Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/389

 SEQUEL OF JAVANESE HISTORY. 845 just theme of applause. It is clearly to be ascribed to the peculiar and unfavourable circumstances un- der which they were placed. The first Dutch adventurers to the East were a set of rapacious traders, who found themselves unexpect- edly called upon to exercise the functions of poli- ticians and sovereigns. Unused to these offices, without agents who could be entrusted with the , execution of any great or bold undertaking, and having, instead of a regular or disciplined force, a few half-disciplined marines and sailors, from their com- mercial navies, we can be no longer surprised to find those who were conscious of the want of real strength, constantly resorting to subtlety and in- trigue. The natural consequences of this policy were protracted wars, financial difficulties, waste of human life, mutual hatred and distrust between them and the natives, inevitable ruin and destruc- tion to the country, and misery to its inhabitants. This picture applies to by far the greater portion of the two centuries of Dutch rule in Java. The rebellion of Surapati, by which name this re« markabie adventurer is best known, is one of the most singular which the history of any people affi^rds. This person was, in short, a slave, who rose, by the force of his natural talents, to the rank of a sovereign prince. He was brought from Bali when seven years of age, among the crowd of slaves who were annually imported into Batavia from that island, was purchased