The History of Java, v. 1-2

by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles

"Whilst these laws are administered in the native states by their councils or becháras, the administration of justice in the Company's territories was vested in the Regent, under the superintendance of the Drost, but who has usurped the power of actually deciding, particularly in cases where he is interested in the condemnations, from the right which the judge enjoys, of a moiety of the property arising from the sale of persons condemned to slavery, or in the appropriation of a certain number of them to his own use! The abuses arising out of these unlawful usurpations appear to have attained a great height in 1799, when the commission was appointed to inquire into them; but (as in the case of restraints which had from time to time been imposed by law) that inquiry did little more than recognize the right of control over the actors and participators in such abuses; a right which could readily and profitably be compromised by men who, from habit, were actuated by little determined abhorrence of such crimes, and no steady resolution to eradicate them. To this cause alone must be attributed the difficulties stated by the commission to be opposed to the due execution of the laws, and to the suppression of the enormities that were generally practised; and although partial reforms were effected, according to the disposition and principles of the persons who presided successively in Makásar, the enormous gains to be derived from the toleration of corruption was a powerful obstacle to its removal: and it may be said of the abuses and enormities detailed by the commission in 1799, that although perpetuated with more or less aggravation, as the controuling authority was more or less conscientious and vigilant, no radical removal of them took place, nor were the suggestions of that commission carried into effect, except partially within the town of Makásar.

"On the establishment of the British government, the practice and mode of kidnapping within the town of Makásar had, in some degree, been restricted and ameliorated; but this did not extend to the country. Some limitations had therefore been imposed on the connivance and direct participation of the public functionaries; but bondsmen were still generally employed as man-stealers, and the practice of concealing in secret prisons, of assassinations to prevent detection, and of midnight embarkations, were but little controlled or inquired into, as may be sufficiently inferred from the laxity of the public tribunals, and the rare instances of any infractions of these laws being punished by them.

"The introduction of the prohibitory laws by the establishment of the British government, naturally operated to cause a sudden and complete suspension of the open traffic; and although individuals are still clandestinely carried from Makásar, the number is so small, that the utmost vigilance has hitherto been unable to convict the perpetrators, especially as the numerous gang of bondsmen and man-stealers, though compelled at present to resort to other avocations, are yet at the call of corrupt employers, and live in the hope that occasion may again offer of freely returning to their pursuits, without apprehension of any consequences. This truth will be more generally appreciated, if we explain the course through which these people are led to engage in the desperate trade of kidnapping. The bondsmen, who are thus employed by slave-traders, are generally dissolute adventurers from the native states, who repair to Makásar, perhaps, with a little property which they lose by gambling; their next resource is to borrow from some one of the numerous Dutch or Chinese speculators (slave-traders) a sum of money, and which is only to be had at the exorbitant interest of fifty per cent, or, as expressed in the local terms, 'one wang per month on the Spanish dollar.' A debt thus dissolutely contracted is not likely to be retrieved by patient industry. But were such a disposition to prevail, the opportunity is scarcely afforded, and the obligation is generally allowed to accumulate until the debtor is about to pay the price in his captivity. To retrieve himself from this dire alternative, he has recourse to the trade of kidnapping, and the ready employment he meets with, added to the sudden gains which he hopes to acquire, stimulate him to repair his fortunes in this irregular and desperate pursuit. Such are the bondsmen who are the active agents of slave traders in Makásar; and while the abolition has had the two-fold effect of diminishing their numbers and of checking their depredations, it must be obvious that this salutary reform can only endure whilst the spirit which produced it is fostered. The commission in 1799 forcibly depicted the utter incompetency of the most rigid prohibitions, in restricting the barbarities which then prevailed: but there is yet a stronger fact, which bears equally upon the traffic, on whatever footing it might be re-admitted; it is, that the resources arising from what were considered legal condemnations to slavery, would be totally inadequate to supply the market under any probable limitations. As the demand increased, the more frequent condemnations on frivolous pretences would naturally ensue, if indeed such a practice in any degree could be considered legal: but the temptations to open violence arising from the numerous accessaries, and the direct or indirect participation of public functionaries, added to the comparative cheapness of stolen men, are such strong inducements to revive ancient abuses, under an actual demand, that no hope could be entertained of controuling them. On the other hand, the maintenance of the abolition laws, as they have hitherto tended to correct in a remarkable degree the monstrous practices which obtained, must, in their ultimate operation, effectually reform, not only the habits and dispositions of the inhabitants of Makásar, but check those frequent condemnations which, in the native states, may be chiefly imputed to the advantages that were generally made of them. To illustrate, in a familiar instance, the effect of this amelioration brought about by the silent operation of the prohibitory laws; on the first arrival of the English, the inhabitants of the adjacent villages did not dare to come to Makásar in parties of less than five or six men well armed. This was equally the case throughout the country, as there was an open sale for almost any number of people that could be stolen. The case, however, is now entirely altered, at least within the influence of the British authority. Men, women, and children, are now to be seen moving singly about the country in all directions, without fear and without arms. Formerly a man going on a hunting party, or a peasant to till his ground, went armed as if going to war; at the present day numbers of people may be seen in the paddy fields without a spear amongst them. I may add, that these effects are not confined to the Company's provinces, but are felt nearly throughout the states of Gúa, Telu, and Turáta, where there can be no doubt that a few years would be sufficient to realize, under the present system, a great increase to population, and the more important introduction of commerce and civilisation.

"The principal pirate settlements are Káli and Túli Túli, situated on the north-west coast. The depredations of these hordes are generally carried on between Java and the Straits of Saleyer; their haunts are the islands near Seleyer, also Gúnuny Api, and the isles at the entrance of the Bay of Sembáwa, and in general the small isles included between the coasts of Java to the west, Borneo to the north, and Celebes to the east."

A COMPARATIVE VOCABULARY OF THE BUGIS, MAKASAR, MANDHAR, BÚTON, SÁSAK, BÍMA, SEMBÁWA, TEMBÓRA, AND ENDÉ LANGUAGES.

ENGLISH.	BUGIS.	MAKASAR.	MANDHAR.	BÚTON.	SÁSAK.	BÍMA.	SEMBÁWA.	TEMBÓRA.	ENDÉ.
One	sédi	sédre	misa	sátu	sátu	sábua; icha	sátu	seena	sa.
Two	dua	rua	dua	dua	dua	lua	dua	kálae	zua.
Three	télu	tálu	tetálu	tálu	telu	tólu	tiga	nih	télu.
Four	mpa	ampat	ápeh	mpat	mpat	ópat	ampat	kude-in	wútu.
Five	lima	lima	lima	lima	lima	lima	lima	kutélin	lima.
Six	nám	ánam	ánam	ánam	nám	íni	ánam	báta-in	limása.
Seven	pitu	túju	túju	pitu	pitu	pidu	túju	kúmba	limazua.
Eight	hárua	delápan	wâlu	árua	báin	wáru	delápan	koného	ruabútu.
Nine	haséra	sambílan	amésa	asára	siwa	chéwi	sambélan	láli	trása.
Ten	sapúlu	sampúlu	sapúlu	sapúlu	sapúlu	sampúlu	sapúlu	saróne	sabúlu.
Twenty	dua-púlu	rua-púlu	dua-púlu	rompúlu	dua-púlu	duampúlu	dua-púlu	sisaróne	bulúzua.
Hundred	sa-rátus	sabiláng'an	sang'átus	sibiláng'an	sátus	sa-rátus	sang'átus	simári	sang'ásu.
Man (homo)	táwu	tau	tau	tau	kelépe	dho	tau	doh	dau.
Man (vir.)	hóro-áni	boráni	chácho	tau	máma	dho-mó-ne-móne	láki-láki	sia-in	úli-dau.
Woman	makónrai	bahíni	bahíni	makónrai	nina	dho-siwe	perámpuan	óna-yit	ána-dau.
Father	ambéhna	mángge	káma	bápa	áma	áma	bápa	homóri	má.
Mother	indóna	anróng	indo	ma	ína	ína	máma	yelai	weh.
Head	úlu	ulúna	úl	úlu	ótah	túta	úlu	kokóre	úla.
Eyes	máta	matána	máta	máta	máta	máda	máta	saing'óre	ána-máta.
Nose	ing'a	ing'a	ing'a	ing'a	írung	ilu	ing'a	saing kóme	niju.
Hair	wélua	rambut	wélua	wélu	búlu	hónggo	wélua	búlu	fu.
Teeth	ísi	gigi	ísi	ísi	gigi	woi	ísi	sóntong	nihi.
Belly	bábua	bátan	pórot	bábua	tian	lóko	báboa	sumóre	túka.
Hand	lima	líman	lima	liman	íma	rima	limang	taintu	lima.
Foot	áji	bánuge	áje	áje	nai	édi	áje	maimpo	wáhi.
Blood	dára	dára	dára	dára	geti	ráh	dárá	kiro	ráha.
Day	só	poi	hári	áso	kejélu; jélu	mrai	aso	kóngkong	giah.
Night	weni	bange	bangi	weni	kelam	ai-meng'ádi	malam	tádung	kómbe.
Sleep	matinro	átinro	pelóli	matínro	tindu	máru	maténro	kidjum	méne.
Dead	máte	amáti	máti	matémo	máti	máde	matémo	sílam	máta.
White	mapúte	kébok	púti	maputémo	pútih	búrah	púti	si-yang	bára.
Black	malótong	léling	malótong	malótong	bírang	me-e	lótong	naido	láka.
Good	madéching	bájik	mápia	baik	ónya	tátio	baik	sámar	glo.
Bad	déna-ma-déching	kóde	andiána-mápia	enda-ma-dakégau	leng'e	séwai	nónda-króah	gonóre	báne.
Fire	ápi	pépe	ápi	ápi	ápí	ápi	ápi	maing'aing	ápi.
Water	wai	jéne	wai	áyer	ai	oí	jéne	naino	wai.
Earth	tána	bútah	tána	tána	tána	dána	tána	gonong	tána.
Stone	bátu	bátu	bátu	bátu	bátu	wádu	bátu	ilah	bátu.
Hog	bábi	bábi	bábi	bábi	báwi	vávi	bábi	kíwu	báhe.
Bird	mánu-mánu	jang'an-jang'an	mánu-mánu	manuk	káma-núkan	nási	mánuk-mánuk	kilaíngkong	peti.
Egg	itéloh	báyau	ndoh	télor	télu	dólu	telor	andik	telor.
Fish	báleh	júku	bále	bále	mpah	úta	júku	karáyi	íkan.
Sun	matáso	sing-har	máta-hári	máta-hári	máta-jelu	liroh	sing-har	ingkong	réza.
Moon	wúlan	búlan	wúlan	wúlah	úlan	wúrah	wúlan	máng'ong	wúlan.
Stars	bitóing	bintóing	bintóing	bintóing	bintang	ntára	bintóing	kingkong	dála.
God	álah ta-ála	​	álah ta-ála	álah ta-ála	álah ta-álah	álah	álah ta-ála	moríhoh	ga-hémbu.
Sit	túdang	mempu	píóro	dúduk	tókol	dóho	píóro	hok-hok	regoh.
Eat	mánre	ang'ánre	mánde	mánre	bekhor	​	mang'an	mákan	ka-a.

A COMPARATIVE VOCABULARY OF THE GUNUNG TALU, MENADU, TERNATI, SANG'IR, SIRANG or CERAM, AND SAPARÚA LANGUAGES.

ENGLISH.	GUNUNG TALU.	MENADU.	TERNATI.	SANG'IR.	SIRANG or CERAM.	SAPARÚA.
One	limbóto	esah	rimoi	sembua	tekúra	isáhi.
Two	bukáng'o	bua	rómo-didi	darúa	dua	rua.
Three	bóne	télu	ra-ang'i	tátelu	tólu	óru.
Four	ampat	épat	ráha	épa	pát	ha-an.
Five	lima	lima	róma-tóha	lima	lim	rima.
Six	ánam	ánam	rára	nóng	ónan	nóho
Seven	túju	pitu	tómdi	pitu	fitúra	hítu.
Eight	delápan	wálu	tof-kang'i	wálu	delapánte	wáru.
Nine	sambilan	sioh	siyu	sioh	sabilánte	siwah.
Ten	sapúlu	mapúlu	yági-móí	mapúru	putúsa	úhu-túhi.
Twenty	dua-púlu	rúa-napúlu	yági-romdidi	duampúlu	dua-púlu	úhurua.
Hundred	mai-tútu	ma-hátus	rátu-mói	marásu	útun	hutúngno.
Thousand	notifu	ma-ribu	ribú-mói	saribu	rihúne	rihúno.
Man (homo)	manúsia	tó	manúsia	tau-máta	káwu	túma-táwu.
Man (vir.)	satúlal	to-áma	nónau	esé	manuáya	manáwau.
Woman	tábua	wewóné	fohékeh	babini	mapuinára	pipináwu.
Father	bápa	áma	bába	bápa	niba-bára	amáni.
Mother	nána	ína	yáya	nina	ninésan	ináni.
Head	lung-góng'o	úlu	dopólo		ulúnte	urúni.
Eyes	máta	warén	táko	máta	matára	ma-áni.
Nose	uling'o	nirung	ídung	írung	idónte	iríni.
Hair	wóho	wúhuk	rambut	úta	uhúra	rhúwon.
Teeth	dang'éta	wáhang	gigi	ísi	gigira	nióni.
Belly	mbong'a	po-ot	ho-ot	tiang	púmra	tehúni.
Hand	otóho	leng'an	tang'an	tákiar	tanánte	rimáni.
Foot	oh-áto	háhe	káki	bisi	kakíra	ahíni.
Blood	dúhu	ráha	dára	dára	dárah	laláni.
Day (light)	dulúho	ndoh	modiri	éloh	pagíra	kai.
Night	hoi	weng'i	wang'i-lóbi	bása	mahónte	lamásai.
Sleep	méte-lóho	madákal	hótu	metiki	ákifet	imutára.
Dead	máti	máti	sóni	náti	máti; hábis	imáta.
White	púti	kúlo	ubúan	mawira	putíra	ipúti.
Black	itam	riram	îrang	mitung	meténa	iméte.
Good	baik	léhos	láha	mápia	páda-lóko	imai.
Bad	tra-baik	léwo	ási	daráki	manche-ére nága-ráta	hiáhia.
Fire	tólu	ápi	úkut	pútung	ápira	hahúlo.
Water	telóho	ráno	áki	áke	áyira	waélo.
Earth	búta	tána	káha	utána	búmite	umélo.
Stone	bátu	wátu	márih	bátu	batúra	hátuo.
Hog	boi	wáwi	sóho	wáwi	boíra	háhuo.
Bird	búrung	kóko	námot	mánuk-daródo	burúngte	mánuo.
Egg	putitor	átelu	nabóro	telor	telórte	terúri.
Fish	tóta	póngkor	neá-ot	kena	ján	iyáno.
Sun	mútu-hári	ndoh	máta-hári	éloh	máta-hári	ria-ma-áno.
Moon	uláno	leléhon	búlan	búlan	bulánte	huláno.
Stars	óli-pópo	tóto-tian	úna-bintan	butúing	bentángte	humário.
God	málai-káti	wálian	tuan-álah	máwu-álah	álah	álah.
Sit	ulóho	rumúma	tégó	káyan	matórán	ituo.
Eat	mong'a	kúman	óhot	kúmang	kamána	lyáni.