100 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
These, again, are split into “ regencies,” with a “ regent” 
at their head. This regent is always a native chosen 
from the nobles, especially of former dynastic families, 
whose influence over their subjects, cemented as it is by 
religious associations, still remains undiminished. Under 
the regent are the district and “ dessa ” chiefs, charged 
with the collection of the taxes, who are chosen by the 
inhabitants, and who represent the interests of the “ dessa” 
or commune, a social organisation somewhat resembling 
the Eussian “ mir.” With the regent, called by the 
Javanese “ pangerang,” “ adhipatti,” or “ tummonggong,” 
according to his rank, is associated a European “ Assistant 
Resident,” who is instructed to treat his compeer as a 
younger brother, and while keeping him well in hand to 
put him forward as ostensibly the real agent. Under the 
Assistant Residents are other European functionaries— 
“ Controleurs ” and others, who, besides their political 
duties, have the administration of justice or the super¬ 
intendence of the culture-system mainly in their hands. 
In the “ Buitenbezittingen,” omitting those of Sumatra 
and Borneo, there are the following residencies only:— 
Bali, Timor, Amboina, Ternate, and Menado. Of these 
Ternate is much the largest, as it embraces the large 
island of Gilolo, and the whole of Dutch New Guinea. 
The extent of Holland’s possessions in the East Indies is 
so vast that she has done little to exploit them, but there 
are not very many even of the smaller groups of islands 
without some resident representative of the Government, 
whether “ Controleur,” “ Postliouder,” or a native in whom 
some authority is vested. 
