'192 ^S3MMINCK f S GENERAL VIEW OT THE DUTCH 
Irodueed with discernment, and without hurting or shackling the syfl* 
tem of duties followed in this country.” 
In the domains ceded to private persons by sale, particularly in 
those of a large extent, it was calculated in 1830, that the uncultiva¬ 
ted lands were in proportion to those already put under cultivation as 
7 to 1, and in the domains where remarkable improvements had been 
introduced this proportion did not exceed 7 to 2* 
We perceive by the view given of the state of the finances before 
1830"that the different systems under which our Indian possessions 
have been mercantilely managed, could not furnish in the long run 
an assured benefit to the Government. The system adopted since 
that time has given birth to the hope that this expectation may be 
realized, and that the state may count upon sure revenues which the 
agricultural industry will annually furnish to the chief treasury ; with¬ 
out doubt a very remarkable result, perhaps unique in the history of 
distant possessions which have not been colonized. 
The system of monopoly of the Company *, that of the corvees un¬ 
der Marshal Daendels; the registration laws of the ryot war system 
of the English; those, mitigated and more liberal, introduced after the 
English occupation *, the strict economy put in practise by the Com¬ 
missioner General Du Bus,—have not answeredto the expectation of 
the European Government. 
General van den Bosch, who was clothed with the authority in 
1830, deemed it necessary to administer the interests of Government, 
in a different manner from that followed by bis predecessors. The 
best means of attaining tins erul appeared to him to be to draw all 
the advantages possible from the astonishing fertility of the soil by 
means of agriculture, to make use of the balance of means for the 
support of the treasury of the mother country and to bring the new 
plans into unity with the old customs or adat of the Javanese. 
gome details are necessary to enable the reader to he able to judge 
of the basis on which this new organization rests, which has receiv¬ 
ed the name of the system of culture. 
The civil administration of the Javanese under the Mataiin em¬ 
pire, possibly already under that of Maj&pahit, admitted of tlie lands 
belonging to a desa being divided in an unequal manner amongst the 
inhabitant. A part of them are excluded from all prosperity and are 
dependant on the proprietor who has the right of disposing of their 
services in exchange for the cession of a portion of ground which is 
furnished to them to provide for their wants. When the subordinate 
is not required for agricultural work, he must pay to his chief or to 
