1770. ROUND THE WORLD* 337 



gent, he punishes them by delay, and detains them 

 during pleasure, sometimes one year, sometimes two 

 years, and sometimes three : for they cannot quit the 

 place till he gives them a dismission. Next to the 

 governor are the members of the council, called 

 here Edele Heeren, and by the corruption of the 

 English, Idoleers. These Idoleers take upon them 

 so much state, that whoever meets them in a car- 

 riage is expected to rise up and bow, then to drive 

 on one side of the road, and there stop till they 

 are past : the same homage is required also to 

 their wives, and even their children; and it is com- 

 monly paid them by the inhabitants. But some of 

 our captains have thought so slavish a mark of respect 

 beneath the dignity which they derive from the ser- 

 vice of his Britannic Majesty, and have refused to pay 

 it ; yet, if they were in a hired carriage, nothing 

 could deter the coachman from honouring the Dutch 

 grandee at their expence, but the most peremptory 

 menace of immediate death. 



Justice is administered here by a body of lawyers, 

 who have ranks of distinction among themselves. 

 Concerning their proceedings in questions of pro- 

 perty, I know nothing ; but their decisions in cri- 

 minal cases seem to be severe with respect to the 

 natives, and lenient with respect to their own people, 

 in a criminal degree. A Christian always is in- 

 dulged with an opportunity of escaping before he is 

 brought to a trial, whatever may have been his of- 

 fence ; and if he is brought to a trial and convicted, 

 he is seldom punished with death : while the poor 

 Indians, on the contrary, are hanged, and broken 

 upon the wheel, and even impaled alive, without 

 mercy. 



The Malays and Chinese have judicial officers of 

 their own, under the denominations of captains and 

 lieutenants, who determine in civil cases, subject to 

 an appeal to the Dutch court. 



The taxes paid by these people to the Company 



VOL. II. z 



