Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-10-20

officials and the Regents lose somewho
from their incomes, but the mercantile
public has less trade, and in consequence
suffers q diminution of profits. The con
sequence will be that all these people viii
join in the cry of alarm, over their ruined
business and trade, and the poor native
will ss length be forced to make all
good Mt the expense of their own hides.
1t is true that the system of forced Ia
Dor was at first meant only for IN e1.
lperiment-the intention Was to make the
natives, who would never voluntarily
have come to this knowledge, understand
the advantages to be derived from syste'
matte labor to teach them new wants
and show them by what means they
might satisfy them. The system, howev.
er. in its working proved so. beyond all
expectation, profitable to the Dutch. tina,
the former Governors, whose main object
was, during their short periods of service,
to acquire the greatest fortunes possible,
that they might be able to continue their
oriental style of living after their return
to Holland-were careful not to disturb
it. Hence the experiment of the present
Governor not to do away with all these
abuses, for that is impossible, but to les
sen them and for my part, 1 wish from
my heart the fortunate issue of his plans
| for the interests of humanity.
Had entered the room of the Regent
without knowing to whom was paying
my visit, and in what part of the world
was. the thoughts of India and Of Java
prince would never have occurred to me.
Everything was in Europen style French
and English engravings hung upon the
walls, and huge mirrors in gilded frames.
At the farther extremity ofthe room. the
umbrella-like canopies of State fixed to
the wall like trophies. supported by han
dies full eight or nine feet long. alone had
anything foreign in their appearance. On
the table were cigars enclosed in French
cases made of stamped leather.
The Regent, with his attendants, form
ed a strong contrast to all this. He was
a handsome young man with a thin NOUS
tache and dark. expressive, though some
what languid and voluptuous eye. His
features were fully characteristic of his
race. he being, in fact, the illegitimate
son of a former Regent, who was removed
and pensioned by the Dutch Government,
because under his government the former
| n
murdered-a man, blythe way, who had
made himself hated by all the natives for
his severity and cruelty. The Regent
wore upon his head the usual head-cloth,
folded like turban. shirt, vest. jacket, OF
fine cloth, rather closely cut pantaloons OF
domestic stuff, and over all a fine sarong.
reaching down almost to the ankles. His
naked feet were thrust into pair Of Chi
nese slippers.
The most costly article of his attire was
a weapon that hung in the thick silken
girdie, which confined his sarong about
the hips. This was a dagger or kriss,
heavily ornamented. both in handle and
scabbard. with gold. made of the form
peculiar to the country. the handle rich
in diamonds. emeralds, and topazes, and
the blade of the finest Damascus steel.
The Indian princes value these kris
ses extravagantly, in the blade of which
certain marks. known only to their fami-
lies. render them easily to be recognized
by their own family. Their religion inn
poses it upon them as duty, whenever
they find one of these daggers in the
hands of strangers. to get possession of i,
again. at any price whatsoever.
doors. with their gamelangs Of various
sorts, and sizes, squatted on the ground
In this manner only do they dare appear
in the presence of the Regent. Single
servants. with their burning matches OF
cocoa bark. and also upon their hams.
within the room. waiting for the call api.
in answer to which, raising themselves as
little as possible from the floor, they crept
to the Regent. and sitting, handed him,
or raising themselves somewhat, handed
the guests FIRE for their cigars. The condi-
ton of servants here is systematically kept
so slavish that this creeping. abject posi-
ton, did not seem to be sufficient. Ger
tainly the arm should have been let free
to raise the match; but no, the left arm
was not deemed sufficient. and the ser
want, as he handed the match with it, as
suming a position as if he momentarily
expected to receive a blow upon the head
grasped is1lfith his right.
After the usual greetings were over
and the company seated, and each had
lighted his cigar. the Regent gave sig
nal, and the sonorous, full and barmoni-
Gus tones of 4 gamelang came floating to
US. In the opspdoor to our left, sudden
ly appeared thf4orm of young and most
lovely girl, fantsstically clothed. She
wore a short, rather narrow fock of some
light stuff. woollen, as it seemed to me,
for it closed soft rs silk upon the slender
and beautiful form. 1t appeared to be
woven with green and gold. for with her
motions it shone with mild metallic lus-
ture. A broad girdle, magnihcently
wrought With gold, surrounded her hips,
above which the garment rose close up &c
the arms, like that of the Chinese dancers,
(Heayen knows would not compare hel
! IN them a and WAS carried rather higl