The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-06-11
LOMBOCK
How the Rajah Took the Census.

The Rajah of Lombock was
very wise man, and he showed BIZ
wisdom greatly in the way be tool
the census. For my readers mus
know that the chief revenues of the
Rsjsh we're derived from a head-taz
OF rice, q small measure being PAID
annually by every man. woman, and
child in the island. There was nc
doubt that every one paid this tax,
for it was very light one, and the
land was fertile, and the people
we'll of, but it had to pass through
many hands before it reached tae
government store-hOuse. When the
harvest was over the villagers
brought their rice to the kapala
ksmpong, or head of the village;
and no doubt he sometimes hsd
compassion on the poor or sick and
passed over their short measure, and
sometimes was obliged to grsnt a
favor to those who had a complaint
against him; and then he must keep
up his own dignity by having bis
granaries better filled than his
neighbors' and go the rice that he
took to the 'Wsidono" that was
over MS district was generally a good
deal less than it should have been.
And all the ''Wsidonos" had of
course to take care OF themselves,
for they were all in debt, and it was
60 easy to take q little Of the Gov
eminent rice, and there would still
be plenty lett for the Rajsh. And
the ''gustis." or princes, who re-
ceived the rice from the Waidones,
helped themselves likewise, and go
when the harvest was over and the
rice tribute was ell brought in. the
quantity was found to be less each
year than the one before. Sickness
in one district, and feVers in another,
and failure of the crops in third, we're
of course alleged as the cause OF this
falling of; but when the Rsjah went
to hunt at the foot of the great
mountaiO, or went to visit a ''gusti''
on tire other side of the island, he
always saw the villages full of peo-
pie, all looking welI-fed and happy
| And he noticed that the krisses oil
mis- chiefs and officers were getting
baudsomer, and handsomer, and
;he handles that were of yellow wood
we're changed for ivory, and those OF
ivory were changed for gold, and
diamonds and emerslds spsrkled on
many of them; and he knew very
well which way the tribute-rice went.
But as be could not prove it he kept
silence, and resolved in his own heart
some day TO have q census taken, so
that be might know the number of
his people, and not be cheated out of
more rice than was just and reason
able.
But the difficulty was how. to get
this census. He could not go him.
self into every village and every
house, and count all the people; and
If he ordered l. to be done by the
regular officers they would quickly
understand what it was for, and the
census would be sure to agree exactly
with the quantity of rice he got last
year. It was evident therefore that,
to answer his purpose, no one must
suspect Why it was taken, and to make
sure Of this no one must know that
there was any census taGen q tall.
This was very hard problem; and
the RAJ an thought and thought, as
hard as Malay Rsiah can b expected
to think, but could not solve il; and
was very unhappy, and did nothing
but smoke and chew betei with his
favorite wife, and eat scarcely any
thing, and even when be went to the
cock-fght did not seem to care
whether bis best birds won or lost
For several days he remained in this
sad state, and all the court was afraid
some evil had beWitched the Rajah;
and an unfortunate Irish captain
who had come in for q cargo of rice
and who squinted dresdtully, was very
near being krissed, but being first
brought to the royal presence, was
graciously ordered to go on board and
remain there while his ship stsid in
tie port.
One morning, however, after about
weeks continuance Of this unsc
countable melancholy, a welcome
change took place, for the Raish sent
to call together all the chiefs and
priests and princes who were then in
Mataran, his capital city, and when
they were all assembled in anxiop 6
expectation, he thus addressed them:
For many days my heart has been
very sick, and l knew not why, but
now the trouble is cleared away, for
I have had 8 dream. Last night the
spirit of the Gunong Agong-the
great ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 20
me. and told me that l must 90 up
to the top of the mountain. All of
you may come with me to near the
top, but then I must go up alone, and
the great spirit will again appear to
me, and will tell me what is of great
Importance to me, and to you, and to
all the people OF the island. Now go,
all of you, and make this known
through the island, and let every
village furnish men to make clear e.
road for US to 60 through the forest
and up the great mountain"
So the news was spread over the
whole island that the Rsjah must 60
to meet the great spirit on the top of
the mountain. and avnrv village sent