 to 1823 ; he
was followed by William Browne, the brother of an unsuccessful
Samarang merchant.
(2) Gillian Maclaine sold his half -share in 1831 for £3,500
(45,000 florins).
(3) During 1825 Macquoid, Davidson & Co. liquidated.
(4) H. Burnaby left Java, 1828.
(5) After 1831 the estate still remained for several years in
connection with Maclaine, Watson & Co.'s agent at Samarang,
J. Macneill.
Estate of Koeripan
(on the main road between Batavia and Buitenzorg).
1822—1824. Gillian Maclaine, William Menzies,i William
Thompson. 2
1824—1825. G. Maclaine & Co., Addison & Co., Thompson,
Whiteman & Co., Macquoid, Davidson & Co. (each for one quarter).
1826 — 1828. G. Maclaine, J. A. Maxwell, P. McLachlan,
D. Mclntyre, D. McLachlan (first two for four twenty-fourths,
third and fourth for seven twenty -fourths, last for two twenty-
fourths).
1829—1833. G. Maclaine, E. Watson, D. Mclntyre (each for
one-third).
Notes.
(!) In 1821 Government lent G. Maclaine 40,000 florins to work
this estate.
(2) In 1825 G. Maclaine bought Addison & Co.'s share.
(3) In 1833 the estate was sold to William Menzies and W.
Coates, an old sea captain, who arrived at Batavia in command
of the brig Virginia for Madras, on the 28th March, 1814, and
stayed in the archipelago, his first ship being Admiral Drury in
1814.
(4) Menzies and Thompson continued to have a share in
Gillian Maclaine's share from 1826 to 1829 or 1833.
(5) From the Dutch Government's financial report, 1833 (see
Javasche Courant of the 31st August, 1833), it is to be seen that
the estate was worked on the contract system, Government
supplying the capital.
1 Firm of Menzies and Anderson.
2 Firm of Thompaou. Whiteman & Co. ; later Thompson, Roberts & Co.
656 JAVA
(6) Gillian Maclaine, who seems always to have been prompt
with his obligations to Government, gained an exceptionally
good character with the Dutch officials, who placed him above
all the other British, and quite in a class by himself.
Dedekkan Lands.
1827. Gillian Maclaine. 1
Estates owned by Englishmen in Java, 1830.
Pamanoekan and Tjiassem (1,200 square miles) : Sir Charles
Forbes and others.
Tjikandie Iher (130 square miles) : John Palmer (Palmer & Co.,
Calcutta) and Cockerell ; managing directors in Java, Maclaine,
Watson & Co.
Tjikandie Oedik (90 square miles) : Trail and Young.
Jasinga (80 square miles) : Robert Addison.
Bolan (90 square miles) : J. Drury.
Koeripan (70 square miles) : Gillian Maclaine, William Menzies,
and Thompson.
{Note. — Gillian Maclaine had an interest in this land in
1821, having bought it from the Hollander Tency. It had
been a rice land for nearly a hundred years, and was bought
originally by a Dutch colonist).
Tegal Waroe (100 square miles) : D. A. Eraser (late of Skelton
& Co.) and others.
Bekassie (60 square miles) : J. Trail and James Young (coffee).
Singosarie : William Stavers.
This is a " piagem " or deed of contract given by the
Susuhanan or Emperor of Soerakarta, Paku Buvana Senopati
Ingabaga Ngabdoer Rachman Sayidin Panatagama, to Johannes
AugustinusDezentje on behalf of Pierre Hamar de la Brethoniere
for the estate of " Assinan," consisting of 24 tjatjas, or six
djoongs, on the 31st December, 1827.
1 By contract with the Sultan of Djojakerta G. Maclaine bought the
ownership for thirteen years at 1,000 florins (gilders or rupees) per annum ;
this was later increased to 1,400 florins a year for nineteen years.
END OF VOL. I.
BRADBURY AGNBW, & CO. LD. PBINTBRS, LOJTOON AND TONBRIDGE.
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