JAVA 139 



native " Regent " is treated with a considerable amount of 

 respect and ceremonial, but he is, nevertheless, a mere 

 puppet in the hands of the Dutch. Drawing a large 

 salary in virtue of his post, and having merely nominal 

 duties, he is wise enough in most cases to carry out the 

 wishes of his European masters. If not, he is dismissed, 

 and dismissal means virtual ruin. Other native officials 

 are the waidonos and mantris, with whom the Dutch 

 " Controleur " is chiefly brought in contact. A large 

 portion of the time of the latter officer is employed in 

 business connected with the " culture-system." 



Xo account of Java would be complete without some 

 description of this " culture-system," and its connection 

 with the corvie, which has been so fiercely attacked 

 since the publication of Max Havelaar. Introduced by 

 General van den Bosch in 1830, it has survived in a 

 modified form to the present day. It was based upon the 

 plan, which has already been alluded to, of excluding 

 Europeans and making the island a Government farm. 

 It aimed at bringing the most scientific farming to bear 

 upon the most remunerative products, and at utilising 

 such time and labour of the peasant as was not needed 

 for the cultivation of his necessary bread-stuffs. The 

 natives of the dessas where the land appeared suitable 

 were called upon to plant the various trees or seeds pro- 

 vided for them by the Government. Their number or 

 acreage was decided by the same authority, as were also the 

 site, the season, and the method of cultivation. A fixed 

 rate of wages was paid to the labourers engaged in clear- 

 ing the ground and forming the plantations, and the 

 produce was bought by Government at a fixed price. 

 This money, after the deduction of a certain percentage 

 for the chiefs, was divided among the labourers, the sum 

 in good years being considerable. In this manner were 



