betort on THE ISr.AND or BANKA. 
323 
that the interest of the Government at Batavia was affected by the 
failure of the produce of the mines, and the flight of Japhar had 
originally been occasioned by an injury to one of its subjects ; its 
forbearance therefore must be ascribed to inability. At the event 
of a commission at Plembang and Banka in 1802, Japhar’s suspi¬ 
cion were roused; be fled to the mountains and finally attempted an 
establishment at Banko-kutto, but this was of short duration ; with 
the intention to become a Hadji he engaged to in a voyage Mekka, 
but perished in sight of Banka. 
The narrative of the particular disasters of Minto does not com¬ 
plete the detail of calamities. Two other causes contributed to dis¬ 
tress the inhabitants and to reduce the population of Banka. The 
incursions of the pirates were extended to the interior of the island; 
the inhabitants were surprised at their plantations ; if they escaped 
by flight, their rice-grounds were notwithstanding in most cases 
abandoned, or crops, almost ripe for harvest, were wantonly destroy¬ 
ed. The usual supplies from Plembang and other countries were 
detained on the coast, and famine was the unavoidable consequence. 
Even in the most productive seasons, the rice cultivated on Banka is 
insufficient for the consumption of the aggregate number of inhabi¬ 
tants, and any deficiency in the regular supply occasions want. The 
culture of those vegetables which might form substitutes in case of 
scarcity of rice is totally neglected by the natives. It is therefore not 
surprising that the inhabitants in many instances preferred a volun¬ 
tary slavery and exile to the accumulated evils which harassed them 
in their native country. 
At this time the small-pox was introduced, probably by the La- 
nons, at different part of the island, and spreading rapidly, raged 
with the virulence of a malignant epidemic. The inhabitants having 
been long exempt from this disease, the opportunities for itspropo- 
gation were proportionally great, especially as it came upon them 
unawares; and it is generally supposed that nearly one half of the 
remaining population was carried off by this cause. 
The dread which exists among the natives of Banka of the small¬ 
pox hag been, from the most ancient periods, excessive in the highest 
y 2 
