Reforms in the Collection of the Revemue, 387 



lion of colonial produce, in payment to the officers of its various 

 establishments; or, to use the forcible terms of Sir Stamford Raffles, 

 " to pawn the produce in store to satisfy the current demands 

 upon the public treasury." * 



Such was the financial condition of this colony, when Mr. 

 Raffles succeeded to its government. 



The important political arrangements, however, he made with 

 the native princes, and the confidence that was early reposed in 

 the British Government, enabled him to effect the introduction 

 of an important system of internal management, and the establish- 

 ment of a land-rental on fixed principles. A complete reform of 

 the vicious mode of collecting revenue already brietly described, 

 aiid a fundamental change in the entire system of landed property 

 and tenure, had been enjoined by the Earl of Minto, previously 

 to his departure from the island. And no time was lost by the 

 Governor, in instituting the local inquiries and obtaining the de- 

 tailed information, without which the safety as well as the success 

 of the measure would have been problematical. Its justice and 

 its practicability were accordingly made the objects of considera- 

 tion, in a commission appointed for the purpose, under the gui- 

 dance of Lieut. Colonel C. Mackenzie, of the Madras Establish- 

 ment, afterwards Surveyor-General of India. By this commission 

 audits agents statistical inquiries were instituted in every district, 

 and the most detailed information collected respecting every de- 

 partment of aflfairs relating to the subject ; embracing the exist- 

 ing state of the country, its population and resources, and the 

 conduct of the European and native administrations. A general 

 survey was made of nearly the whole island, and detailed surveys 

 were also made of thp lands attached to each village and cultiva- 

 tor ; a scientific map of Java being for the first time constructed, 

 and a body of statistics, probably more complete than we possess 

 regarding any other part of India, collected and arranged, as well 

 for the present use of the government as for historical reference in 

 future. After the mature inquiry thus effected, and the extensive 

 series of data thus obtained, no obstacle appeared to exist, either 



* "• Statement of the services of Sir Stamford Raffles: London, 1824." p. 

 9—11. 



2b 2 



