CHAP. VIL] 



THE MODE OF GOFERmfENT, 



95 



a European nation conquers or otlierwise accjuires posses- 

 sion of a country inhabited by an industrioue but semi- 

 barbnrnns peojile. In my account of Nortbem Celebes, I 

 sluill show bow auccessfully tiie same system lias been 

 appbed to a people in a very different state of civilization 

 from the Javanese ; and in the meanwhile will state in 

 the fe%Test words possible what tbat system is. 



Tlie mode of govemnient now adopted in Java is to 

 retain the whole series of native rulers, from tlie village 

 chief up to princes, ivho, under the name of Regents, are 

 the beads of districts about the size of a small English 

 county. With each Regent is placed a Dutch Residciit, 

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

 brotber," and whose "orders" take the fonn of "recom- 

 mendations," which are however implicitly obeyed. Along 

 with each Assistant Resident is a Controller, a kind of 

 inspector of all the lower native rulers, who perioflicaUy 

 visite every village in the district, examines the proceed- 

 ings of the native courts, hears complaints against the 

 head-men or other native chiefs, and snperinteDdg the 

 Government plantations. This brings ns 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 

 countT}-- because it is the reverse of **free trade." To 

 mulerstand 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 

 impossible, except by the despotic orders of chiefs whom 

 they have been accustomed to obey, as children obey their 

 parents. The free competition of European traders, how- 

 ever, introdncea two powerful inducements to exertioiL 

 Spirits or opium is a temptation too strong for most 

 savages to resist, and to obtain these be will sell whatever 

 he has, and will work to get more. Another temptation 

 he cannot resist, is goods on credit. The trader offers him 

 gay cloths, knives, gongs, gnns, and gunpowder, to be paid 

 for by some crop perhaps not yet planted, or some product 



