The morning call., 1892-12-04

engaged In the horse trade between Sandal
wood Island and Java.
Kopang. charming little Dutch. Malay
settlement OF red-tiled, white-walled stone
houses, buried In trees and shady foliage,
| lies at the southwest point Of Kopang Bay.
The Portuguese, who still own settlement
at the north end of TimOr Island. surTen-
dered the southern portion to the Dutch
many years ago. With the exception of the
two fortified settlements at either end, the
balance Of the island remains in possession
of the Timorese Hill men. who successfully
defy the foreigners and own no allegiance
10 any one but themselves.
Dutch resident who had ventured O
grandeur and dignity was promptly seized
and carried before native rajah who,
compelling him to kneel at his feet, made
him repeat:
There are only three kings In this island
the King Of Holland. the King of Portu-
gal and your hghness. the rajah! l am a
servant of all"
After his pill had been duly swallowed the
"postholder" was allowed TO depart
Since then no visits are made into the iu-
terror or any journeys beyond three or four
miles from the settlement walls by the white
, men.
Landing at the little toy wharf of Kopang
we called upon The harbormaster. a young
official with q grand sense of his own i'm
portance.
NOrklUS cHeetIY upon Hls Vanity we sue
ceeded In making ourselves very friendly
and after our papers had been examined and
our business discussed were entered" duly
at the port and our labors over for the day.
Before proceeding to inspect the town we
asked permission 10 leave $500 in gold in the
Harbormaster's office, building which
would have collapsed before any one Of
ChipperelPs early morning sneeZes.
This afforded opportunity to the worthy
young harbormaster 10 exhibit his official
safe-just received from the Java Govern
menr.
1t was a noble box OF iron, about eighteen
inches square. and, to the skeptical stranger
and man OF travel, promised very indiffer-
ent security from any determined burglar
capable OF lifting up and carrying off twenty
pounds weight of metal.
Unwilling, however, to disappoiut the
worthy official we dumped In our bag of
coin after solemn!y sealing it up at his re-
quest, and. as we left the building, which
the barbormaster proudly locked up with
flfiy-cent paddock and key. / pointed out
something to Chlpperell which I though
was the safest assurance for our property.
II was merely word painted across the top
of the building. But such word as would
strike terror into the heart Of the average
beholder. 1t read:
''Veranw oordingstukken."
l have several times since asked Dutch
men for translation, but have never re-
manned long enough in the same place TO
get 1t completed.
Then we examined the little town. Some
twenty Europeans Dutch and their fam
lilies are resident in the settlement. These
are all officials in charge of miniature de-
partments with nothing to do.
To see this dune thoroughly these officials
have the most suitable assistants in the
world. namely, Dutch Malay half breeds.
Everybody rises at A. NJ and dawdles
and smokes at his Office in easy native
attire Till p. NJ, when heavy rice table"
breakfast OF all manner Of curried meats
smothered in rice is INDUCED in.
The numerous morning ''pytes," consist
ing OF square face" gin and Angostura bit
tiers, are now replaced by quarts of beer
Immediately after the post-prandiaI cigar
everybody goes TO bed to indulge in siestas
till p. NJ
At that hour transformation takes place.
All the slouchy loose-dressed men and
women Of the morning reappear arrayed in
the stiffest silks and salins, black frock coats
and tall hats Of Europe.s
Formal calls and visits are iuterchanged
TIL p. NJ. when the dinner bell sounds and
more. eating Is INDUCED in. The midday
mealis repeated in every particular, with
the exception OF the enormous bowls of
rice. which are rigidly excluded from the
table.
After dinner the streets are promenaded.
and fine clothes exhibited TO the farthest
extremes of proud and self-satisfied discom-
fort till midnight.
This has been the daily routine in 10
pan2 for the past 300 years, and will con-
Time so until Timor follows In the footsteps
of Malscca.
The inevitable Scotchman has found his
way to Timor, and at bis house we spent a
pleasant and agreeable evening listening to
his experiences.
Marrying Dutch woman with property.
he opened up a general store, which mas
absorbed the whole trade Of the town and
island.
Some OF his stories were most laugbable.
With desire to try and open up the gold
industry OF the islands he had imported n
few dynamite cartridges from Java to bla !.
rocks with. The day following its arrival
he was waited upon by the 'commandsn to"
and army" Of fifty Malay soldiers under a
Dutch sergeant.
An official document was read to him de-
failing the dangers of dynamite and for
bidding him to store Ii 10 the town.
In vain did he endeavor to explain the
innocuousness Of the chemical when de-
tached from the detonator, and when to
illustrate his argument be lighted match to
show how the dynamite would burn peace
fully without explosion. there was a
general stampede OF the forces into the
surrounding country.
Shortly after this an orderly arrived with
An Official document p0rem nto rIlv ordarip Or