400 CELEBES. [chap. xvii. 



should ever do more than copy a few of the least Bene- 

 ficial customs of civilization, without some stronger 

 stimulus than precept, veiy imperfectly backed by 

 example. 



If we are satisfied that we are right in assuming the 

 government over a savage race, and occupying their country ; 

 and if we further consider it our duty to do what we can 

 to improve our rude subjects and raise them up towards 

 our own level, we must not be too much afraid of the cry 

 of "despotism" and "slavery," but must use the authority 

 we possess, to induce them to do work which they may not 

 altogether like, but which we know to be an indispensable 

 step in their moral and physical advancement. The Dutch 

 have shown much good policy in the means by which they 

 have done this. They have in most cases upheld and 

 strengthened the authority of the native chiefs, to whom 

 the people have been accustomed to render a voluntary 

 obedience ; and by acting on the intelligence and self- 

 interest of these chiefs, have brought about changes in the 

 manners and customs of the people, which would have 

 excited ill-feeling and perhaps revolt, had they been directly 

 enforced by foreigners. 



In carrying out such a system, much depends upon the 

 character of the people ; and the system which succeeds 

 admirably in one place could only be very partially worked 

 out in another. In Minahasa the natural docility and 



