Sibree, describing the Betsileo, Betsimisaraka, Bara, Tankay or Bezanozano, Sihanaka and Tanala, makes no mention of slavery; but his notes are not detailed enough to make its non-existence certain[416].
Hildebrandt and Grandidier speak of slaves among the Antankarana[417]. As, however, in their short notes only slaves of the king are mentioned, we may put this down as a doubtful case. [[118]]
| Result. Positive cases: | Battas on the Pane and Bila rivers, |
| Battas,, of Mandheling, | |
| Battas,, of Pertibie, | |
| Karo Battas, | |
| Raja Battas, | |
| Battas of Angkola, | |
| Battas,, of Simelungun, | |
| Battas,, of Singkel and Pak-pak, | |
| Battas,, of the country of Panei, | |
| Toba Battas, | |
| Lampongs, | |
| inhabitants of Nias, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Anambas, etc., | |
| Hill-Dyaks, | |
| Dyaks on the Barito, | |
| Sea-Dyaks, | |
| Dyaks on Rejang river, | |
| Biadju-Dyaks, | |
| Ot-danoms, | |
| Olo-ngadju, | |
| Dyaks of Tompassuk, | |
| Kayans on the Mendalam, | |
| Kayans,, on the Upper Mahakam, | |
| Muruts, | |
| Dyaks of Sambas, | |
| Kindjin-Dyaks, | |
| Dyaks of Pasir, | |
| inhabitants of the Minahassa, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Bolaäng, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Holontalo, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Buool, | |
| Toradja, | |
| Tomori, | |
| inhabitants of Sandjai, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Bangkala, | |
| Kailirese, | |
| inhabitants of Saleyer, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Sumbawa, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Sumba,[[119]] | |
| inhabitants of Flores, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, the Solor group, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Bonerate and Kalao, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, East Timor, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, West Timor, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Savu, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Rote, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Wetar, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Keisar, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Leti, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Dama, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, the Luang-Sermata group, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, the Babar group, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, the Tenimber and Timorlao Islands, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, the Aru Islands, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, the Kei Islands, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, the Watubela Islands, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, the Seranglao-Gorong group, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Serang, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, Ambon and the Uliase, | |
| inhabitants,, of,, the Sangi and Talauer Islands, | |
| Galela and Tobelorese, | |
| inhabitants of Kau, | |
| Tagals and Visayas, | |
| Bagobos, | |
| Manobos, | |
| Maguindanaos, | |
| inhabitants of Sulu, | |
| Samales, | |
| Hovas, | |
| Jakun, | |
| Dyaks of Matan, | |
| Dyaks,, of,, Simpang, | |
| Subanos, | |
| Negritos,[[120]] | |
| Antankarana. | |
| Negative cases: | Semang, |
| Sakai, | |
| Kubus, | |
| Mentawei Islanders, | |
| Dusuns, | |
| Rambay and Sebruang Dyaks, | |
| Bataks of Palawan, | |
| Bontoc Igorot, | |
| Battas of Silindung, | |
| Lubus. | |
| No conclusion: | Enganese, |
| inhabitants of Buru, | |
| Kiangans, | |
| Bungians, | |
| Igorot (except the Bontoc Igorot), | |
| Betsileo, | |
| Betsimisaraka, | |
| Bara, | |
| Tankay, | |
| Sihanaka, | |
| Tanala. |
We shall add here a few notes on some Malay peoples, that have attained to a too high degree of civilization to be quoted here as instances of savages having or not having slaves. The purpose of this addition is only to complete this survey of the Archipelago, and to show what literature exists on these peoples.
In Java slavery has not prevailed for centuries. “In Mohammedan law a large place is taken up with regulations of slavery, of the rights of masters and slaves, and of the manner in which the latter can acquire their freedom. The peculiar state of the aboriginal Javanese society prevented the application of nearly all precepts relating to this matter. Before the introduction of Islam slavery proper seems to have been unknown; the universal subjection of the mass of the people, as Sudras, to the members of the higher castes, had made slavery superfluous. Nor has Islam introduced slavery into Java; for although in later times Javanese chiefs in a few cases kept slaves, this [[121]]was done in imitation of the Europeans, and the legal status of these slaves depended on Roman-Dutch law, not on Mohammedan law.” The desas or villages, that did not accept Islam, were conquered; yet their inhabitants were not enslaved, but the whole villages en bloc were reduced to a subjected state: they had to pay extraordinary tributes and to perform services to the Sultans. This ancient state of things remained in force, even when gradually the whole population accepted Islam. Even the concubines of the chiefs are not captured or purchased slaves, but women taken from among the people[418]. This passage from Veth’s book does not, however, inform us as to whether there were slaves before the Hindu invasion and some time after. In the “Encyclopaedie voor Nederlandsch-Indië” it is stated[419], that in old times Africans were imported as slaves into Java, as appears from an inscription of 800 A.D. The continued investigation of Javanese history will probably throw more light on the subject.
In Bali slavery certainly exists, or at least formerly existed; but, according to Liefrinck, only the chief and his family have slaves[420]. Waanders, however, who gives a detailed account of the Balinese slave-system, asserts that even Sudras have slaves, though he speaks but incidentally of this[421]. Perhaps the slaves kept by the common people are only debtor-slaves; for, according to Liefrinck, debtors serve their creditors, and are sometimes sold by auction[422]. Tonkes, who has (rather deficiently) collected the literature on the Balinese, does not solve the question. At any rate, slavery here is not a fundamental institution. The chief has great power, and the Hindu caste-system prevails, so that the social classes are widely separated; the Sudras are at the mercy of the upper castes[423]. Slavery, though discountenanced by the Dutch government, still prevailed as late as 1877[424].
Liefrinck states that in Lombok there were imported slaves and native-born slaves or serfs; the condition of the latter was much better than of the former, but they could be sold for debts and then became slaves in the strict sense[425]. Van Eck [[122]]has also some notes on Lombok. According to him, Sasaks and Balinese of the Sudra-caste frequently become slaves of the rich, as a punishment or in payment of debts[426].
Van Hasselt gives a detailed account of slavery among the Malays of Menangkabao. In 1876 the slaves and pawns on the West Coast of Sumatra were emancipated by the Dutch government. But in the territories which are not under Dutch control slavery in van Hasselt’s time was still carried on to a great extent. In the little independent states a chief’s power depended upon the number of his slaves, who tilled his lands and strengthened his force in warfare. The slaves in the restricted sense were purchased and captured persons and their offspring. Besides these there were pawns[427]. Several further particulars are given in Van Hasselt’s valuable book. Willinck, in his recent work on the laws of the Malays of Menangkabao, describes their slave system in details[428].
In many other Malay districts of Sumatra slavery exists or formerly existed[429].
Particular mention has to be made of Atjeh, where slavery prevails to a great extent[430]. Slaves are equally kept by the Gajos, whose country borders on Atjeh[431].