The prahus which are built upon these islands are very long, and sit low on the water, their length being seldom less than seventy feet, while their greatest breadth is not greater than ten feet. We saw about thirty of these lying under the shore, and had good opportunities for examining them. In the centre of them is a stage, on which they make a fire to cook their provisions. Whenever these vessels sail on a voyage they are adorned with a number of flags, some being displayed from the stern and others planted along the sides, the whole presenting a very gay appearance. These flags are triangular (perhaps in imitation of those of the Chinese), and of various colours, the prahus belonging to the chiefs being distinguished by the superior size and number of those they display. The inhabitants of the western Arrus obtain their prahus chiefly from the Ki Islands, these being stronger and broader than those constructed by the people of the Eastern Arrus. The Arafuras, when at sea, protect themselves from the rain, which they dislike greatly, by means of long bags open on one side, made from the bark of a tree. When the weather is fine, they roll these up and use them as a cushion to sit upon.
The abolition of the slave trade has not yet spread its beneficent influence to these parts; indeed, the export and import of slaves forms a considerable branch of commerce, &c.: so much so, that were it to be discontinued many of the inhabitants would become a prey to want. It must here be taken into consideration, that the words "slave" and "slave trade" have a very different signification here from that which they have in the West Indies, the people of the east regarding the slave trade as being, in a certain point of view, beneficial to the slaves themselves. Many, in fact, when in distress, offer themselves as bondsmen that they may obtain the necessaries of life. The natives, however, are well aware that this shameful trade is much disapproved of by our Government, and that the greatest object of their rule is to secure general freedom and prosperity to mankind, for which reason the slaveholders treat their people with humanity. These creatures are, therefore, less to be pitied than one would suppose; and it must be taken into consideration, that so long as agriculture and industry are so much neglected, the slave trade must be a source of subsistence to a great part of these islanders, by means of which they are held back from engaging in piracy, theft, and other vices, to which want and necessity would otherwise force them to resort.[32]
When M. Bik was here he was presented with two slave boys, to whom, as I was informed by the natives, he gave their liberty, and caused them to be sent back to their village. Shortly after the departure of this gentleman these liberated slaves fell into a state of great poverty, so that, to pay the debts they had incurred for provisions and necessaries, they had again pledged or sold themselves as slaves, and they now regard themselves as fortunate in having found a good master. On my asking them if they wished to become free again? they answered, that they would like it well if I would take them with me, and provide for their future maintenance, but that otherwise they would prefer living in their present state of servitude. I allowed my interpreter to redeem a couple of orphans who had been sold here by the Arafuras, and did not seem to have derived much good from their master, for which he paid eighty guilders. At their own request I took them with me to Amboyna, where, with the cognizance of the Government, I set them at liberty, so that they became in a condition to gain their livelihood by daily labour.[33]
On the 4th of September the chiefs of Maykor and Wama came to take their leave, and to present us with some stock and fruit, after which we weighed anchor and steered for the island Wadia. A number of prahus accompanied us a considerable distance, the natives in them displaying their friendship by the music of their gongs and songs of joy.
FOOTNOTES:
[31] So early as 1640, F. Corsten entered into a treaty with the people of the Arrus, especially those of Wokan, Wadia, Wama, Duryella and Maykor, in which the latter agreed to acknowledge the supremacy of the Dutch East India Company. Afterwards, in 1645, the Fiscal Dorstman obtained from them an agreement to trade exclusively with Banda, while the monopoly of the pearl fishery was given to the East India Company.
[32] M. Kolff, whose opinion upon this point is totally at variance with that of Sir Stamford Raffles, and of every other writer on the Indian Archipelago, who has really taken an interest in the welfare of the natives, appears to have mistaken effect for cause; as in this part of the world it has invariably been found that the slave trade alone has been sufficient to render a people, previously mild and industrious, poor, idle and vicious. As to the slave trade preventing the natives from engaging in piracy, M. Kolff must have been aware that by far the greater number of piratical expeditions fitted out by the natives are intended solely for the capture of slaves, other plunder being in their eyes of minor importance only; and this is especially the case in the parts visited by M. Kolff, where the inhabitants possess nothing of sufficient value to tempt the cupidity of pirates.—Ed.
[33] The inhabitants of the Arrus and the adjacent island, are glad to obtain Dutch gold and silver coin, the greater part of which they work up into ear-rings and other ornaments.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE ARRU ISLANDS.—THE TENIMBER ISLANDS.