BANTAM.

Bantam, once rich in its pepper plantations and the emporium of the Archipelago, had, in consequence of the restrictions of the Dutch company and the vicinity of Batavia, lost all its trade and importance, long before the arrival of the British.

The succession of the throne of Bantam was generally disposed of by the influence of the Dutch government: but the administration of the country and the collection of the port duties were till very lately entirely entrusted to him. This European influence, though strongly resisted in the first instance, had been long acquiesced in, till an attempt of the Dutch government, in the year 1808, to draw additional benefit from this province, gave occasion to an insurrection. The successive measures of introducing the cultivation of coffee into that part of the island, of opening the communication by means of new roads, and of constructing a new harbour, first at Mew Bay, and afterwards at Merak Bay, imposed new and unusual burthens on the people; and so many deserted from the public works that an order was issued to the Resident, requiring him to inform the sultan that his first minister should be held responsible for the due execution of the public task assigned to the sultan's subjects. The desertion still continuing, an order still more peremptory was issued to the Resident, requiring him to call upon the sultan to deliver up his first minister immediately. In carrying these orders into execution, the Resident having imprudently risked his person, was murdered. This fatal accident was the occasion of sending a considerable military force to Bantam, by which an immediate and thorough change in the native government was effected. The reigning sultan was removed from the throne and banished to Amboina, and a relative was raised to the sovereign power.

This prince was placed under regulations dictated by the Dutch; for so fallen had the sovereigns of this once flourishing and powerful kingdom now become, that the form and solemnity of a treaty was not deemed necessary. The sultan ceded part of his territories to the westward, adjacent to the environs of Batavia, the bad administration of which had frequently given occasion to disturbances in the Batavian districts. The new sultan was allowed to administer the rest of his dominions under the superior rule of the Dutch government.

The public works to be carried on in Bantam, and the unusual burthens they imposed on the people, continued however to excite, from time to time, disturbances and insurrections. On one occasion a detachment, consisting of a lieutenant and eighteen dragoons, were surprised and murdered by the inhabitants. Several native Pangérans and chiefs fell victims to the same spirit of discontent and revenge, and another change in the person of the sultan was thought advisable; the new sultan was in consequence allured on board a vessel, and conveyed to Batavia, and in his place another chief was installed sultan of the high lands of Bantam, the Dutch reserving to themselves the direct administration of the low lands.

The country, however, remaining still in a disturbed state, the Pangéran Akmet united under his banner the discontented people of all descriptions, in a more regular opposition to the European authority. From this time an extraordinary military force was constantly kept in Bantam: all attempts, however, to arrest the person of Akmet failed. His influence increased so much that proposals were made to him of a cession of part of the country: these, however, not being listened to, it was determined to abandon the interior to his depredations, until the inhabitants themselves, wearied of his arbitrary proceedings, might seek refuge with the European government.

The Dutch force being withdrawn from Bantam, Akmet availed himself of the presence of the British cruizers, during the blockade in 1811, to strengthen his influence by an intercourse with them, which he easily effected by furnishing them with supplies plundered by him from the inhabitants. By the cruizers he was considered as an unfortunate prince, maintaining his independence against the Dutch; and when the British troops landed, the sultan was his prisoner, and all Bantam under his controul.

At the conquest of Java by the British forces the extensive tracts of this fertile province were thus in the hands of a lawless rebel, the inhabitants were in a state of revolt, and universal anarchy and distrust had prevailed for several years. All idea of raising a revenue on account of government had been abandoned; and the general settlement of the country under European controul, was the most that could be hoped for.

In the year 1813 the sultan voluntarily resigned the administration of the country into the hands of the British government, in consideration of an annual pension of ten thousand Spanish dollars. With the detailed system of land revenue introduced into this province, an accurate survey was made of all the northern divisions; and a settlement having been made with each individual cultivator, the extent of population stated in the annexed table, as far as these districts are concerned, may be considered as in general correct. The population of the southern districts is estimated; and it may be observed, that the total population rather exceeds than falls short of what is stated.

GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE POPULATION OF BANTAM.
Num​­ber of Prin​­ci​­pal Vil​­lages.Num​­ber of Houses.Ho​­use​­hold​­ers.Mar​­ried Wom​­en.Children.To​­tal Pop​­u​­la​­tion in each Dis​­trict.Num​­ber of Buf​­fa​­loes.Ploughs.Settlement, 1815.Com​­puted To​­tal Pop​­u​­la​­tion
Males.Fe​­males.Males.Fe​­males.Sep​­a​­rate Leases grant​­ed for 1815.Quantity of Land.
Báhus.Chang​­kala
ESTIMATED POPULATION of the SOUTHERN DISTRICTS9890
Parunkujang 1800 To​­tal Population 231604
Binwangan 2200
Parayan 1140
Somang 1305
Sajira 1745
Kosik 1700
9890
Tenára912771221226983101764240893063645731363935452
Pontang233620261810302594276623261133498016351170233440214112
Ragas1198084218075875475032357646104908483983835
Tambakbaya241281869392791752669347379675893915931344073
Panénan251248822427788108992140476675785989384424547
Charoas371639132349711501294984524870964869712061986200
Kalodran141506112935211301123918465282888380015212785200
Chépété1411199162008866435583203519487826119433400
Bántam1218181786409167761474952353062312373613265699
Chebaning8107384223083978857932785988073535164513578
Sirang or Siram425396439998043494826413918693230327872764310848419793
Pakam1610629371089305984493022457399741109423321
Baros5123102888384279518251266915818512033233427231469536
Cheomas4126902266414226790272365725221872275536401676972
Sardang26270019907311846215519918713944804124716991688914
Jawána51179908271883106695240805555156739594644390
Taraté151842142543613571312110256325164855148582696400
Chelegon3447673825101036853512321215244253123351321272440315744
Bujenagára12269320254611964219820968744100912298171710309034
Anyer414765471049047464346366017952237516954341243718018151
Charita3​—​—​—​—​—​—4143​—​—8803593894143
Chéringbin32266724721932403188214548404210511403846173019915384
Panimbang1144340538399306207185853​—​—​—​—1957
Minés155635442952537928917563823866732843581906
Kanánga246685912557530524817444193738082911951890
Chemánok3215581389148140988880246361178106014061468335237
Kadulósong2659659674596290107166394177220552241674320
Chekek2099376723073949248227105985517107563112841
Pandéglang20102079423478061148929086256229328051383329
Chadasári392347222732121651576133176201323123320391247758154
Pamaryan​—​—​—​—​—​—​—​—2174​—5085434492174
Underándi116565708853742339920174994594263601782217
Chikándi115174637043336032916553743243325982711763
Kolelet1862458612856935934119833562856346922202535
Chrangasa​—​—​—​—​—​—​—2403​—​—10256013822403
Konchang1610179101098534704002742626555980792483110
Total7385863150055108654840140921456241939463128928915414444212254221714