chap, vii.] THE MODE OF GOVERNMENT. 149 



from the Javanese ; and in the meanwhile will state in 

 the fewest words possible what that system is. 



The mode of government now adopted in Java is to 

 retain the whole series of native rulers, from the village 

 chief up to princes, who, under the name of Eegents, are 

 the heads of districts about the size of a small English 

 county. With each Eegent is placed a Dutch Eesident, 

 or Assistant Eesident, who is considered to be his " elder 

 brother," and whose "orders" take the form of "recom- 

 mendations," which are however implicitly obej^ed. Along 

 with each Assistant Eesident is a Controller, a kind of 

 inspector of all the lower native rulers, who periodically 

 visits every village in the district, examines the proceed- 

 ings of the native courts, hears complaints against the 

 head-men or other native chiefs, and superintends the 

 Government plantations. This brings us to the " culture 

 system," which is the source of all the wealth the Dutch 

 derive from Java, and is the subject of much abuse in this 

 country because it is the reverse of "free trade." To 

 understand its uses and beneficial effects, it is necessary 

 first to sketch the common results of free European trade 

 with uncivilized peoples. 



Natives of tropical climates have few wants, and, when 

 these are supplied, are disinclined to work for superfluities 

 without some strong incitement. With such a people the 

 introduction of any new or systematic cultivation is almost 



