OLD SYSTEM OF CORVEE. 265 



has been consulted, and thei-e is little douljt that the 

 case will be decided accordino- to his direction. 



It is the same when new roads have to l)e laid out, 

 or fresh plantations to be opened ; all important l)usi- 

 ness has been decided at headquarters long before the 

 matter is respectfully submitted to the Regent. The 

 only official the natives are allowed to elect is the 

 village chief, whose mission it is to distribute work 

 amongst the families, to see that it is properly exe- 

 cuted, and eventually to estimate the produce. It is 

 a wise policy on the part of the Government to have 

 men appointed to this office who have the full con- 

 fidence of the people, and who are ostensibly responsible 

 to the Regent himself The system has worked 

 admirably, but naturally excluded all chance of Euro- 

 pean colonization ; moreover, until recently the Dutch 

 Government declined to part with land at any price, 

 which under the system of cort'ee assured such splendid 

 results. The only plantations owned by Europeans, 

 until some ten years ago, were those acquired during 

 the short period of British occupation of the island. 



By this system of forced labour, cheerfully performed, 

 and of governing the masses through their own other- 

 wise powerless princes, the entire State expenditure is 

 comparatively small, and the whole routine of govern- 

 ment exceedingly simple. The Governor- General at 



