New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-27
JAVA.
A Glimpse of Malay Life.

| Glimpse OF Malay Life.
That distinguished German traveller.
FREDERIC GERsrAcKER, is now publishing in the
Augsburg AHgemeine Zeitung a series of spirited
ard inter esting chapters drawn from his expert
ences in a voyage over almost all the out-of. the
way parts Of the world, which he has just con-
cluded and is now detailing at length in work
that he is preparing at his residence in Germany.
Among these is an account Of one Of the aspects
Of life among the Malays of Java, whose princes,
at least have become halfcivilized by intercourse
with the Dutch occupants and virtual rulers of
most if not all Of that country. Interested by
the strange, barbaric picture drawn by Mr.. Ger
| stacker, AMI by its utter Unlikeness, as well as
its striking resemblance to the descriptions of
other travellers in Egypt and other sem-savagc
countries, we have translated it for the columns
of The Tribune and do not doubt that our re aders
will peruse it with curiosity as novelty among
the queer developments of human nature in the
world:
| edward evening accepted with great plea
| sure an invitation from the house physician to go
| over with him to the Regents, and see his baya-
| deres dance. / heard that the Engshman and
! the American were already there, and the tones
| of the gamelang came sounding over to us. The
distance was but few hundred paces and we
entered Immediately into the presence OF the Re-
gent in the roOm,-or hail of audience, if you will
which was most brilliantly lighted by great
number of astral lamps, hanging or standing about.
| "In order to render clear 60 the reader the mean
ing Of the title Regent, few words Of PLANTATION
are necessary. The highest official in the Dutch
| East lndies-who stands second only to the klng
| OF Hollands the Governor General who has, of
course, in the various islands, his Vice-GOvenors
| The GOvenor-General resides upon the island Of
| Java. The island, from its great extent is divided
into districts, or, as they are there called, Resi-
| dences and each is ruled by Resident Assist
| ant Resident, under whom the so.caled Con-
| trollers.
These ore the European officers. Beside these,
| however, the Dutch Government, in accordance
| with most excellent and in this case an absO.
lutely necessary principle, employs native officers,
who are made to interest themselves in their duties
| by the salaries which they receive, and whose
| position gives them twofOd character, that of
| mediatois among the native population, and to
| some extent sponsors for their good behavior
| The natives have always been strongly attached
| to their princes, and hence the greater ne
| cessity Of attaching these to the Dutch Govern
| ment. There was way of doing this so efec-
tually as by appealing to their interests, add
| through this means these Regents, as they are
called, are exceedingly trustworthy. Upon every
picOl of the products Of their districts they re-
cere a certain, regular tax.-the Regent of Ban
dong having an income which IS SAID annually tar
to exceed $4,000.
1.-The Resident has also his share, and hence it is
easy to see that the cultivation of all those pro.
cucts from which the high officials can gain any
thing is carried on in the most lively and Jealous
manner. 1t is true that nothing can be easier
than for dishonest persons in Office to grind down
the natives. who are forced to carry on their
cations subject to unavoidable taxes, out OF all
proportion with any benefits derived from their
rulers in return; and experience has already
laugh that this is the case. But then the result
is to make the regular reports Of the productions
of the Colony so much the greater; and there
fore the poor people may-ge to the devil.
1.-The present Governor has begun, in some
parts OF the country, to leave the matter OF labor
entirely to the natives Themselves, and is trying
TO make il for their interest TO let no falling OIL IN
the amount of their products take place. God
grant that he may be able to carry into effect
measure so philanthropic The result of these
attempts is, however, easily to be foreseen. The
native is remarkably temperate; a few dots worth
of rice sufces for his daily necessities, and not
withstaDding his acquaintance with Europeans
has awaked desires and necessities which he knew
not before. still it is highly improbable that he
viii be induced to produce as much as was for
Inery squeezed out OF him by a set OF public Of
GERS devoid of conscience. But it is none the
worse for the native; he may work less and yet
live more comfortably and If he wishes any thing
he brings less TO market so that not only do the
public officials and the Regents lose sOmewhatfrom
their incomes, but the mercantile public has less
trade, and in consequence suffers dlmlnution OF
profits. The consequence will be that all these
people Mill Join in the cry Of alarm, over their
ruined business and trades. and the poor natives
Will at length be forced to make all good at the
pense CT their own hides.
." Ii is true that the system OF forced labor was
at first meant only for an eXpeIlment-the inten
ton was 10 make the natives, who would never
voluntarily have come to this knowledge, under
stand the advantages to be derived from SYSTEM
attic labor TO teach them new wants and show
them by what means they might satisfy them.
The system, however, in its working proved so,
beyond all expectation, profitable to the Dutch,
that the former Governors-whOse main object
was, during their short periods of service, to ac-
qure the greatest fortunes possible, that they
might be able to continue their oriental stye of
living after their return to FIolland-were careful
not 10 disturb it. Hence the experiment of the
present Governor. not to do away with all these
abuses for that is impossible, but to lessen them
and for nv part, wish from my heart the fortu.
nate issue OF MS plans for the interests of hui
manity.
" Had entered the saloon Of the Regent with
out knowing to whom was paying my visit, and
in what part OF the world | was the thoughts of
India and OF Java PRIME would never have oc-
cured to me. Every thing was in European STYLE
French aud English .engrayinys hung upon the
walls, and huge mirrors in gilded frames. At the
father extremity OF the room, the umbrella.
Like canoples OF State fixedtO the wall like trophies
supported by handles iull eight or nine feet long
alone had any thing foreign in their appearance
On the table were cigars inclosedin French casesI
made OF stamped leather.
"Ihe Regent with ais attendants formed a strong
contrast 10 all this. He was a handsome younS
man with thsn mustache, aud dark ex pressiye