COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
133 
the east. The policy of the Dutch Government ap- 
pears to be that of keeping the world in ignorance 
of the importance and of the riches of Timor ; their 
object is, in fact, to retain possession of it at as 
little expense as possible, merely to prevent any 
other country from occupying it. Much jealousy 
exists between them and the Portuguese set- 
tlement of Diely, on the northern side about fifty 
leagues from Coepang; and our friend, Mr. 
Hazaart, was, at the time of our visit, in corres- 
pondence with the government of Batavia to ex- 
plain some political interference, on his part, with 
that settlement. 
The establishment at Coepang consists of the 
Resident, his Secretary, and forty Javanese sol- 
diers; besides which, it possesses a militia 
consisting of 1000 men, who bring their own 
provisions and arms to the field ; and by this force 
the whole of the south-western part of the island, 
containing a population of perhaps 50,000 people, 
is kept in subjection. To solve this riddle, for 
such it must naturally appear to be, it should be 
explained that the Dutch have been accustomed 
to act in the character of mediator between the 
several rajahs ; and whilst the Resident settles 
the disputes, he takes care at the same time to 
keep up the balance of power amongst these petty 
kings, who are constantly encroaching upon the 
18 IS. 
June 
5—13, 
