Page images
PDF
EPUB

selves slavery is unknown, although Bali was heretofore one of the chief sources of the slave trade. Those sold into slavery are in fact not persons born in that condition, but prisoners of war, or others who have been kidnapped by vagabonds who make this their employment.

Language and Literature. The language of Bali is peculiar, strongly resembling both the Malay and Javanese; neither of which, however, are intelligible to the people. At the courts of some of the princes, the Javanese is said to be spoken as it is at Palembang, a circumstance rendered probable by the numerous emigration which history, or tradition, records as having taken place from Java. The language of Bali is written in the same character as the Javanese; with regard to the literature, it is similar to that of Java, and either is borrowed from it, or is from the same sources. The Kawi of Java, the learned and dead language of the islands, is said to be well understood on Bali, and to contain all the learning and religion of its priesthood. Their books generally consist of romances, founded on the local traditions of their own, or the surrounding countries, or are borrowed from the far-spread fables of the Mahabharat and Ramayana.

Trade.-The following articles constitute the chief exports of the island; cotton cloths, kossumbo flowers, mangkasla root, rice, nutmegs, cloves, slaves, bullocks, and ding-ding. The cotton is of a very superior quality, the wool is fine, and the seed bears a small proportion to it, not more it is said than three to one, while in the ordinary cotton of Java the seed is as four to one. The price is usually about two dollars a pecul, and it is either so easily raised, or so much prized abroad, that it is exported to Java under all the enormous disadvantages of being transported with the seed. Under favourable circumstances it might constitute a valuable article of trade to Europe or China. The rice is an article of trade to all the surrounding countries, as far as Bencoolen and the Straits of Malacca: of late I believe it has been imported in considerable quantities into the Moluccas. The nutmegs are of the long species, and it is presumed are chiefly brought from Ceram, Timor, Gilolo, and other islands to the eastward, though some may be raised on the island itself; on Java the long nutmeg is called by the natives the Bali nutmeg; it is to be had in great abundance, and at a wonderfully cheap rate: it is probably produced wild in vast quantities, and the whole price may consist in the expense of plucking it and bringing it to market. Slavery, as already mentioned, has no existence on the island itself. Slaves

sold are either prisoners of war or persons kidnapped. The Chinese on the coast, it appears, were principally instrumental in this detestable traffic, being the chief purchasers and dealers for exportation. Among the articles stated by Valentyn as productions of the island, are copper, iron, and gold; of the two first I have heard no other account. A gold mine is at present wrought at a place called Pejen, on the eastern coast of the island; what the quantity or quality is, is unknown. Valentyn states it as abundant, but in all probability the natives, like the rest of the islanders, are wanting in skill and industry to render the mine productive: if sufficiently rich, it would soon be rendered valuable on being placed in the hands of the Chinese. The imports into the island are Indian chints, and other piece goods, opium, iron, and China ware. Opium is consumed in great quantities at Badung in particular; in other parts it is said to be contraband: iron is in demand throughout the island, and none seems to be manufactured. This circumstance is common to it, with the rest of the islands of the Archipelago. No branch of trade promises to hold out half such advantage, both to the importer and consumer, as that of iron. Both in its raw state, and manufactured into implements of art and husbandry, there will be a demand for it.

Administration of Justice.-The law is said to be administered with a decent attention to justice. Law and religion, as happens throughout the rest of the East, are blended together; but the administration of justice is not in the hands of the Brahmans. The magistrates, as in Java, are denominated Jaksas, and the law is expounded from written authorities; a fact evincing considerable advance in social order.

Military Strength and Resources; Mode of Warfare, &c.Valentyn observes, that "Bali, on account of its high hills "and thick forests, is by nature so strong that it can easily "be defended with a very small force against a foreign "enemy." The account already given of the general appearances of the country, places this beyond a doubt. Had the people art, skill, or combination, to avail themselves of these advantages, the conquest of this island would certainly be a matter of difficulty; but it is divided into many independent states, generally at open or secret enmity with each other; and the inhabitants, instead of a ferocious, hardy, and independent people, are habituated to the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, and are in all probability little inclined to follow war as a favourite occupation. The Balinese mode of

warfare is desultory. They do not fight in large bodies, but in parties of forty or fifty. The native weapons are the kris, long spears, and sumpits, from which they discharge poisoned arrows, not, it may be presumed, very fatal weapons, for they are thrown with little force, and the strength of the poison is always precarious.

The nature of the country, in all probability, precludes the general use of cavalry, for the Balinese never fight on horseback, though they have small horses of a similar breed with those of Java. There is not a single fortification throughout the whole island, unless a trifling place in the vicinity of Karang Assam, not capable of containing a hundred men, deserve that name. The Balinese do not even entrench themselves behind walls or ditches, or stockades, a practice frequent with the more western natives of the Archipelago, but occasionally have recourse to a temporary abatis made by felling trunks of trees. The kratons, or palaces of the princes, one might expect to find of some strength as in Java, but this is not the case; some of them are built of brick and mortar, and that of one of the rajahs of stone, but the walls have neither height nor thickness in any of them. Muskets of their own manufacture are occasionally used by the Balinese, and it is said they have a few pieces of cannon, but in their unskilful hands these must be the least dangerous of all weapons to an enemy. It is superfluous to observe, that the roads of such a country as Bali are mere path-ways: the rivers are numerous, their banks steep and precipitate, and their beds full of rocks and stones: there is not a bridge in the island.

States Bali is divided into seven estates, the names of which are, Blilleng, Karang Assam, Klung-kung, Gelgel, Badung, Geyancar, Manguive, and Tabawan.

Blilleng. This state is situated towards the north-west part of the island, being bounded to the east by Karang Assam, and to the south by the territories of Manguive and Tabawan. The town is on a river, about three miles from the shore; close to the beach is the Mahomedan kumpumg, and between that and the town are some rice fields. The population is estimated at 12 or 15,000. There are a few Chinese who live with the Mahomedans, who themselves dó not exceed two hundred families: they consist of Macassa rese, Bugis, and a few converted natives. The total popu lation of the territory of Blilleng, capable of bearing arms, is reported to be 18,000. Blilleng is the smallest of the principalities of Bali.

Karang Assam.-This is at present the most powerful of the principalities of the island, not so much on account of the extent of its territories on Bali itself, as those belonging to Lombock, called Sasak. Karang Assam is situated to the east end of the island opposite to Lombock.

Klung-kung lies south of Karang Assam, between it and Badung. It is a small state, but the prince, who is styled Dewa Agung, is the first in rank on the island. Kusumba is the port of Klung-kung, the capital itself, about three miles distant in the interior.

Badung lies south of Klung-kung, and is but of inconsiderable extent; the town is on a small river, in a bay opposite to which, and not above a mile distant, is Noosa Bali, a small island: there is, from report, good anchorage in the bay. Badung is the chief resort of the traders from Borneo, Celebes, and Java. Close to Badung is the most southerly point of the island of Bali, called Ujung Selatan: from this to the entrance of the straits of Balambangan the sea is boisterous, and the coast dangerous; along the shore are the states of Girjanian, Manguive, and Tabawan.

Girjanian, or Geeanger, lies west of Badung; it is a small unimportant state, the prince assuming the inferior title of pengeran, and not that of rajah like the rest.

Manguive lies west of Girjanian, between it and Tabawan; the residence of the prince, also styled pengeran, is distant from the shore of the South Sea about half a day's journey. It is the largest town on the island. The prince, it is said, has built a kraton, the walls of which are of stone, curiously ornamented, in relief, with figures of various descriptions. Manguive is frequently at war with Badung and Girjanian.

Tabawan lies west of Manguive, and south of the territories of Blilleng. The town is situated in the interior, and about a day's journey from the south-west coast: the rajah's kraton consists of a brick wall, neither high nor thick. The people of Tabawan are engaged in frequent hostilities with those of Blilleng and other states.

Character and Death of WILLIAM LORD RUSSELL, Baron of Thornhaugh.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE INVESTIGATOR.

DEAR SIRS,-Public interest in the illustrious Family of Russell has recently been additionally excited, by the interesting and valuable memorials of a younger son of the pre

sent head of that illustrious house. In his history of William Lord Russell, and the times in which he lived, many facts have been narrated which will endear to Englishmen, whatever may be their political views, various characters therein delineated; among others, the following description may be noticed.

66

Francis, the second Earl of Bedford, was present at the battle of Saint Quintin, and held many great offices under Queen Elizabeth. He married a daughter of Sir John St. John, sister to the first Lord St. John of Bletsoe. He was succeeded by his grandson, Edward, who died without issue, in 1627.

"The title then passed to the issue of Sir William Russell, the fourth son of Francis. Sir William was a person of considerable talents and enterprize. In 1580, he was knighted for his services in Ireland. He afterwards went, with the Earl of Leicester, to the assistance of the Dutch. His conduct at the battle of Zutphen is thus quaintly described by Stowe. "He charged so terribly, that after he had broke his lance, he so played his part with his cuttle-axe, that the enemy reported him to be a devil, and not a man; for where he saw six or seven of the enemies together, thither would he, and so behave with his cuttle-axe, that he would separate their friendship."

[ocr errors]

He was afterwards Lord Deputy of Ireland, where he made himself very conspicuous for prudence, as well as valour.

86

He took great pains to prevent the excesses of the army. He directed, by his general orders, that the soldiers should give money or a ticket for their diet; that there should be no charge on the country for more men then there really were; that they should not ask for more than a breakfast and supper; and that their quarters should be assigned by the civil magistrate. These regulations were well calculated to conciliate the lower orders. Had the Court taken his advice, another measure which he recommended, would probably have gained over the nobility. He proposed that the lands of the church, which had been confiscated, should be given equally to the leading men of both religions. Had the Catholics accepted the spoils of their own church, it is evident they would have become attached to the Government from which they had obtained them. On the accession of James, he was created Baron Russell of Thornhaugh. He died in 1613, leaving an only son Francis, who, fourteen

« PreviousContinue »