100 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



These, again, are split into "regencies," with a "regent" 

 at their head. This regent is always a native chosen 

 from the nobles, especially of former dynastic families, 

 whose influence over their subjects, cemented as it is by 

 religious associations, still remains undiminished. Under 

 the regent are the district and " dessa " chiefs, charged 

 with the collection of the taxes, who are chosen by the 

 inhabitants, and who represent the interests of the " dessa" 

 or commune, a social organisation somewhat resembling 

 the Eussian " mir." With the regent, called by the 

 Javanese " pangerang," " adhipatti," or " tummonggong," 

 according to his rank, is associated a European " Assistant 

 Eesident," who is instructed to treat his compeer as a 

 younger brother, and while kee]3ing him well in hand to 

 put him forward as ostensibly the real agent. Under the 

 Assistant Eesidents are other European functionaries — 

 " Controleurs " and others, who, besides their political 

 duties, have the administration of justice or the super- 

 intendence of the culture-system mainly in their hands. 



In the " Buitenbezittingen," omitting those of Sumatra 

 and Borneo, there are tlie following residencies only : — 

 Bali, Timor, Amboina, Ternate, and Menado. Of these 

 Ternate is much the largest, as it embraces the large 

 island of Gilolo, and the whole of Dutch New Guinea. 

 The extent of Holland's possessions in the East Indies is 

 so vast that she has done little to exploit them, but there 

 are not very many even of the smaller groups of islands 

 without some resident representative of the Government, 

 whether " Controleur," " Posthouder," or a native in whom 

 some authority is vested. 



