In the billiard-room, I remarked a Javanese of diminutive stature, but stoutly formed, with a noble intellectual head; his manner was free and independent, but at the same time pleasing; he was accompanied by a young lad, (his brother-in-law.) This individual turned out to be no other than the celebrated chief Santot, or (as at present known by his assumed name) Ali Bassa; he was a leader of the rebellious party during the late insurrections, under Diepo Nagoro, and by going over to the Dutch, was the means of bringing the late Javanese war to a favourable issue; since that time he has held the rank of colonel in the Dutch service, with the command of eight hundred native troops, and had recently been sent on the expedition to Padang, in Sumatra, where the Dutch are making strenuous efforts to conquer and oppress the natives.
Santot (or Panjerang Ali Bassa Pranredo Dudjo) was attired in white trowsers, waistcoat, and a coat of blue cloth with gilt buttons; he wore also a turban, in the usual Javanese style; his brother-in-law was dressed in a blue cloth jacket and trowsers. The intellectual head, and intelligent countenance of Santot would induce one to regard him as a second Napoleon.
As I have just stated, he was one of the leaders in the late rebellion, and made strenuous exertions to expel the oppressors of his country: this was nearly effected, when he attacked a Monsieur de l’Eau,[135] then a lieutenant commanding a small fortress in the interior of Java, with a small garrison of only twenty European soldiers, but who were well supplied with arms and ammunition. Ali Bassa made the attack with a strong force, but, after losing fifty men, he forwarded a message to Lieutenant de l’Eau, to the effect, that if he would come alone to him, he would make conditions to surrender himself to the Dutch government; Lieutenant de l’Eau, with some confidence, ventured. On being introduced, Ali Bassa, who was seated on a mat, desired the lieutenant to sit down by him; and the interview terminated by Santot surrendering to him, on condition that he should not be beheaded. Having entered the Dutch service, he was sent, with the regiment of native troops under his command, to the seat of war in the island of Sumatra. The cause of his return to Batavia was a suspicion entertained by the resident at Padang, of his being in secret correspondence with the enemy, and the following stratagem was practised to convey him as a prisoner to Batavia.
Santot was stationed at some distance from Padang, with about eight hundred Javanese troops; and because he was not attacked by the natives at the time of the massacre, the Dutch at Padang suspected he must have had some knowledge of the preconcerted plan to destroy the European force. The resident, afraid to make any open charge against him, requested he would proceed to Java, at the urgent solicitations of the governor-general, to collect a large force, and return to conquer Sumatra. Upon this representation he was induced to embark on board the government cruiser “Circe:” on landing at Batavia he was received by the resident and a guard of cavalry, and proceeded in the governor’s carriage, as he naturally supposed, to have an interview with his excellency; but instead of it, he was conveyed to the common gaol, and there confined in a dungeon, ignorant even of the charges against him; and none of his friends were permitted to visit him:—there he remained for several days on suspicion. He was liberated on its being represented to the governor-general that the resident of Padang was misinformed. It is said he is to return to Sumatra.
He seemed to enjoy the game of billiards, and was an expert player. His brother-in-law, who was second in command of the regiment, was at one time near falling a victim to the strict discipline Santot maintained in his army during the rebellion. Having issued orders against cock-fighting and every other species of gambling, on going unexpectedly round the camp, he found his brother-in-law with some other officers thus engaged: he ordered them out to be shot; three were instantly killed, and the brother-in-law was saved by the ball carrying away his turban, and producing a slight scalp wound, after which Santot pardoned him. Santot is a graceful horseman. The troops under his command consist of cavalry and infantry; the former are described as being a fine body of troops; they are dressed in the Moorish costume, and armed with lances, sabres, carbines, and pistols. His army consisted of five thousand men.
Santot is not of noble family, although by his talents he has elevated himself to the rank of a prince of Java. He now holds the station and receives the pay of a colonel in the Dutch service. I saw some of his infantry, who were fine looking soldiers, attired in green turbans, blue uniform jacket and trowsers, and handkerchiefs round their waists.
The exactions of the Dutch government upon the natives have increased rather than diminished, in spite of all the lessons they have received; and the present system, if left unaltered, will eventually cause the loss of Java, if not the whole of their settlements in the eastern islands. At the present time much discontent prevails at Macassar and other places, which, together with the attempts at aggrandizement in Sumatra, where a severer opposition is experienced than could ever have been expected, throws enough upon their hands in this part of the world; and when the news arrived of the late rupture in Holland, it was fully expected by the Javanese that the English would take the island; and the arrival in the roads of a British man-of-war (the Curaçoa) was almost hailed by them as a confirmation of the fact.
The government trembled for Java when the news of war in Europe arrived; and the appearance of our men-of-war, the Magicienne, Wolf, &c. did not tend to allay their apprehensions. The Dutch vessels were sent off to Sourabaya, and remained there under the protection of the sloops of war, Helden and Amphitrite; so there was hardly a single Dutch vessel remaining in Batavia roads, the English and American flags almost alone waving. The government were engaged in erecting two turf batteries on the banks a short distance down the river, and planted cannon upon them, and mercantile affairs were almost suspended. It was expected that an embargo would have been laid by the Dutch on our ships in Batavia roads; but an order issued on this subject had reference only to their own vessels. The Calcutta and other papers were at this time filled with false and absurd statements relating to the Dutch force at Batavia, and seemed most eager to point out, even in the event of hostilities, in what manner they could most easily invade British property.[136]
In consequence of the present unsettled state of Holland, freights were difficult to be procured, although a large quantity of produce remained for shipment; but the owners were afraid to ship until news of a more settled state of European affairs arrived. Flour was scarce, and maintained a high price at Batavia. Malay boatmen are employed for ships’ boats in preference to the crew of the vessels, as the boat has to be tracked up the river, by which the Europeans would suffer much exposure to the sun. The natives, thus employed, are also spies of the custom-house, and are ever on the watch, when unsuspected, and ready to convey information of any attempt to evade the duties.
At the residence of Mr. Davies I had an opportunity of seeing a living specimen of the orang-utan, which had been brought from Banjarmassing, on the south coast of Borneo. The animal was a male, and measured two feet four inches in height, being the first specimen I had seen alive. I was much pleased with its intellectual appearance as compared with others of the monkey tribe. He was seen to some disadvantage, as he was suffering from a severe cold; and not being found in the usual haunt, was at last discovered in one of the beds, enveloped in a sheet. When we uncovered him, he regarded us with a piteous countenance, as if to inform us he was indisposed,—his eyes were suffused with tears, cough, and skin very hot and dry, with a pulse at one hundred and twenty. (What is the natural standard of the healthy pulse in this animal?) He was evidently most desirous of being wrapped up, and did not care to be caressed by strangers, but turned his back upon them, hiding his head and face. His usual place of repose was on a mat in the verandah, but feeling ill, he thought he might claim greater indulgence, so took possession of one of the beds. The large anterior mass of brain gave a high degree of intelligence to the animal’s countenance, although the face had not so much of the human character as is seen in the Simia syndactyla, or Ungka ape; but, concealing the lower portion of the countenance, the upper part and eyes beam with an intelligent expression. I observe it can thrust forward the lips in imitation of the action of kissing, but cannot give the impulse to them: neither does it lap liquid when in the act of drinking. When running about it often exercises its destructive propensity by destroying trees in the gardens of the houses in the vicinity; and some of the owners not evincing much partiality to the monkey tribe, threatened to shoot the aggressor; so, to save the life of the animal, a large bamboo cage was constructed, in which he was confined, but, born to freedom, he screamed with rage on being placed in it, and, exerting his muscular power, soon demolished the cage, and was then as quiet as before, being perfectly docile when at liberty, but savage under restraint.